How would you feel during the preparation of IAS?

IAS being the most reputed position in Indian society has its own fees to be paid to earn it.It is  not as easy as we think. Before you even think about buying the application, the thoughts that creeps your mind being an IAS officer and serving for the nation. Meanwhile that enthusiasm goes out of the mind. We will be more adopted to the same old mentality that we used to be. The commitment that we had before starting to prepare for the exam deteriorates. It is all the same feeling of the unsuccessful people in the world.

As I too have faced the same feelings, I am writing with an experience. Initially we plan, but it seems difficult to adopt in the meantime.

1.The Hindu newspaper which is recommended for IAS aspirants looks very much interesting, but in the later period it turns to a monstrous thing included with a huge pile of alphabets. It seems boring and tiring to read it.

2.  The magazines that we use to study even turns really boring. Instead reading the most required article we will go in hunt of the most useless things in the magazine.

3.We shall develop a new feeling to get adjusted to the preIAS environment and say,” IAS is for hard workers!!”. Yeah its true but we forget that we too can be one among those people.

4.Most of the people who fail in the first attempt because of these feeling and improper preparation. So it has created the impression among the people that it is least probable to clear in the first attempt. This myth makes us feel not to worry much at the first attempt.

5.All the 8-12 th class NCERT books seems so much easy to read.  We feel like,”Why am I studying the Kid’s book?”.  All the chapters in the books are so much simplified we feel really weird studying those materials. But the best part is that the needful things are highlighted in the book.

6.The commitment level decreases as we keep studying all the time. Imagine that we sit with the books all the time and in the evening we outside the world looks so much pale. Feel some kind of disturbance in the eyes and the mind.

It is obviously in our hand to control the mind and focus on the future…

Help with the solution to overcome these problems…

63rd Independence Day Presidential Speech

Emphasizes that democracy, inclusive economic development, social empowerment and the value system based on our heritage are the building blocks of our nationhood.

* The voice of every citizen is important and the principle of inclusiveness is integral to democracy.

* Each elected Member of Parliament has an obligation to work for the welfare of the people and the progress of the nation.

* Need to have an effective governance system which is more transparent and accountable.

* Implementation of the flagship programs of the Government will have to be at optimal levels for an impact to be made on the lives of the people.

* The administrators must be responsive to the needs of the people.

* Government is taking all possible steps to deal with less than normal monsoon situation this year.

* H1N1 influenza situation is being tackled by the Government with all the necessary measures in place.

* Citizens need to join hands with the Government in nation building and development initiatives.

* Even in the face of a global slowdown we must work to continue for our economic growth .

* Focus should be on strengthening our academic institutions and research facilities to achieve excellence.

* Weaker and the vulnerable sections of society need to be provided with the tools of empowerment - access to education, health and skill-building.

* Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill is a landmark legislation for achieving our goal of universal education.

* India should build its destiny on a culture of peace and harmony. There should be harmony between good traditions and progress.

* Terrorism must be defeated in the interest of the collective goal of humankind to build peaceful societies and a peaceful world.

* Communal Harmony holds the key to progress

Important highlights of country-wise Foreign Tourist Arrivals during 2008

Following are the important highlights of the country-wise Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2008. According to Ministry of Tourism, Government of India a total of 5.37 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals were estimated for 2008.
· As far as the different regions of the world are concerned, maximum growth in 2008 over 2007 was observed for West Asia (20.9%) followed by Eastern Europe (18.5%), Central and South America (12.7%) and South East Asia (10.5%). The growth rate in 2008 was lower than the all-India growth rate of 5.6% in the FTAs from North America (4.4%), East Asia (3.6%), Western Europe (2.9%) and Africa (2.7%).
· The top ten countries for FTAs in India during 2008 were USA (827866), UK (787197), Bangladesh (540092), Sri Lanka (228548), Canada (223587), France (217816), Germany (209252), Japan (150732), Australia (148055) and Malaysia (119040). FTAs from these ten countries constituted about 64.34% of total FTAs in India during 2008.
· The maximum growth rate in FTAs was observed for Oman (54.9%), followed by Myanmar (54.0%), UAE (44.0%), Afghanistan (43.4%), Nigeria (29.8%), Denmark (24.1%) and Brazil (21.8%). The share of these countries in total FTAs, however, is quite low.
· Some of the countries in respect of which a decline in 2008 over 2007 in FTAs was observed are Pakistan (-25.1%), Finland and Kenya (-10.1%), Mauritius (-8.5%) and South Africa (-6.2%).
· FTAs from UK, which is the second most important source market for India, also observed a decline of 1.1% in 2008 over 2007, whereas the number one source market, USA, observed an increase of 3.6%.
· The growth rate observed for some of the other important source markets for FTAs in India in 2008 over 2007 are Germany (13.6%), China (12.1%), Australia (8.9%), Singapore (8.0%), Canada (7.4%), France (6.3%), Malaysia (5.6%), Japan (3.6%), South Korea (-2.7%) and Italy (-4.6%). Thus, the growth in FTAs from most of the top source markets of the country has been higher than the average growth of FTAs (5.6%) in 2008 over 2007.

