India's Success at 54th International Mathematics Olympiad

A six member team India, sponsored by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), an Institution under the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai has bagged Two Silver & Three Bronze Medals at the 54th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2013 held at Santa Marta, Colombia during July 18-28, 2013. A total of 528 students from 97 countries participated in the event.

National Archives of India Launches e-Abhilekh

The quarterly newsletter of the National Archives of India entitled e-Abhilekh was launched by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri Ravindra Singh . This news bulletin has been planned with the objective of disseminating information for the development of Archives. 

To access the news letter visit : National Archives of India 

National Teeka Express was launched

The National Teeka Express was launched by Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare  at Alwar, Rajasthan today. It has been launched to protect children from life-threatening childhood diseases.


In the Routine Immunization Programme ANMs collect vaccines from storage point (cold chain point) and transport them to session sites, i.e. either Sub-centre or Anganwari centre for carrying out vaccination.

INSAT-3D Satellite Successfully Placed in Geosynchronous Orbit

India’s advanced weather satellite INSAT-3D, launched in the early hours of July 26, 2013 from Kourou, French Guyana, has successfully been placed in Geosynchronous orbit after three orbit raising manoeuvres commanded from ISRO`s Master Control Facility at Hassan.

The Orbital parameters of INSAT-3D are:

• Apogee (farthest point to Earth) – 35,799 km
• Perigee (nearest point to Earth) – 35,469 km
• Inclination (of the orbit with respect to the equator)- 0.23 deg
• Orbital period – 23 hr 48 min

Smt. Anita Kaul is the new Secretary of Justice Department in the Ministry of Law & Justice.

 Anita Kaul, a 1979 batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, is appointed as the
Secretary, Department of Justice in the Ministry of Law & Justice. She had earlier
served as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India.  Prior to this appointment  Smt. Kaul was the Principal Secretary Planning in the Programme Implementation Department of the Govt. of Karnataka

Sajjan Kumar acquitted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar of all charges in the murder of five Sikhs in the Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case by a sessions court.

Among the five other accused, former Municipal Corporation of Delhi councillor Balwan Khokhar, Captain Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal were held guilty of murder and rioting charges, while the former MLA, Mahender Yadav, and Balwan’s brother, Krishan Khokhar, were held guilty of rioting charges.

Additional Solicitor-General Haren Raval resigned

Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval, who sparked a controversy by telling the Supreme Court that CBI status report on Coalgate was not shared with the government, resigned from his post.

Extra Charges for preferred air seats, check-in-luggage & meals

The Civil Aviation Ministry allowed airlines to charge extra money from passengers for preferred seats, check-in baggage and meals. This is similar the U.S. model of imposing extra fee on air passengers.

The services include snacks, drinks (barring drinking water), use of airline lounges, and transport of sports equipment, musical instruments and valuable baggage which have higher carrier liability.

Air Marshal Herikudru Babu Rajaram conferred AVSM

Air Marshal Herikudru Babu Rajaram was conferred the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) at the recently held Defence investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Air Marshal Rajaram was commissioned in the administrative branch of the IAF in 1977 and has held various appointments which include Senior Air Traffic Control Officer (SATCO) and Chief GCA Controller at fighter bases, Chief Administrative Officer at a fighter base and Chief Personal Staff Officer of an Operational Command. He has also commanded an equipment depot. He took over as the Air Officer administration in February this year. He was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) in 2011.

Activists oppose forest advisory panel’s clearance of land for Kalu dam

he Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has recommended clearance of land for the controversial Kalu dam in Thane district, drawing sharp criticism from activists and tribals affected by the project.

Dreamliner test flight lands successfully in Tokyo

A Dreamliner test flight with top Boeing and All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) executives aboard landed at a Tokyo airport .

Earlier, The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration grounded the worldwide fleet mid-January after failures of the lithium-ion batteries on the jetliner caused a fire on board one parked plane in Boston and forced the emergency landing of an ANA-operated aircraft in Japan.

The test flight by ANA, one of largest customers of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners, came a day after Ethiopian Airlines became the first carrier to resume flying the 787s that have been grounded worldwide since January due to battery problems.

