Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Artist was the first French film to ever win Academy Award of Best Picture.

The Artist was the first French film to ever win Academy Award of Best Picture and the first mainly silent film to win since 1927's Wings.

The Artist

The Artist was written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius and stars Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo.It was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five, including Best Picture, Best Director for Hazanavicius, and Best Actor for Dujardin.

Clara Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s.

Clara Bow was an American actress who rose to stardom in the silent film era of the 1920s. She appeared in 46 silent films and 11 talkies, including hits such as Mantrap (1926), It (1927) and Wings (1927).

Wings was the first of two silent films, the other being The Artist at the 84th Academy Awards in 2012, to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Wings was the first of two silent films, the other being The Artist at the 84th Academy Awards in 2012, to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.It is a 1927 silent film about World War I fighter pilots, produced by Lucien Hubbard, directed by William A. Wellman

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929..

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood.The Oscar statuette is officially named the Academy Award of Merit and is one of nine types of Academy Awards. It is also the oldest award ceremony in the media.

The country is facing acute power shortage and its per capita consumption is one of the lowest.

The country is facing acute power shortage and its per capita consumption is one of the lowest. 75 % of the electricity is generated by burning coal and natural gas.Creation of a separate Ministry of new and renewable energy is a testimony to this effort. Because of these efforts generation from renewable sources of energy has trebled since 2005 from 5 to 15 GW. By 2022 it should reach 40 GW.

Motilal Nehru

Motilal Nehru played a prominent role in the non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921.The report prepared on the initiative of a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Shri Motilal Nehru constituted by the All Parties Conference came to be known as the Nehru Report which was released by the All India Congress Committee in 1928.

India needs to be declared as data secure in order to provide access.

India needs to be declared as data secure in order to provide access. According to a study done by Boston Consulting Group, it is expected that because of Mode 1, there would be over six million jobs and a generation of revenue worth USD 170 billion by 2020 in India.

It is to be noted that the bilateral trade between India and EU in 2011-12 stood at USD 109.87 billion which increased from USD 90.62 billion during 2010-11.

It is to be noted that the bilateral trade between India and EU in 2011-12 stood at USD 109.87 billion which increased from USD 90.62 billion during 2010-11. The India-EU BTIA is paramount owing to the fact that it will give a projected leapfrog of € 150 billion to the bilateral trade by the year 2015.

With the Eurozone economy forecast to shrink by 0.3 per cent in 2012.

With the Eurozone economy forecast to shrink by 0.3 per cent in 2012, and with the European Commission crystal gazing zero growth for the current year for all the 27 Member States and 1.3 per cent growth for the coming year, the picture is all dispirited for the European Union. On the other hand, India’s economy is projected to grow by 6-7 per cent, much below the norm of 9 per cent.

Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)

It was finally recommended that a broader platform for expanded trade ties be inculcated through the negotiations of a broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA). BTIA started in June 2007 till today, the economic scenario has worsened and become gloomier for both India and the European Union.

India and the European Union was € 40 billion, when India exported € 3.8 billion worth of services to EU, and when EU was India’s largest source of foreign direct investment..

India and the European Union was € 40 billion, when India exported € 3.8 billion worth of services to EU, and when EU was India’s largest source of foreign direct investment; or in short when there were healthy trends in bilateral trade and investment between the two, the seeds of a High Level Trade Group were sown during the 2005 India-EU Summit to explore ways to give further boost to trade and investment between the duo.

foreign investment, up to 49 percent in scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion for permitting foreign airlines to make foreign investment, up to 49 percent in scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services.

Boeing 787

27 Boeing 787 will be delivered from 2012 to March 2016. The first of the aircrafts had arrived in New Delhi on 8th September 2012.

Kerala Kalamandalam

Kerala Kalamandalam was founded by the great poet Vallathol Narayana Menon in 1930 and has a special place in the cultural map not only of Kerala but also of the country as a whole.This organization is the first public institution to impart training and organize performances in the traditional performing arts of Kerala, especially Kathakali, Mohiniyattom, Kutiyattom and Thullaal. It has today established itself as a symbol of Indian cultural renaissance and has acclaimed global fame.

NSIC-Incubation program

NSIC has set up Incubation Centres all over the country and invited young girls, aspiring Women Entrepreneurs to join the NSIC-Incubation program free of Cost. The NSIC Incubation program is a integrated support by way of providing hands on training on working projects,

Alice Braga is a Brazilian actress.

