Current Affairs : September 15, 2011

September 15, 2011

Project Unnati

In order to implement UHDP Practice for Mango Cultivation, Coca-Cola India and Jain Irrigation come together under Project Unnati.

UHDP: Ultra-High Density Plantation
Coca-Cola India and Jain Irrigation declared the commencement of Project Unnati
Unnati to set an exceptional joint venture with farmers to reveal and facilitate implementation of ultra-high density plantation (UHDP) practice for mango cultivation
Project to persuade sustainable, recent agricultural practices and assist double mango yields.
In the initial stage of the project, 200 sample farms of size b/w 1-3 acres will use the UHDP method for mango cultivation whilst also employing the advantages of drip irrigation. The process is likely to increase farmer’s income by escalating yield per acre and also reduce the water used. The initial stage has an investment spending of more than $2 Mn and will be shared evenly b/w the two companies. The process will be implemented first with UHDP farming in some farms in Chittoor and Cudappa districts of Andhra Pradesh, an area famous for the Totapuri Mango-
a key ingredient in Coca-Cola made mango drink “Maaza”.
The demo farms will be used to showcase and train farmers on the method and implementation of UHDP practice under a joint capacity building programme under the support of Jain irrigation and Coca-Cola University.
Figures put forward that demand for packaged mango-based beverages is set to increase constantly over the upcoming years. But, the area under mango cultivation is not increasing at the same rate. UHDP mango plantation is a feasible solution and can be applied in all conventional mango growing areas.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil Delivered his First Public Speech in Libya

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil: The head of Libya’s National Transitional Council, delivered his first public speech in the capital Tripoli, demarcating his plans for the state. Mustafa Abdul Jalil was Minister of Justice under Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi. During the 2011 Libyan civil war, Abdul Jalil was identified as the head of the National Transitional Council.
He stressed the requirement for a new democratic state with a dynamic role for women in New Libya
In his first public speech, Abdul-Jalil affirmed he would not accept any extremist ideology, on the right or the left.

Supreme Court: ‘No one should die of starvation & malnutrition’

SC held that no one in India should die of hunger and undernourishment and it is the duty of the government to supply food to the poor.
The peak Court asked all states to identify how much extra food grains under PDS are essential to meet up the purpose.
A bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma also asked the Centre to take steps for the computerisation of entire PDS (Public Distribution System) to stop stealing and corruption.
The bench approved the order while dealing with a PIL filed by Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) complaining about large-scale corruption and abnormality in the PDS machinery.

Joint Council of IITs approves CET for IIT& NIT from 2013

A pan-India common entrance test for admission to the IITs and National Institute of Technology, NITs, has been proposed by the Joint Council of Indian Institutes of Technology(IITs)
Under the common examination, the Council also proposed to cover State Government run and private engineering colleges across the country
Operation proposed from 2013-14 academic year.
All-India merit list to be set based on the joint weightage given to class XII exam and to a common test. The examination will test a student’s logical ability and knowledge on non-subject matters.
As per the suggestions by the Kakodkar Committee, the Council also decided to lift the fees of IITs students from Rs 50,000 per annum to Rs 2,00,000
The Council also decided that during the study period the Student will pay only Rs 50,000 and the balance of fee of Rs 1,50,000 to be recovered when the Student gets employed. This fee hike would affect only general category Students as Students from ST, SC and OBC except creamy layer will continue to pay old fee.

Supreme Court: “Chief Justice has no unfettered powers”

The SC ruled no Government or authority, including the “Chief Justice”, has any “unfettered discretion” or “unaccountable action”.It said that any such exercise is subject to judicial review.
A bench of justices R V Raveendran and Markandeya Katju held that in a democracy where the rule of law prevails, even the prerogative power is subject to judicial review.
The top court passed the ruling while upholding an appeal filed by West Bengal Government challenging a decision of the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice to allow extra pay benefits to about 50 employees of the high court even though the Government rules did not authorize them.

4^th SAARC Energy Ministers meet in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The 4th SAARC Energy Minister’s inaugurated in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Focus of the meeting: Strengthening regional co-operation in the energy sector

Seminar for Asian Parliamentarians inaugurated by Ms Meira Kumar

Seminar for Asian Parliaments on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in New Delhi inaugurated by Ms Meira Kumar
The 3-day seminar will discuss on a variety of issues relating to violence against women and girls, including legislations on it
Renowned Parliamentarians and panellists from UN offices, human rights advocacy groups, judiciary and Government establishments to make presentations at the Seminar

4^th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave to be hosted by Nepal

Nepal to host the 4^th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave in Kathmandu between September 20-22, 2011
Theme ‘Peace and prosperity through regional connectivity’

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