New Bill for protection and welfare of widows

The proposed Protection, Welfare and Maintenance of Widows Bill, 2013 is prepared by Sulabh International.

The Proposed bill is a slight improvement on a similar document tabled in the Lok Sabha by Professor Mahadeorao Shiwankar in 2007 as Private Member’s Bill that lapsed due to the dissolution of the House.

The major recommendations are The National Widows Welfare Board is proposed to be chaired by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment

The members will include MPs, widows, civil society representatives and State officials

The Central and State governments would contribute to the Fund and all donations would be credited to it for use for the welfare of widows.

The draft Bill proposes a subsistence allowance of Rs. 2,000 per month for each woman — to be revised as per price index —

It also recommends free residential accommodation, education, vocational training, employment and medical facilities.

widow shall not be evicted or thrown out of the house of her in-laws or parents, and would be entitled to property as per inheritance laws, in addition to maintenance allowance from the heir or in-laws who do not keep her in the family.

Maharashtra starts water release into Jayakwadi dam in Marathwada region

In a measure that is long overdue and that is expected to bring some relief to the parched districts of Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, the State government has finally ordered water release from upstream reservoirs into the Jayakwadi dam in the region.

HAL to produce cryogenic engines for ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation is setting up a Rs.139-crore facility at the Bangalore unit of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to produce cryogenic engines and complex components for its GSLV and future rockets and it will be ready in three years.

At present, ISRO is developing cryogenic engines with a consortium of Godrej and Hyderabad’s MTAR. HAL is said to have been approved as a second source of assemblage by the Space Commission last month.

Anil Goswami has been appointed Union Home Secretary

Anil Goswami, Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as the Home Secretary.

Mr. Goswami will take over from R.K. Singh, who retires on June 30 after a two-year term as Home Secretary.

Mr. Goswami would soon start functioning as Officer-on-Special Duty in the Ministry to acquaint himself with all aspects of its working.

Mr. Goswami will have a fixed two-year term and will be at the helm of affairs when general elections are held in 2014.

J.S. Verma passed away

Lalgudi Gopala Iyer Jayaraman was a well-known and award-winning Indian Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. His disciples included his two children Lalgudi G.J.R.Krishnan, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi and the Academy Award nominated Bombay Jayashri Ramnath.

He declined the coveted Sangita Kalanidhi award of the Music Academy, Chennai, as it came late, though the institution honoured him with a lifetime achievement award. He kept away from playing for women artistes as his father was against the idea. However, he gave a lot of concerts with his sister Lalgudi Brimanandham.

Defective valves delay plant commissioning at Kudankulam

The commissioning of the Kudankulam atomic power plant has been delayed as the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board found four valves “deficient” during tests ahead of firing the reactor. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India is replacing the components.

Infosys results worries IT sector

The second-largest IT services company in India Ltd., suffered a loss of Rs. 36,000 crore for the company in market capitalization and saw a sharp decline in share prices.

Death can’t be commuted on ground of delay on mercy plea: SC

Supreme Court held that long delay by the President or the Governor in disposing of mercy petitions of persons convicted under anti-terror laws like TADA or similar statutes cannot be a ground for commutation of the death sentence. A two-judge bench gave this ruling while rejecting the plea of Khalistani terrorist and death-row convict Devinderpal Singh Bhullar in a judgment that paves the way for his execution and may have a bearing on the fate of over 20 convicts facing execution.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce to defer signing of India-EU FTA

Parliamentary Standing Committee during its meeting suggested Prime Minister to put off signing of the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) till the committee deliberates on the issues raised before it.

The Chairman of the committe, Mr. Shanta Kumar stated that, in view of many issues and concerns raised by the various States, NGOs and stakeholders, it would be appropriate to defer signing of the India-EU FTA.

The negotiations have hit a roadblock after EU demanded that India provide free access to the automobile industry of Europe, especially Germany, hike the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in insurance to 49 per cent, open up the financial sector through more reforms and lower taxes on wines and spirits.