Alice Braga is a Brazilian actress. Her big break came in 2002 when she was cast as Angélica in the critically acclaimed film City of God.

Adrien Brody

Adrien Brody received widespread recognition after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist (2002), for which he became the youngest actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor at age 29.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Agricultural growth

An important aspect of performance which is relevant for inclusiveness is that agricultural growth, which had decelerated to an average 2.2 percent per year in the Tenth Plan, is likely to clock an average 3.5 percent in the Eleventh Five Year Plan.

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana

A major initiative in health for the poor has been the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, which now provides an insurance cover for inpatient treatment to well over 100 million people.

National Rural Health Mission,

The National Rural Health Mission, which took off only in 2007, has begun to address the large gaps in health infrastructure. Much remains to be done but there is evidence of progress. Institutional deliveries have increased from 54 percent in 2006 to 73 percent in 2009. The infant mortality rate has fallen from 57 to 50, over the same period.

The government has a very big role to play in developing the infrastructure needed in both rural and urban areas to support broad and inclusive growth.

The government has a very big role to play in developing the infrastructure needed in both rural and urban areas to support broad and inclusive growth. the government must have special programmes for livelihood support for the poor and vulnerable, aimed at directly increasing their income earning capabilities and at mainstreaming them in the overall growth process.

Government must provide a policy environment in which the creative spirit of our farmers and entrepreneurs is given full support and encouragement.

Government must provide a policy environment in which the creative spirit of our farmers and entrepreneurs is given full support and encouragement.This includes an environment of macro-economic stability, efficient functioning markets which ensure competitive discipline on private sector producers, a sound financial system for allocating financial resources, good governance with transparency and effective enforcement of the rule of law.

Draft Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017)

The Approach Paper also recognizes that achieving 9 percent growth will require investments in infrastructure sector development. In order to address issues of infrastructure shortages, greater thrust on public investment and public private partnerships in infrastructure sector would be required.

Draft Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017)

The Approach also emphasizes the need to harness private sector investment in these sectors. Allocation in the health sector is all set to double with the High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage recommending an increase on health spending to 2.5 percent of the GDP in the Plan period from the current level of 1.2 percent of GDP.

Flagship programmes

The major flagship programmes instrumental in promoting inclusiveness in the Eleventh Plan, would continue in the Twelfth Plan with greater focus on issues of implementation and governance to improve their effectiveness. Health, education and skill development continues to be focus areas in the Twelfth Plan and ensuring adequate resources to these sectors.

Higher agricultural growth would provide broad-based income benefits to the rural population and also help restrain inflationary pressure.

On the agricultural front, the Approach emphasizes the need to intensify its efforts to have 4 percent average growth in agriculture sector during the 12th Plan period from 3.2 percent growth in the first four years of the 11th Plan. Higher agricultural growth would provide broad-based income benefits to the rural population and also help restrain inflationary pressure.

The Approach Paper lays down the major targets of the Twelfth Plan,

The Approach Paper lays down the major targets of the Twelfth Plan, the key challenges in meeting them and the broad approach to be followed to achieve the stated objectives. It proposes a growth target of 9 percent.

Draft Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan

The Draft Approach to the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) has been approved by the National Development Council. The theme of the Approach Paper is "faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth"

Friday, September 21, 2012

DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICALS RESEARCH PROGRAMME (DPRP)

The programme was launched in 1994-95 for promoting R&D in drugs and pharmaceuticals sector with the objective to Forge public private partnership (PPP) in Drugs & Pharmaceuticals R&D covering both modern and Indian systems of medicine including veterinary drug development, To create state-ofthe-art R&D infrastructure in this sector in public funded laboratory/university, extend loan at 3% simple interest to pharma Industry R&D projects and grants-in-aid for clinical trials to pharma industry projects on developing drugs for neglected diseases like malaria, TB, Kalaazar, Filariasis, etc

National Bamboo Application Mission

National Bamboo Application Mission (NMBA) has been successful in adding value of bamboo materials through technologies for applications. Structural materials and Public service facilities like schools, hospitals etc have been constructed from bamboo in short spans of time. Leh has received 60,000 Sq.ft constructed area for housing after the recent floods.

The Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission) has been launched as an umbrella programme.

The Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission) has been launched as an umbrella programme on May 2007 for promoting pre-competitive R&D in this area of research. Under the nano mission, basic research in nano science has been actively fostered. More than 250 PhDs have been produced and about 2700 publications in prime journals have been published from the projects supported under the mission.