Ashoka Chakra to Major Mohit Sharma and Major D Sreeram Kumar

The President has awarded Ashoka Chakra to Major Mohit Sharma (posthumous) and Major D Sreeram Kumar on the eve of Independence Day. Four Kirti Chakra have also been awarded to Major Amit Oscar Fernandes, Major Deepak Tewari, Naik Rishikesh Gurjar and Paratrooper Shabir Ahmad Malik (posthumous).
IC 59066N MAJOR MOHIT SHARMA (POSTHUMOUS)
1ST BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)
IC 59066N Maj Mohit Sharma was commissioned into First Battalion of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) on December 30, 1999. During his initial probation period, he got injured and was posted back to his parent unit on medical grounds where he served for three years. Thereafter was posted to 38 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion and due to his exemplary services in combating terrorism during OP RAKSHAK he was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card. After serving in the unit for 21 months he again volunteered for probation with the First Battalion The Parachute Regt (Special Forces) and displaying unparalleled motivation he successfully cleared probation. He was awarded with Sena Medal (gallantry) for his daring covert operation in 2005.
On 21 Mar 2009 while tracking an infiltrating terrorist group he and his men came under heavy volume of fire. Unmindful of his safety he rescued two of his comrades to cover under overwhelming effective fire, killed two terrorists and in the process sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Grievously wounded sensing grave danger to his commandos he charged on the terrorists and killed two more at close range. The brave officer succumbed to his injuries and made the supreme sacrifice in the finest traditions of the paltan and the country.
SS-40576A MAJOR D SREERAM KUMAR
39 ASSAM RIFLES
SS-40576A Major D Sreeram Kumar was born on 11 Jan 1981 at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh. He passed his matric and intermediate exam from Sainik School Amaravati Nagar, Tamil Nadu in 1996 and 1998 respectively. He was commissioned into 90 Medium Regiment (Artillery) on 20 Mar 2004 and was promoted to the Rank of Major on 24 Aug 2008.
Major D Sreeram Kumar is presently serving with 39 Assam Rifles since Mar 2007 in Arunachal Pradesh (OP ORCHID) and from 07 Dec 2007 in Manipur (OP HIFAZAT). With his consummate leadership and ingenuity he has created an effective and vibrant intelligence network, delivering hard blows to the activities of the terrorists and making it extremely difficult for them to operate in the battalion area of responsibility.
Due to his efforts there has been a palpable decrease in insurgency activities in the unit area of responsibility which has bought succor to the people and ensured their safety. The officer has personally participated in number of operations, leading from the front and has eliminated 12 terrorists, apprehended 23 terrorists and recovered 12 weapons since induction of the Battalion in Manipur (OP HIFAZAT) in Dec 2007. Largely due to his efforts and earnestness the unit in 2008, has achieved numerous operational successes in Manipur (OP HIFAZAT).
IC-59630X MAJOR AMIT OSCAR FERNANDES
SEVENTH BATTALION THE MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY
IC-59630X Major Amit Oscar Fernandes was commissioned into the 7TH MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY on 13 May 2000. The officer is presently posted with the battalion which is deployed in Counter Insurgency Operational Area in Jammu and Kashmir since 07 Sep 2006.
He has served with 27 RASHTRIYA RIFLE (MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY) from 23 Aug 2002 to 18 Aug 2002 deployed in Counter Insurgency Operational in Jammu and Kashmir and thereafter with Commando Wing, Junior Leader Wing, The Infantry School, Belgaum as a Instructor from 19 Sep 2004 to 06 Sep 2006.
On 16 Nov 2008, an input received at 1650 hrs indicated likely presence of terrorists in general area Beli Baihk, District-Baramulla. A well planned search and destroy operation was directed towards general area Beli Baihk at 1700 hrs. Terrorists moving towards Lachhipura was spotted by the search party under Major Amit Oscar Fernandes at 2045 hrs only at extremely close range due to poor visibility and good cover. The contact with terrorists was established and intense fire fight ensured. In the fire fight two terrorists were killed. The third terrorists closed in and fired on Maj Amit Oscar Fernandes. The officer caught the barrel of terrorists weapon and deflected the fire away from himself and his party. The terrorist bit his thumb to release the weapon. Maj Amit Oscar Fernandes overpowered the terrorist, snatched his weapon and shot him dead. Major Fernandes by his raw courage, extreme determination and timely action saved the lives of his comrades while eliminating three hard core terrorists.
IC-61379L MAJOR DEEPAK TEWARI
Corps of EME
IC-61379L Major Deepak Tewari was commissioned into Corps of EME on 08 Dec 2001. He completed his attachment period with 8 Bihar from 08 Dec 2001 to 07 Dec 2002 and was then posted to 7002 EME Battalion from 08 Dec 2002 to 03 Jun 2005. Major Deepak Tewari was posted to 14 Rashtriya Rifles (Garhwal Rifle) on 29 Jun 2008 after completion of his Engineering Degree at MCEME Secunderabad.
On 27 November 2008, he received specific information from the Brigade HQ, regarding presence of five terrorists in one of the houses of Shokbaba. He rapidly moved in pitch dark night, thus surprising the terrorists with the speed of movement. At 0015 hrs while closing in on to the target, the officer heard the militants coming out of the house towards them. On seeing troops, terrorists opened heavy volume of fire. The officer, despite the barrage of fire, displaying nerves of steel and quick reflexes retaliated and chased four terrorists who jumped behind a rock, lobbed a grenade and resumed firing at the officer. In the face of terrorist fire, displaying dogged determination, the officer moved forward with lightning speed, leap frogging behind boulders, encircled the terrorists and in a daring act of bravery, single handedly eliminated three terrorists in extremely close range gun battle of approximately three meters and critically injuring the fourth. The brave officer then provided personal leadership to the team which resulted in elimination of five hardcore Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists.
9113063K PARATROOPER SHABIR AHMAD MALIK (POSTHUMOUS)
1ST PARA SPECIAL FORCES
No. 9113063K Paratrooper Shabir Ahmad Malik joined the army on 15 Mar 2007 in J&K Light Infantry. An alumnus of the prestigious Sainik School Manasbal, he was a fierce patriot since childhood and thus volunteered for Special Forces. Out of two hundred odd probationers he got selected to become part of the elite First Para (SF) on 15 Mar 2008.
As a young paratrooper, he proved to be a very motivated and hardworking soul. Always ready to volunteer for any task not considering the risks involved. He volunteered as a scout to lead his troops in operations.
On 21 Mar 2009, his troop was tracking an infiltrating column of terrorists when leading as a scout he observed suspicious movement and alerted his commando buddy. An overwhelming volume of fire from three directions by the terrorists resulted in the injury of his buddy. Undaunted the young paratrooper crawled under overwhelming effective fire and rescued his comrade to cover and further charging on the terrorists killed two at close quarters in hand to hand combat. During this act of bravery he sustained severe gunshot wounds but refusing to be evacuated he kept motivating and directing his troop mates. The brave paratrooper finally succumbed to his injuries but not before he had eliminated two hardcore terrorists and helped in successful evacuation of his buddy. This act of valour and selfless sacrifice has made him a youth icon in Kashmir valley.
2994546Y NAIK RISHIKESH GURJAR
10 RASHTRIYA RIFLES (RAJPUT)
2994546Y Naik Rishikesh Gurjar 10 Rashtriya Rifles (Rajput) was born on July 10, 1978 at village Nisura, Dist Sawaimathopur, Rajasthan. He did his schooling in his village and studied upto class 8th. The individual got enrolled into the Rajput Regiment on October 28, 1995 and after successful completion of basic training from Rajput Regimental Centre, Fatehgarh, he joined 3 Rajput in mid-1997. During his service career, he has participated in Operation Vijay at Kargil from June 1999 to Sep 99 in operation in Operation Parakram / Rakshak at Bandipura (J&K) from December 2002 to August 2005 and in operation Rakshak at Doda from October 2007 till date.
Presently as an NCO incharge of Ghatak Platoon of 10 Rashtriya Rifles, he has been part of various operations during, which include arrest of two overground workers with Rs. 1,90,000/-, one Terrorist of LeT ‘Tanzeem’ apprehended with Chinese Grenade and surrender of two terrorists of LeT ‘Tanzeems’.

