Current Affairs : February 3-4, 2012

ED files chargesheet against Kalmadi

• The ED (Enforcement Directorate) files a charge sheet against the sacked Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Commission or OC, Suresh Kalmadi alongwith five of his colleagues for alleged financial irregularities in the Queens Baton Relay event held in 2009 in London.
• The chargesheet was filed under the Foreign Exchange Management Act for violating Reserve bank of India Guidelines while making payments in the conduct of the Queens Baton Relay.
• The five other officials are former Secretary General Lalit Bhanot, Director General V K Verma, Deputy Director General Sanjay Mahindroo, Joint Director General, accounts and finance, M Jaychandran and A K Mattoo.

8.4% growth credible: PM

• The Prime Minister terms the 8.4 per cent economic growth in 2010-11 as a credible performance by India in the wake of a crisis ridden global economy.
• PM also lauds the 6.6 per cent growth in agriculture in 2010-11 and stressed on modernising the sector to increase productivity.

India expects record Wheat Production for 4th consecutive year

• India is expected to see a record wheat production for the fourth consecutive year at an estimated over 88 million tonnes in the 2011-12 crop year.
• The record production is due to higher yield and good weather conditions.
• Wheat output was at a record high of 86.87 million tonnes 2010-11 as well.
• The Government release says that overall food grains output is also estimated to exceed the target of 245 million tonnes.
• It will touch a record over 250 million tonnes, according to the second advance crop estimate for 2011-12.
• The food grains output was at 244.78 million tonnes in 2010-11. 
• Out of total food grains output, rice production is estimated to increase to 102.75 million tonnes this year, as against 95.98 million tonnes last year.
• The release says that Pulses Proeducion of India is estimated to be lower at 17.28 million tonnes this year, as against 18.24 million tonnes last year. Oilseed production is estimated to fall to 30.52 million tonnes in the reviewed period, from 32.47 million tonnes.

Joseph Kabila declared winner at elections in DRC

• Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila has been declared the outright winner in results released two months after November 2011  disputed presidential election.
• However, veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who declared himself president before this announcement, has called for a boycott of the parliament.

Iran launches observation satellite-Navid

• Iran launches an observation satellite “Navid” sucessfully. The satellite has been kept in a Low Earth Orbit at an altitude between 250 and 370 kilometres.      

Assam decides to coduct Gross State Happiness Index survey

• The Assam Government decides to conduct a Gross State Happiness Index survey.
• This survey will be undertaken in collaboration with IIT Guwahati, Flinders University of Australia and supported by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.
• If everything goes well, Assam will be the first state in the country to undertake such a survey.
• Gross National Happiness, GNH, was coined in 1972 in Bhutan. It refers to the concept of a quantitative measurement of well-being and happiness.
• The concept of well -being survey was initiated by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

India Festival begins at Abu Dhabi

• India Festival showcasing the rich cultural heritage and trade linkages between India and UAE started in the UAE Capital Abu Dhabi.
• The three day long festival has been organized by Indian Social Congress in collaboration with the Cultural wing of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

No impact of license cancellation on subscribers: TRAI

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI makes clear that there will not be much impact on subscribers due to cancellation of 2G licenses of eight companies.
• This is because around 95 per cent of total subscribers belongs to operators which got licences before January 2008.
• TRAI  Chairman J S Sarma made a statement that subscribers have the option to port out using mobile number portability.

GSI gets indication of new Copper and Gold Deposits

• Geological Survey of India, GSI gets indication of presence of new copper and gold deposits in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
• The Ministry of Mines hints three significant findings- discovery of copper mineralisation at Khera block in Alwar district of Rajasthan and gold mineralisation in Tumkur and Sonbhadra districts in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

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Month: Current Affairs - February, 2012