Objectives of Science and Technology

To ensure food, agricultural, nutritional, environmental, water, health and energy security of the people on a sustainable basis.To mount a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, enhancing livelihood security, removal of hunger and malnutrition, reduction of drudgery and regional imbalances, both rural and urban, and generation of employment, by using scientific and technological capabilities along with our traditional knowledge pool.To promote the empowerment of women in all science and technology activities and ensure their full and equal participation.

Science and technology have had unprecedented impact on economic growth and social development.

Science and technology have had unprecedented impact on economic growth and social development. Knowledge has become a source of economic might and power. This has led to increased restrictions on sharing of knowledge, to new norms of intellectual property rights, and to global trade and technology control regimes.

DST is planning to adopt request for proposals models for promoting cutting edge science in Solar Energy research in the country.

A part of pro-active effort of DST to promote indigenous capacity in Solar Energy Research; DST has shaped a PAN-IIT Initiative. A knowledge network of about 40 faculties from 6 IITs have now emerged. DST is planning to adopt request for proposals models for promoting cutting edge science in Solar Energy research in the country.

Department of Science & Technology

Department of Science & Technology (DST) was established in May 1971, with the objective of promoting new areas of Science & Technology and to play the role of a nodal department for organising, coordinating and promoting S&T activities in the country.

Monday, September 17, 2012

The demand for electronics hardware in the country is projected to increase from USD 45 billion in 2009 to USD 400 billion by 2020.

The demand for electronics hardware in the country is projected to increase from USD 45 billion in 2009 to USD 400 billion by 2020.This provides a huge opportunity for India to become an Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) hub to meet the domestic as well as the global requirements.

ELECTRONICS industry

THE ELECTRONICS industry emerged in the 20th century and has quickly become a global industry worth of billions of dollars with products ranging from simple consumer products to highly complicated aerospace ones.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

United Nations Industrial Development Organization

UNIDO,s primary objective is the promotion and acceleration of industrial development in developing countries.UNIDO works largely in developing countries, with governments, business associations and individual companies.Presently, 173 states are members of UNIDO.

United Nations Development Programme

UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.Headquartered in New York, the UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member nations.

UNEP sponsors the Marshlands project in Middle East that helps to protect the largest marshland in Middle East.

UNEP sponsors the Marshlands project in Middle East that helps to protect the largest marshland in Middle East.In 2001, UNEP alerted the international community to the destruction of the Marshlands when it released satellite images showing that 90 percent of the Marshlands had already been lost.

United Nations Environment Programme

United Nations Environment Programme was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.UNEP has been active in funding and implementing environment related development projects.UNEP established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988.

Montreal Protocol has often been called the most successful international environmental agreement .

Halon concentrations have continued to increase, as the halons presently stored in fire extinguishers are released, but their rate of increase has slowed and their abundances are expected to begin to decline by about 2020. the concentration of the HCFCs increased drastically at least partly because for many uses CFCs were substituted with HCFCs.

The Montreal Protocol provides for internationally coordinated control of ozone-depleting substances..

On September 16, 2009, all countries in the United Nations, the Cook Islands, Holy See, Niue and the supranational European Union have ratified the original Montreal Protocol. Timor-Leste being the last country to ratify the agreement, bringing the total to 196.

The main objective of the Multilateral Fund

The main objective of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol is to assist developing country parties to the Montreal Protocol whose annual per capita consumption and production of ozone depleting substances (ODS) is less than 0.3 kg to comply with the control measures of the Protocol.

Montreal Protocol

The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989.It is believed that if the international agreement is adhered to, the ozone layer is expected to recover by 2050.

As of September 2011, 191 states have signed and ratified the Kyoto protocol.

National targets range from 8% reductions for the European Union and some others to 7% for the US, 6% for Japan, 0% for Russia, and permitted increases of 8% for Australia and 10% for Iceland. As of September 2011, 191 states have signed and ratified the protocol.The only remaining signatory not to have ratified the protocol is the United States.

The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases..

The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement under which industrialized countries will reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% compared to the year 1990.The goal is to lower overall emissions from six greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs, and PFCs - calculated as an average over the five-year period of 2008-12.

The Kyoto Protocol sets a specific time period – known as the first commitment period – for Annex I Parties to achieve their emission reduction and limitation commitments..

The Protocol sets binding targets for developed countries, known as
“Annex I Parties”, to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.It has
established innovative mechanisms to assist these Parties in meeting
their emissions commitments.The Kyoto Protocol sets a specific time period – known as the first
commitment period – for Annex I Parties to achieve their emission
reduction and limitation commitments, commencing in 2008 and
ending in 2012.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which came into effect in 1994..