Science and technology 2009

Largest ever telescope launched from French Guiana ( May 15 2009)

Ariane 5 rocket, the world's largest telescope was launched on May 15 from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana to investigate the origins of the universe. The Herschel telescope was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) at a cost of 1.1 billion euros ($1.49 billion). The main objective of the telescope is to determine how the stars and galaxies are formed in the universe. The Physicist Albrecht Poglitsch, of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, worked on the development of Herschel's instruments. The stars are comprised of gas and dust, a mix that makes it impossible to see into the star itself with light. Herschel's strength is to enable a look into the gas-dust clouds. The primary mirror of the Herschel telescope is 3.5 meters in diameter, more than four times larger than those of previous infrared space telescopes and almost one and a half times larger than the Hubble space telescope. Herschel will tap into previously unexplored wavelengths and examine phenomena that had been out of reach for other observatories. The telescope will begin to carry out its three-and-a-half-year mission in about a month.

First face transplant patient in US shows face ( 6th May 2009)

Five years ago, Connie Culp, 46-year-old woman in a shotgun blast left a ghastly hole in the middle of her face. Five months ago, she received a new face from a dead woman. She stepped forward to show off the results of the nation's first face transplant, and her new look was a far cry from the puckered, noseless sight that made children run away in horror. Culp's expressions are still a bit wooden, but she can talk, smile, smell and taste her food again. Her speech is at times a little tough to understand. Her face is bloated and squarish, and her skin droops in big folds that doctors plan to pare away as her circulation improves and her nerves grow, animating her new muscles.

UK scientists to develop Swine Flu vaccine (4th May 2009)

As the world is getting ready to fight against Swine Flu (H1N1 virus), researchers from all over the world have stepped up to build a vaccine to fight the scary disease.
A team from National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) in Hertfordshire had started their work for developing a vaccine against the H1N1 virus. The researchers aim to drill a hole in hen's egg, considered for growing up flu viruses. The process involves injecting a small amount of virus into each egg. The scientists are using two different techniques for the process.
The first one is 'reverse genetics', where scientists take the H and the N surface proteins from the H1N1 virus and mix them with a laboratory virus known as PR8. This leads to a creation of a harmless hybrid virus, which can be used for the vaccine.
The second technique involves injecting both the H1N1 and PR8 viruses into eggs and allowing the hybrid strain to be created through a natural re-assortment of their genes. The vaccine will work by dodging the immune system into it has been infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus so that it creates antibodies against it. The researchers hope that the first seed strain of H1N1 swine flu vaccine will be ready in three to four weeks. It will then take another four or five months for vaccine manufacturers to produce the vaccine in bulk.

PET bottles potential health hazard (29th April 2009)

Wagner, a lead researcher stated, “Drinking water from PET plastic bottles is harmful to human health”. It has a higher probability of drinking estrogenic compounds (which affects reproductive hormones) through water. He analysed 20 samples of mineral water. Nine samples came out of glass bottles, nine were bottled in PET plastic and two were in cardboard. The specialised yeast, which change colour in the presence of estrogen like compounds, revealed estrogenic activity in seven of the nine plastic bottles (and both cardboard samples), and compared with just three of the nine glass ones. The levels of these compounds in the water were surprisingly high.

ISRO launches RISAT-2 (20th April 2009)

The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched a revolutionary spy satellite RISAT-2. It is designed by the Israeli Aerospace Industries. It can take images through the thickest cloud cover, rain and snow or fog conditions during night and day or even of the hundreds of winding mountain valleys. It will be used extensively for purposes like mapping, managing natural disasters and surveying the seas, it can also see through camouflage like cloth or foliage used to conceal camps or vehicles. It will enable India to keep a watch on terror camps, military installations across boundaries, missile sites and suchlike. It should also help keep track of ships at sea that could pose a threat. The RISAT will reduce India's dependence on foreign suppliers like Ikonos for satellite imagery.

March

Discovery Crew Returns Home From ISS

The Discovery space shuttle crew returned home to the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Sunday(29/3/09) after completing a 12-day mission.

Discovery landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:14 p.m. Saturday(28/3/09), after traveling more than 5.3 million miles. Its crew delivered solar arrays to help power the International Space Station and science experiments taking place there. The astronauts completed three space walks, lasting more than six hours each, to install, repair, and maintain equipment for the station.

The STS-119 flight marked the first trip to space and the first spacewalks for former science teachers Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold. Both are now NASA astronauts. The flight was Discovery's 36th trip to space. It marked the 125th space shuttle mission and the 28th shuttle trip to the space station.

Internet Crime Up 33 Percent, FBI Reports

Internet-based crime increased by 33 percent last year, making 2008 the biggest year ever for reported cybercrime incidents, according to an Internet Crime Complaint Center annual report.

