General Compendium 4

2. Tech Mahindra 4th largest IT company
With Satyam in the bag, Tech Mahindra is all set to join the ranks of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys Technologies and Wipro Technologies as one of the country’s leading IT services players. Based on Satyam’s published figures, Tech Mahindra is expected to emerge as the fourth largest IT services company.
With 2007-08 revenue of Rs 3,766 crore, Tech Mahindra was considered the sixth largest IT player in India by revenue. Prior to the Satyam deal, it was trailing TCS (Rs 18,289 crore), Infosys (Rs 15,648 crore), Wipro (13,642 crore) and HCL (Rs 4,615 crore). Once Satyam comes up with its audited results, Tech Mahindra will edge past HCL.

3.As per TRAI’s press release on 19th march 2009 Link Total 13.42 million telephone connections (Wireline and Wireless) have been added during February 2009 as compared to 15.26 million connections added in January 2009. The total number of telephone connections reaches 413.47 million at the end of February 2009 as compared to 400.05 million in January 2009. With this growth, the overall tele-density has reached 35.62 at the end of February 2009 as against 34.50 in January 2009.

4. Global Political Risk Index
Potential post-election uncertainty caused India’s outlook to be lowered to negative from neutral in Eurasia Group’s latest ranking of 24 countries based on their political risks. India’s ranking remained constant at 11 with a score of 63 in April, up from 62 in March, but “difficult post-election coalition negotiations” will increase political and economic uncertainty, according to the political risk consultancy.

5. Templton Prize
The Templeton Prize is a prize given out annually by the Templeton Foundation. Established in 1972, it is awarded to a living person who, in the estimation of the judges, “has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical works. The prize is named after Sir John Templeton, an American-born British entrepreneur and businessman, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1987 for his philanthropic efforts. Until 2001 the name of the prize was Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion and from 2002-2008 it was called the Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities. It has typically been presented by Prince Philip in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. The monetary value of the prize (795,000 GBP or approx. 1.4 million US dollars in 2006) is adjusted so that it exceeds that of the Nobel Prizes, as Sir John felt, “spirituality was ignored” in the Nobel prizes. At $1.6 million, as of 2008, it is the largest single annual financial prize award given to an individual by a philanthropic organization

6. Safir:
The Safir Meaning Messenger or Ambassador in Arabic and adopted by Persian) is the name of the first Iranian expendable launch vehicle that is able to place a satellite in orbit. A sub-orbital test flight, named Kavoshgar-1 was conducted on February 4, 2008, as announced by state-run television. A launch on February 25, 2007, may also have been of the same type. The first flights carried instruments to measure the higher atmosphere. The rocket launched on February 4, 2008 was a liquid-propellant-driven rocket, probably a derivative of the Shahab-3, that reached an altitude of 200-250 km in space, and successfully returned science data according to the Iranian News Agency.
On February 19, 2008, Iran offered new information about the rocket and announced that Kavoshgar-1 used a two staged rocket. The first stage separated after 100 seconds and returned to earth with the help of a parachute. The second stage continued its ascent to the altitude of 200 kilometres. However it was not intended to reach orbital velocity.

7. China is Top in Mushrooms Production:
More than half the world’s mushrooms are now grown in China. The country turns out more that 5.2 million tons of fungi yearly, worth $2.4 billion, $650 million of which is exported abroad.

8. Indus Water Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing treaty between the Republic of India and Islamic Republic Of Pakistan. The treaty was signed in Karachi on September 19, 1960 by the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the then President of Pakistan Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan. The World Bank (then the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) is a signatory as a third party.
The Indus System of Rivers comprises three Western Rivers the Indus, the Jhelum and Chenab and three Eastern Rivers – the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi; and with minor exceptions, the treaty gives India exclusive use of all of the waters of the Eastern Rivers and their tributaries before the point where the rivers enter Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has exclusive use of the Western Rivers. Pakistan also received one-time financial compensation for the loss of water from the Eastern rivers.
The countries agree to exchange data and co-operate in matters related to the treaty. For this purpose, treaty creates the Permanent Indus Commission, with a commissioner appointed by each country.
9. Spaceport of New Mexico:
New Mexico’s plan to build a $225 million spaceport calls for the state Legislature to contribute $100 million in new money over the next three years — the “cornerstone” of an effort that could open up outer space to thousands of paying customers over the next decade.
10 . NPT:
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is a treaty to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, opened for signature on July 1, 1968. There are currently 189 countries party to the treaty, five of which have nuclear weapons: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the People’s Republic of China (the permanent members of the UN Security Council). Only four recognized sovereign states are not parties to the treaty: India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea. India, Pakistan and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons. Israel has had a policy of opacity regarding its own nuclear weapons program. North Korea acceded to the treaty, violated it, and later withdrew. The treaty was proposed by Ireland and Finland and they were the first to sign. The signing parties decided by consensus to extend the treaty indefinitely and without conditions upon meeting in New York City on May 11, 1995. The NPT consists of a preamble and eleven articles. Although the concept of “pillars” appears nowhere in the NPT, the treaty is nevertheless sometimes interpreted as having three pillars:
1. non-proliferation,

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