Climate change is a global problem that requires a global response
embracing the needs and interests of all countries. The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, which came into effect in
1994, and its Kyoto Protocol that came into effect in 2005 –

Kyoto mechanisms

The Kyoto mechanisms are:

**Emissions trading – known as “the carbon market"
**Clean development mechanism (CDM)
**Joint implementation (JI).

Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)

Activities in the LULUCF sector can provide a relatively cost-effective way of offsetting emissions, either by increasing the removals of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (e.g. by planting trees or managing forests), or by reducing emissions (e.g. by curbing deforestation).

The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005.

The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh in 2001, and are called the “Marrakesh Accords.”

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions .These amount to an average of five per cent against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.

Doha Climate Change Conference

The 18th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will take place on 26 November to 7 December 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha, Qatar.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Jupiter has 67 confirmed moons..

Jupiter has 67 confirmed moons.The most massive of them, the four Galilean moons, were discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei.Eight of Jupiter's moons are regular satellites, with prograde and nearly circular orbits that are not greatly inclined with respect to Jupiter's equatorial plane

Spain, also at the heart of Europe's debt crisis, will also likely is weighing whether to tap a new European Central Bank bond-buying plan.

Spain, also at the heart of Europe's debt crisis, will also likely is weighing whether to tap a new European Central Bank bond-buying plan. Spain is on the right track but will have to continue to convince the markets that it has sound policy for economic reform as well as budgetary austerity measures.

Europa

Europa is the sixth closest moon of the planet Jupiter. Europa was discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei.Slightly smaller than Earth's Moon, Europa is primarily made of silicate rock and probably has an iron core.

Debt-crippled Greece has depended since May 2010 on international rescue loans..

Debt-crippled Greece has depended since May 2010 on international rescue loans, granted by its European partners and the International Monetary Fund, in return for a deeply unpopular austerity program.

The Mohorovicic Discontinuity marks the lower limit of Earth's crust.

The Mohorovicic Discontinuity marks the lower limit of Earth's crust. As stated above it occurs at an average depth of about 8 kilometers beneath the ocean basins and 32 kilometers beneath continental surfaces.

Mohorovicic discontinuity

The various layers are separated by discontinuities which are evident in seismic data; the best known of these is the Mohorovicic discontinuity between the crust and upper mantle.In geology the word "discontinuity" is used for a surface at which seismic waves change velocity. One of these surfaces exists at an average depth of 8 kilometers beneath the ocean basin and at an average depth of about 32 kilometers beneath the continents. At this discontinuity, seismic waves accelerate. This surface is known as the Mohorovicic Discontinuity.

The inner core and crust are solid; the outer core and mantle layers are plastic or semi-fluid..

The crust varies considerably in thickness, it is thinner under the oceans, thicker under the continents. The inner core and crust are solid; the outer core and mantle layers are plastic or semi-fluid.

The Moon provides ocean tides, stabilizes the axial tilt, and gradually slows the planet's rotation..

Earth's only natural satellite, the Moon, which began orbiting it about 4.53 billion years ago, provides ocean tides, stabilizes the axial tilt, and gradually slows the planet's rotation.

Earth formed 4.54 billion years ago..

Earth formed 4.54 billion years ago, and life appeared on its surface within one billion years. About 71% of the surface is covered by salt water oceans, with the remainder consisting of continents and islands which together have many lakes and other sources of water that contribute to the hydrosphere.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980.

Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980.Climate model projections are summarized in the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They indicate that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 2.9 °C for their lowest emissions scenario and 2.4 to 6.4 °C for their highest.

The amount of sea ice in the Arctic had fallen to the lowest level on record..

In August 2012, researchers announced that the amount of sea ice in the Arctic had fallen to the lowest level on record, a confirmation of the drastic warming in the region and a likely harbinger of larger changes to come.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The United Nations has sponsored annual global talks, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty signed by 194 countries to cooperatively discuss global climate change and its impact.

Global warming has become perhaps the most complicated issue facing world leaders.

Global warming has become perhaps the most complicated issue facing world leaders. Warnings from the scientific community are becoming louder, as an increasing body of science points to rising dangers from the ongoing buildup of human-related greenhouse gases — produced mainly by the burning of fossil fuels and forests.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change.It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988.The IPCC is an intergovernmental body. It is open to all member countries of the United Nations (UN) and WMO.