The ICCC, a nonprofit organization run by the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center dedicated to monitoring online fraud, issued a report Monday showing that fraud losses incurred from cybercrime reached a total of $264.6 million in 2008, compared to $239.1 million the previous year, Reuters reports. Losses in recent years pose a sharp contrast to cybercrime losses of $18 million in 2001.

"2009 is shaping up to be a very busy year in terms of cybercrime," said John Kane, director of the National White Collar Crime Center based in Richmond, Va., and the report's author, to Reuters.

Adobe, Facebook partner to create Flash developer tools

Adobe has partnered with one of the most popular social networking Web sites, Facebook, to give developers a new set of tools to create applications.

The applications will use Adobe's Flash platform and the new ActionScript 3 Client Library for Facebook the two companies developed together. The client library is a free open source programming language that supports Facebook application programming interfaces (APIs) including Facebook Connect.

Microsoft to discontinue Encarta

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) is to exit its Encarta encyclopedia business later this year after losing ground over the years to freely available reference material on the Internet on web sites like Wikipedia.

"People today seek and consume information in considerably different ways than in years past," the software maker said in a notice posted on its MSN website.

Microsoft, which axed 5,000 jobs earlier this year to cut costs and warned profit and revenue would fall over the next two quarters, said it would stop selling Encarta software products by June. Encarta websites worldwide, except Encarta Japan, would be discontinued on October 31 and Encarta Japan will cease after December 31, the company said.

Obama to restore stem cell research funding

US President Barack Obama on Monday signed an executive order reversing Bush administration restrictions on Federal funding for stem cell research. He said that he would ensure that all research on stem cells would be conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight.

This move would be in line with Mr Obama's campaign vow to restore funding to embryonic stem cell research.This development impressed scientists who have long campaigned for the Bush policy to be overturned, but will likely be condemned by conservative right-to-life groups.

Mr Bush barred Federal funding from supporting work on new lines of stem cells derived from human embryos in 2001, allowing research only on a small number of embryonic stem-cell lines which existed at that time.He argued that using human embryos for scientific research - which often involves their destruction - crossed a moral barrier and urged scientists to consider other alternatives. Embryonic stem cells are primitive cells from early-stage embryos capable of developing into almost every tissue of the body.

India To Send Sun Mission Aditya In 2012

After the successful launch of the moon mission, Chandrayaan-1, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now gearing up for a mission to the sun. The proposed sun mission christened as "Mission Aditya", is aimed at unraveling the secrets of the sun. G Madhavan Nair, chairman of the Indian space agency ISRO, announced that, the agency is ready with its new space programme to explore the corona of the Sun in 2012.

"Mission Aditya" will find out answers for how and why solar flares and solar winds disturb the communication network and play havoc with electronics on the earth. It will also uncover the mysteries surrounding the sun's corona that create geomagnetic field disturbances on the earth and often damage man-made satellites and spacecraft moving in the sky under intense sunlight.

Though the sun mission of ISRO has been on the cards for quite some time now, it got a boost after the successful launch of Chandrayaan-1. The success of the Aditya Mission will provide vital clues to ISRO to protect its satellites and spaceware from being damaged by hot winds and flares ejected out of the sun's corona.

Indian-American Scientist Vivek Pai Creates Top Web Technology

The researchers' team led by Indian American scientist Vivek Pai has developed a revolutionary way to expand internet access around the world. The team of Princeton University computer science researchers created a new efficient data storage system called HashCache which got listed as one of the top emerging technologies of the year in scientific magazine, Technology Review. The scientific magazine is being published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

HashCache claims to store information more efficiently than current methods. The newly created data-caching system is expected to expand web use in developing regions around the world by making internet access more affordable. The new data storage system increases the possibilities of expanding internet facility across the poorer regions as it is very affordable. Compared to RAM, HashCache is capable of storing more information from frequently visited web sites on a local hard drive thereby enabling direct data access. Vivek Pai explained that by increasing the efficiency of internet data transfer, HashCache can reduce the cost of maintaining a hard drive.

February

Indian Scientists To Clone Pashmina Goat

A team of scientists from Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana is working on a project to clone the famous pashmina goat. A success in this direction is expected to give boost to the dwindling trade in pashmina wool. The project is under a World Bank aided project known as National Agriculture Innovation Project.

The project 'Value Chain on Zone Free Cloned Embryos Production and Development of Elite Germ Plasma Pashmina' hopes to change the pashmina production scenario in the state. A six-member team will use somatic cells of the goat to clone the cell to produce new pashmina goat. Scientists will use a hand-guided cloning technique and the four-phased project will run for next three years.

NASA's Kepler Mission To Begin Quest To Find Planets Hosting Life

NASA's Kepler spacecraft is all set to begin its maiden journey in search for worlds that could potentially host life. The spacecraft is scheduled to blast-off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Florida aboard a Delta II rocket on March 5, 2009. Kepler is the first mission with the ability to find planets like Earth. The mission will study rocky planets that orbit sun-like stars in a warm zone where liquid water could be maintained on the surface that is believed to be essential for the formation of life.

The mission will spend three-and-a-half years in the space. It will survey more than 100,000 sun-like stars in the Cygnus-Lyra region of our Milky Way galaxy. It is expected to find hundreds of planets of the size of earth and larger, at various distances from their stars.

ISRO To Use Home-Grown Cryogenic Engine For GSLV Launch

The India Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will use an indigenously developed cryogenic engine to launch the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Reports say that IRSO will undertake the launch operation in July this year. The use of home-grown cryogenic engine to put GSAT-4 into orbit will end India's dependency on Russia. India has been importing the cryogenic engines from Russia since 1991. So far, India has launched five GSLV rockets. But now ISRO has developed its own cryogenic engines and all the tests have been completed successfully, the source added.

The launch of GSAT-4 communication satellite using an indigenously developed cryogenic engine will provide internet connectivity in remote villages. The ISRO is also considering to use the GSLV for the Chandrayaan-II mission scheduled for 2012. Earlier, ISRO used PSLV to launch Chandrayaan-I.

January

1.World's First Internet Car Radio Unveiled

The Australian researchers have developed a new internet car radio for the first time which enables the users to access 30,000 stations including online broadcasts and AM and FM stations from all round the globe. The internet car radio developed by Melbourne-based online radio aggregator miRoamer was launched in prototype form at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. miRoamer has signed a deal with German-based Blaupunkt which is one of the largest producers of car radios in the world.

Under the new deal, Blaupunkt will produce internet radios which will be fitted in latest models by car manufacturers such as Ford, Holden, Mercedes, BMW and Audi. The internet radio will also be sold separately for those who want to install it in their cars. It is very imperative that radio lovers will prefer internet car radio to traditional broadcasters as it offers a huge number of stations from all over the world. The new product is expected to be launched in the US and Europe in the second half of 2009. In more ways than one, the internet car radio is going to revolutionise the way people listen to radio.

2.Motorola Unveils Cellphone Made From Recycled Water Bottles

Motorola has unveiled a new kind of mobile phone called MOTO W233 Renew which is made from recycled plastic water bottles. According to the handset manufacturing company, MOTO W233 Renew is also a carbon neutral phone. The company is said to have collaborated with Carbonfund.org to manufacture the new mobile phone. Interestingly the container that holds the phone is also made from recycled material.

In order to uplift its recycling program for mobile phones and accessories, Motorola has also entrusted another postage-paid box with the MOTO W233 Renew which can be used by customers to mail their old phones back to the company for recycling. The postage-paid box is also made from recycled paper, claimed Motorola.

The new MOTO W233 Renew offers nine hours of talk time with ChrystalTalk technology and has messaging capabilities. The new mobile handset from Motorola is expected to be launched at the 2009 International CES in Las Vegas. The phone will be available in the market by the first quarter of 2009.

MOTO W233 Renew has been designed for eco-conscious consumers as well as for those who loves to make phone calls. The recycling program of Motorola is ready to accept any mobile phone or accessory for recycling which it feels will help to recover valuable materials for reuse that will reduce environmental impact.

3.UK Doctors Deliver Cancer-Proof Baby

The first British baby genetically selected to be free of a breast cancer gene has been born. She grew from an embryo screened to ensure it did not contain the faulty BRCA1 gene, which passes the risk of breast cancer down generations.

According to the sources of University College Hospital in London the mother, a 27-year-old Londoner, and her little girl were in very good condition. Women in three generations of the father's family have been diagnosed with the disease in their 20s, including his mother, grandmother, sister and cousin.

A girl born with the altered BRCA1 gene have a 50-80% chance of developing breast cancer - but screening can prevent this. The technique used is known as Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which involves taking a cell from an embryo at the eight-cell stage of development, when it is around three-days old, and testing it.

The treatment follows the green-signal given by Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority in 2006, which said doctors could test for 'susceptibility genes' such as BRCA1. A properly functioning BRCA1 protein helps stop cancer before it starts but faulty genes greatly increase the risk of cancer.

BRCA1 and a related version of another gene, BRCA2, account for around 5% of breast cancer.

Sony To Launch World's Lightest 8-Inch Notebook PC

In a bid to capture the rapidly growing market for ultra-portable personal computers, Sony Corp of Japan decided to launch 8-inch notebook PC which is considered to be one of the lightest laptops in the world. The new Sony Vaio PC will have Microsoft Corp's Windows Vista operating system. Windows Vista operating system incorporated in Sony laptops will support all the software programs found in full-sized notebooks.

While revealing the plan, Sony said that the new notebook weighs only 1.4 pounds and it is as thin as a mobile phone. The notebooks will available for pre-orders and were released in the market in the first week of February 2009. the Sony notebook is priced at about $900, setting itself apart from Netbooks.

The Red Planet Of Mars May Have Life On It

NASA, the space agency of USA, may be ready to announce alien microbes living below the Martian soil are the cause of a methane haze surrounding the Red Planet of Mars.

Researchers from around the world have shown a greater interest in the Red Planet, as possible traces of water and ice dust have raised hopes of discovering signs of life on or underneath the planet's surface. Even though methane is created on Earth by volcanoes, scientists haven't found any active volcanoes on the Red Planet.

In addition, it seems NASA researchers found high levels of methane in the same regions as water vapor clouds, which are absolutely necessary for life. The study was conducted during a seven year examination of the planet.

Indian Scientists Conduct Anti-Warming Experiment In Antarctic Ocean

A group of scientists from India and Germany jointly conducted an anti-warming experiment in Antarctic Ocean. It is believed that the experiment may find out a possible solution to on-going global warming crisis. The scientists began their experiment by scattering iron powder on hundreds of square kilometres of the Antarctic Ocean. The iron powder will fertilize the growth of phytoplankton which will eventually remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and take it deep under the ocean surface.

The technology of iron fertilization is likely to stop global warming at a very little cost. About six tonnes of iron are to be scattered on 300 sq km of sea. The group of scientists which left Cape Town on board the Polarstern on January 7 includes thirty Indian and 18 from other nations. The tiny organism called phytoplankton can eliminate carbon dioxide which is the main greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. The technology used by the Indian and German scientists can be path-breaking one in curbing global warming which stands out to be a major threat to mankind.

2009 Current Affairs

Businessman buys Gandhi's home, plans for museum (30th July 2009)

Mahatma Gandhi's Johannesburg house, has been bought by a Bandra businessman, Pradeep Bhavnani for about Rs 2.25 crore on July 30. Mahatma Gandhi lived in this house from 1908 for three years while he fought against the racial discrimination in South Africa as a lawyer. The house that was designed by artist Hermann Kallenbach is called 'The Kraal'. Pradeep Bhavnani, who is senior BJP leader L K Advani’s nephew and a self-professed Gandhian is planning to turn it into a museum. After buying the house, he intends to buy 34 souvenirs and photographs from the Aditya Birla Group to install them in the museum. After inaugurating the museum on Oct 2, Gandhi’s birth anniversary, it will be handed over to Government of India on the same day.

Rajmata Gayatri Devi laid to rest (28th July 2009)

Rajmata Gayatri Devi passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 90. The people of the city gave their daily routines a miss to catch a glimpse of the Queen's last journey. They grieved the fact that the only person who really cared about their grievances had passed away. The Queen was cremated with State Honours and the event was graced by the presence of the Rajasthan Governor Shailendra Kumar Singh and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, along with several members of the State Cabinet.

Class X girl selected for NASA training (26th July 2009)

Palak Agarwal, is one of the two school girls selected from India for NASA training in space shuttle designing. She is a student of 10th class in a school in remote Karnal dist. She was selected under a student programme under which a few students across the globe get an opportunity to get training in NASA.

PM launches India's first nuclear submarine (26th July 2009)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur launched the country's first nuclear powered attack submarine, INS Arihant in Vishakhapatnam. The INS Arihant will be commissioned in the Indian Navy after extensive outfitting and sea trials. It is the first of three such vessels to be built in the country. Its length is 112-metre-long. India has achieved a 'historic milestone in the country's defence preparedness' with the launch of the submarine.

Bill Gates to receive Indira Gandhi Peace Prize (23th July 2009)

Bill Gates has received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development on behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2003, the foundation launched Avahan, a 10-year initiative to support India's efforts to reduce the spread of HIV.

India's first sea bridge (30th June 2009)

The Congress president Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the Bandra Worli sea link in Mumbai. The 5.6 kilometers long cable-stayed bridge has been designed to allow for speedy road travel between Bandra and Worli. It costs Rs. 50 to take a trip on the link, and will cost Rs. 75 for a round trip. It would be nothing compared to the Rs 100 crore per year that the link will save in the vehicle operating cost alone. The link is equipped for traffic monitoring, emergency support and an automated toll system. The construction of the sea link would save people's time.

Union minister threatens HC judge to grant bail (30th June 2009)

R Regupathi, a Madras High Court judge has threatened to write to the central government and the prime minister about a Union Minister seeking to influence him to release a medical student petitioner and his father, a doctor on anticipatory bail. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked both of them in connection with a forged mark sheet case.

Government to make class X examination optional (25th June 2009)

Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) has suggested that the government may make class X examination optional for students. He said that the examination system would be reformed in accordance with the National Curriculum framework-2005. This will permit students to continue in the same school. Schools may take an internal assessment test instead. This he says, will be done in 100 days.

Air Force AN-32 aircraft Crash (10th June 2009)

Indian Air Force, Army and paramilitary forces made a search for missing Air Force AN-32 aircraft which crashed over Arunachal Pradesh. The IAF began aerial reconnaissance to trace the transport aircraft while Army and paramilitary forces too have been pressed into the search operation. There were 13 people on board including six IAF officers and seven Army personnel and all of them are feared dead. The aircraft had taken off from Machuka in Arunachal Pradesh on a supply sortie and was on its way to Mohanbari in Assam when it went off radar due to bad weather and crashed. The last radio contact with the missing aircraft was 35 miles from Machuka. Top-level sources in IAF say that the flying crew of the AN-32 was highly experienced and bad weather is suspected to be the reason for the crash.

Family donates their dead son's organs to 7 people (9th June 2009)

A family in Andhra Pradesh mourning the loss of their 19-year-old member Ganpati in a road accident has ensured his legacy by donating his organs and transforming the lives of seven people. Johnson, a six-year-old boy, was suffering from the dangerous blue baby syndrome but now a critical heart surgery has ensured he would live healthily. It's not just Johnson but six other people, too, who have received vital organs including the kidneys and liver donated from Ganapati’s body. Ganapati had met with an accident and was brought to hospital brain dead. Doctors counselled with the family. Though it wasn't an easy decision for Ganapati's family to donate his organs, Ganapati's elder brother Pradeep went ahead, believing that his brother will live on by this deed. Ganapati's family is unaware of the identities of any of the seven people who have benefited from his organs. But they do find solace in the thought that Ganapati continues to live on.

Dream Houses / Mumbai Flats on rent for Rs. 800/- (3rd June 2009)

The common people of Mumbai may now dream of affordable homes. An ambitious low-cost housing programme promises to provide flats on rent for as less as Rs 800. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) announced that they are going to construct 133,000 flats near the city. The MMRDA, in collaboration with real estate giant HDIL, will construct the flats on 525 acres in Virar suburb in Thane district north of Mumbai. The project aims to house around 2 lakh people in the flats. The rent for the flats will range from Rs 800 to Rs 1,500 per month. Each flat measures 160 sq ft and will be given on lease for a period of five years. The Metropolitan Commissioner told that 90,000 (flats) are made for free-sale components and 43,000 are purely rental housing tenements of 160 sq feet each. Only people with a minimum monthly income of Rs 5,000 will be eligible to apply for houses. Applicants should preferably be residing in Maharashtra but it isn't a compulsory requirement. The MMRDA also announced eight other low-cost housing projects in the city to house 5 lakh families in the next few years. The authority will earn Rs 5,000 crore in rent and builders will benefit as they would be allowed to construct taller buildings with more flats.

Oz Racial attack: AP student battling for life ( 28th May 2009)

Shravan Kumar, a 25-year-old student was attacked by teenagers in Australia is battling for life after he and three of his friends from Andhra Pradesh were attacked on May 26. Doctors are not 'very optimistic' about chances of his recovery. Shravan was critically injured after one of the boys attacked him with a screwdriver. The other three identified as A Krian, Subhash and Sandip escaped with minor injuries. The attackers abused the Indian students and asked them to leave Australia. While Shravan is still in hospital, the other three moved out of the house. This is the second attack on Indian students in a week. Meanwhile there are reports that the house where Shravan and his friends were staying is apparently robbed by some miscreants.

Congress' victory, credit to Sonia's inner voice ( 18th May 2009)

The amazing victory of the Congress Party and the pathetic defeat of the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls 2009 has come as a surprise. Nobody expected that the Congress will bag over 200 seats on its own and cross 260 with its allies. All political Pundits and Sephologists were predicting highly fractured result on 16 May 2009, the day of counting. But May 16 became a 'black Saturday' for the Bharatiya Janata Party with an astonishing victory for the Congress. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi once again made it clear that she is not in race for the PM post of India. Ms Gandhi had made her point clear that Manmohan Singh is the Prime Ministerial candidate of Congress. This cleared a long standing doubt in the minds of many Indians who are not happy to see a foreigner as India's Prime Minister. This worked and converted into votes.

UPSC results: Women on top, 791 succeeded (5th May 2009)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam results for the year 2008 were announced. A higher number of women have topped these numbers. The top three ranks have been grabbed by women for the first time. The Rank 1 holder, 30-year-old Shubhra Saxena from Ghaziabad has become the talk of the country. She told the media that the risk of quitting her job to serve the rural masses was worth it.

River Ganga still reels under Pollution (4th May 2009)

The river Ganga remains highly polluted even after being declared the 'National River' by the Central Government. Filled with chemical wastes, sewage and even the remains of human and animal corpses, it poses major health risks to around 400 million people living by its side and all others who benefit from it. The Ganga also suffers from another major problem called silting which results into chocking of its flow.

People believe that constructing dams on the Ganga could be the cause of low water level in the river. The residents say no steps have been taken to improve the condition of the Ganga. The condition of the Ganga is deteriorating by the day. There is more sand in it. Though it is declared a 'National River', no efforts are being made to clean it. If water is released from the dam, then only the water level will increase in the river. Efforts have always made to clean up the Ganga since a long time but none have been proved successful.

Satyam bidding Completed: Tech Mahindra wins bidding (13th April 2009)

In the Satyam Computers bidding process, three huge companies namely Tech Mahindra, Engineering L&T, and Wilbur Ross had participated. Tech Mahindra has won in the Satyam bid by paying Rs. 1757 crore and now has 31% stake in Satyam. Tech Mahindra will pay Rs 58 per share; L&T had offered to pay of 49 Rs per share and so lost out.

Girl dies due to asthma in Delhi School (22nd April 2009)

Aakriti Bhatia of class 12 student of the Modern School in Vasant Vihar of Delhi died due to an asthma attack. Her parent’s alleged negligence by the school resulting in her death. It seems while taking Aakriti to hospital the school authorities removed the oxygen provided to her, also instead of calling an ambulance they waited for Akriti's father's car to take her to hospital, which could have lead to the death. However the school claims that they did everything possible to save her. Other parents and people are demonstrating against the school.

Parents protest fee hike in schools (April 2009)

Hundreds of parents opposing the fee hike in schools protested at various places in Delhi and demanded its immediate rollback. The parents association of Guru Nanak Public School staged a demonstration and criticized the school authorities over the fee hike. All India Parents Association (AIPA) also extended its support to the demonstration. The children also shouted slogans from the classrooms. The matter of fee hike has been challenged in the Delhi High Court. The court would hear the case on April 29.

Tata Nano The People's Car Launched (23rd March 2009)

People's car 'Nano' launched amidst much waiting and expectation.

Tata Motor's 'Nano' was commercially launched in Mumbai on 23/3/09 promising to meet the expectations of people under some circumstances which is likely to bring about a change in the auto market in the nation

Modi minister held in post-Godhra riot case (March 2009)

As prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and chief minister Narendra Modi on 27/3/09 launched the BJP’s campaign at the Kankaria lakefront, a few kilometres away, in Gandhinagar, Maya Kodnani, a minister in Modi’s cabinet, was arrested in one of the post-Godhra riot cases of 2002.

Minister of state for women and child welfare and higher education, Kodnani was arrested after the Gujarat high court cancelled her anticipatory bail on Friday in the Naroda Patia and Naroda Gam riots case. A trained gynaecologist, she resigned from the ministry and surrendered before the SC-appointed Special Investigation Team in Gandhinagar with VHP leader Jaideep Patel.

Varun guilty; EC asks BJP not to field Varun (March 2009)

The Election Commission has found the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Varun Gandhi guilty of making remarks against Muslims in an election rally in Pilibit and in the wake, violating polls laws. The EC has also declared that the CD was not doctored and said that it will initiate criminal proceedings against him.

The EC has also asked BJP not to give a ticket to contest polls in Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.

"The commission considered the speeches as a grave violation of the model code of conduct, apart from amounting to promoting feelings of enmity and hatred between different classes on the ground of religion, outraging the religious feeling of a particular community, and promoting hatred and ill-will between two classes of citizens and provoking a section of the citizens to indulge in violence."

"Any sponsorship of his candidature by the BJP, or any other political party at this election, would be perceived as endorsing his unpardonable acts of inciting violence and creating feelings of enmity and hatred between different classes of citizens of India, destroying the social, democratic and plural fabric of the country," it said.

SATYAM FRAUD

The fraud at Satyam may well turn out to be the biggest of all scams unearthed from corporate India. Through multiple routes involving a large number of related companies and myriad transactions, the promoters of Satyam Computer Services, led by the company's Chairman Ramalinga Raju, are alleged to have siphoned out a huge quantity of money from the firm. To cover that up, the accounts were manipulated and documents were forged to declare nonexistent cash reserves and understate liabilities.

The money that was taken out may have been used, among other things, to acquire large quantities of land in what seems to be a set of speculative real estate ventures that could enrich the family. The Maytas companies that had titles that spelt Satyam in reverse were important conduits in this process, but there were clearly many more. According to reports, the Registrar of Companies has found that ''Satyam's annual report reveals several transactions with subsidiaries and other group companies by way of investments, purchase of assets and other receivables'' that point to the concealed transfer of funds out of the company.

Shockingly, one of the allegations made by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Andhra Pradesh is that the company had only 40,000 employees on its rolls as compared with the 53,000 claimed by it and the remaining 13,000 were mere fake salary accounts through which as much as Rs. 20 crore a month were taken out of the company over a period of five years. If true, this involves descent to a level of manipulation and fraud that could spell the end for Satyam.

MANGALORE PUB ATTACK

Activists of a self-styled pro-Hindu moral brigade called Sri Rama Sene barged into a pub in the coastal city of Mangalore in january and bashed up a few young girls for 'violating traditional Indian norms'.

At least two girls were punched and their hair pulled by the activists 4 p.m. Saturday at the pub Amnesia - The Lounge in Mangalore, about 350 km from Bangalore. The young men accompanying the girls to the pub on the busy Balmatta Road were also assaulted when they tried to protect their friends.

Following this shocking incident, at least 10 of the activists have been arrested by Mangalore police. From the accounts given by the eyewitnesses, who did not want to be identified, the girls were the target of attack. About 40 men forcibly entered the pub claiming unethical activities were on inside and pushed their way inside. They began assaulting the young men and women who ran for safety. At least two of the girls started screaming for help and managed to flee from the attackers.

The ugly incident has a murky dimension also with leaders of Sri Rama Sene and Bajrang Dal, another pro-Hindu organisation fighting to take credit for the attack in the name of punishing those going against 'traditional Indian norms'.

RAILWAY BUDGET 2009

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav Friday presented his sixth rail budget in February.He is the first Railway Minister to introduce the low fare air-conditioned trains known as "Garib Rath". Fifteen such trains are already running and five more are expected to start in the near future.

The Railways minister cut rail fares across ticket categories by 2% and announced plans for 43 new trains on Friday.

The fare cut will bring down rail fares on air-conditioned travel the most, mounting further pressure on low-cost airlines, while fares for second-class, second-class sleeper, and general compartments will also go down for tickets worth more than Rs 50 per passenger. Suburban commuters who use express or mail trains will also see their ticket costs get Rs 1 cheaper.

The fare cuts, announced in the government’s interim railway budget for 2009-10, are expected to set the Indian Railways back by only around Rs 700 crore but will make little difference to its cash pile of Rs 90,000 crore. In any case, Mr Prasad said a cut in fares would not necessarily lead to a loss of revenues. The Railways has cut fares four times in as many years, lowering AC first class and AC two-tier rates by 28% and 20%, respectively and taking the competition straight to the doors of the low-cost airline sector.

The Minister also proposed starting 43 new trains during 2009-10, and said the Railways would extend services of 14 existing trains. The frequency of various Rajdhani and other express trains will also be increased taking into account the rise in the number of passengers.

DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST VALENTINE'S DAY

Activists of the Hindu fundamentalist political party Shiv Sena on Wednesday staged a token protest at Central Delhis Jantar Mantar against St.Valentines Day celebrations in the capital. The activists said that they viewed celebrations of St.Valentines Day contrary to Indian ethos and a proof of the growing influence of western culture on rest of the world. Besides, the protestors said that the St.Valentines Day was corrupting the Indian youth, as most of the youth on this day take advantage of the occasion and indulge in immoral behaviour at public places.

Such protest were undertaken at quite a few places in India like Bhopal, Bangalore etc. In Uttar Pradesh, Right-wing Hindu activists beat up young couples during Valentine's Day protests across the country. Shiv Sena said it was holding protests across the country against Valentine's Day celebrations which were against Indian culture and had a "corrupting influence" on Indian youth.

Protests by Hindu and Muslim groups were reported from the national capital Delhi, central Bhopal and southern Hyderabad cities.Fifty activists of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party's student wing attacked a shop selling Valentine's Day gifts in Hyderabad and set fire to the greeting cards. They carried saffron flags and chanted slogans such as "Save Culture" and "Death to Valentine's Day." Muslim groups also campaigned against Valentine's Day and displayed posters at public places asking youth to refrain from celebrating the day.

In central Bhopal city, another Hindu right-wing group the Bajrang Dal held protests threatening to marry off lovers found "misbehaving" in public places. Other Hindu religious organizations held protests in the western Gujarat state distributing handbills to college students asking them to shun western culture.

Valentine's Day has become popular in India over the past decade with shops selling romantic cards, heart-shaped balloons, cuddly toys and other gifts. But the day has also seen regular protests by Hindu and Muslim hardliners who claim the celebrations threaten Indian culture and social norms.

GIFT and GIP- Mission 2020

The Indian national steering group on hydrogen energy, headed by industrialist Ratan Tata, has developed a roadmap to have 1 million hydrogen-fueled vehicles—combustion-engine as well as fuel-cell vehicles—on Indian roads by 2020 and to generate 1,000 MW of power through hydrogen-fueled plants.

Tata presented the National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap, which entails an investment of Rs 25,000 crore (US$5.5 billion) to the Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Vilas Muttemwar.

The whole world, and certainly India, will face increasing shortage of hydrocarbons and so we have to look at alternative forms of energy. The document reflects the problems and attempts to define a roadmap.

—Ratan Tata

The Road Map examines different aspects of the problem including production, storage, transport, delivery, applications, safety, standards and codes, capacity building and awareness.

The Road Map has proposed two major initiatives: the Green Initiative for Future Transport (GIFT) and the Green Initiative for Power Generation (GIP).

The Green Initiative for Future Transport aims to develop and to demonstrate hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine and fuel-cell vehicles ranging from small two/three wheelers, cars and taxis, to buses and vans.

The Green Initiative for Power Generation envisages developing and demonstrating hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine/turbine and fuel-cell based decentralized power generating systems.

The roadmap highlights hydrogen production as a key area of focus, noting the need for urgent development of hydrogen production from coal gasification, nuclear energy, biomass, biological and renewable energy methods in addition to existing methods of steam methane reformation.

Of the projected cost, the majority (about 96%) would be allocated for creating infrastructure for hydrogen production, storage, transportation and distribution for meeting requirements of hydrogen under GIFT and GIP initiatives. The Road Map has recommended strong public private partnership covering the total hydrogen energy system for the implementation of its proposals.

The Steering Group under the Chairmanship of Shri Ratan Tata was constituted on 23rd February, 2004 during the first meeting of the National Hydrogen Energy Board.

India ranks fifth in the world in terms of energy consumption, and experienced an average annual growth rate in energy consumption of about 6% during 1981–2002. India is also one of the sixteen founding members of the International Partnership on Hydrogen Economy, established in November, 2003.