The Competition Master

RAPID GK SERIES 51

RAPID GK SERIES 51

1. The abbreviation of UNRISD is 2. The Headquarters of International Maritime Organization (IMO) is in 3. The Smallest Planet of our Sola...

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Govt announces uniform telecom license fee policy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Government has announced a uniform telecom license fee policy.<br />
</li>
</ul><span><ul><li>Briefing the newsmen in New Delhi, the Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal  said that all future licenses would be unified and telecom spectrum in  each city for operators, would be allotted separately.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The uniform license fee will be upto eight per cent of adjusted gross revenue of the telecom company.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Mr. Sibal said, a new telecom policy will come in force from the next financial year.</li>
</ul><ul><li>He said that the telecom regulator, TRAI, will announce a migration  path for existing license holders to the uniform license regime.</li>
</ul><ul><li>He said, there will be an entry charge for migration to the unified  license. Licenses will be renewed for ten years after expiry.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The Minister said, mergers and acquisitions in the telecom sector  upto 35 per cent of market share will be allowed under a quick and  simple process.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The new telecom policy does away with the previous license policy of  allocating the spectrum to telecom companies in various telecom circles  based on regions.</li>
</ul><ul><li>This means companies like Vodafone or Bharti Airtel had to acquire  different licenses to operate in different cities across India.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Going forward, they can pay a migration fee and acquire a national  uniform license. The announcement assumes significance after the Supreme  Court verdict that set aside the allocation of 122 licenses in 208.</li>
</ul></span></div>

Govt announces uniform telecom license fee policy

Government has announced a uniform telecom license fee policy. Briefing the newsmen in New Delhi, the Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said t...

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Nation wide campaign to promote Saakshar Bharat Mission

Nation wide campaign to promote Saakshar Bharat Mission

A nation wide campaign is being organized by National Literacy Mission from the 18th of this month to promote Saakshar Bharat Programme. ...

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42nd All India Police Science Congress begins in Gangtok

42nd All India Police Science Congress begins in Gangtok

The 42nd All India Police Science Congress is beginning in Gangtok in Sikkim from Feb 15. The Chief Minister Mr. Pawan Chamling will inaugu...

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At least 2 per cent growth in food production needed to meet demand in 2020-21: PM

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh  today said that the country needs a minimum two per cent growth in food  production to meet its demand in 2020-21.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Addressing a workshop on agriculture at Rashtrapati Bhavan today,  Dr. Singh said that the food grain production is expected to touch  record 250 million tones this year.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He said, strong agriculture sector is necessary for India's food  security. The Prime Minister asserted though food grain production has  regained momentum in the recent years, but the country cannot afford to  be complacent.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He added that this is particularly important in view of growing  demand for horticulture and dairy products. Dr. Singh called for paying  special attention to the needs of rain-fed farming as these areas  contribute more than 80 per cent of oil seeds and pulses grown in the  country.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Prime Minister called upon all stakeholders to come up with  technically sound and administratively implementable recommendations for  the benefit of agriculture in rain-fed areas. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In her inaugural address, the President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh  Patil suggested to set up a separate administrative set up to address  the specific problems of rain-fed areas and empower small farmers in  these areas.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Mrs. Patil asserted that this area needs thrust to generate a sense  of emergency at the government level and promote partnership among  various agencies. The President said, this all can be achieved only when  people work in unison.</li>
</ul></div>

At least 2 per cent growth in food production needed to meet demand in 2020-21: PM

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that the country needs a minimum two per cent growth in food production to meet its dema...

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India refuses to blame Iran for blast

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6010" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Refusing to pinpoint Iran for the  Israeli car bomb blast, India said it has no evidence about any  individual, entity, organisation and country involved in the attack  which left an Israeli diplomat critically injured.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>He was asked whether there was any information with the government  to show Iran's involvement in the blast, as was being claimed by Israel,  and if that would change the dynamics of India-Iran ties.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Meanwhile, official sources also refused to speculate the basis of  the Israeli allegation that Tehran was responsible for the terror  blast.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Emphasising that India's ties with Iran whether on energy front or  overall trade sector were driven by its own national interest, the  sources said "certain objective realities in our economic situation will  always be taken into account and there are some international measures  which will also have impact on the country".  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>However, the sources were also quick to point out that there were  various options available with India to carry on with its oil import  from Iran apart from engaging with other countries for the same.  </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Not withstanding a lot of pressure on  it to restrict its engagement with Iran from various countries,  including the US and Israel, New Delhi has been maintaining that its  relationship with Tehran will be driven by its national interest. </li>
</ul></div></div>

India refuses to blame Iran for blast

Refusing to pinpoint Iran for the Israeli car bomb blast, India said it has no evidence about any...

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Greek economy stuck in deep recession; GDP drops by 7%

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6011" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Greek economy remained stuck in a  deep recession in the fourth quarter, according to official figures  released Tuesday that confirm the painful effects of austerity reforms  intended to lower debt. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Gross domestic product decreased by 7 percent on the year in the  fourth quarter of 2011, in non-seasonally adjusted terms, the Greek  Statistical Authority said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The struggling eurozone country has been shut out of long-term debt  markets since 2010, and is surviving on rescue loans from European Union  countries and the International Monetary Fund. But harsh austerity  measures demanded in return for the emergency loans have hammered the  economy. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Greece's economy has been in decline since late 2008, with  successive quarterly contractions since then, with the exception of the  first quarter of 2010. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">The Public Debt Management Agency said  it had raised (euro) 1.3 billion (USD 1.7 billion) in an auction of  13-week treasury bills at a rate of 4.61 percent down from the 6.64  percent rate from the previous sale of three-month debt on Jan. 17.</li>
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Greek economy stuck in deep recession; GDP drops by 7%

The Greek economy remained stuck in a deep recession in the fourth quarter, according to official...

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‘Iran stops oil exports to six EU countries’

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6012" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Iran has stopped oil exports to six  European states in retaliation for European Union sanctions imposed on  the Islamic state's key export.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Iran has stopped exporting oil to Netherlands, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Brent crude oil prices were up $1 a barrel to $118.35 shortly after the announcement.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The EU's 27 member states have decided to stop importing crude from  Iran from July 1 over its disputed nuclear program, which the West says  is aimed at building bombs. Iran denies this.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Iran's oil minister said on February 4 that the Islamic state would certainly cut its oil exports to "some" European countries. </li>
</ul></div></div>

‘Iran stops oil exports to six EU countries’

Iran has stopped oil exports to six European states in retaliation for European Union sanctions i...

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India set to harvest record 250 million tons foodgrains: PM

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6013" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Exceeding target, the country is set to  harvest a record 250 million tonnes of foodgrains this year, as efforts  to push farm growth seem to be paying off, Prime Minister Manmohan  Singh said.</li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A workshop was held in New Delhi. The workshop is the part of the  initiative of President Pratibha Patil for enhancing farm productivity,  especially in rainfed areas. A Committee of Governors constituted by the  President has already met twice. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Besides Patil, today's meeting was attended by over 20 governors,  eight union ministers, five chief ministers and 37 vice chancellors of  agricultural universities. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Prime Minister said foodgrains production will exceed the target  by five million tonnes and cotton output at 34 million bales is a new  record as per the latest estimates. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>However, there was only one per cent growth rate in food production  in the country, against two per cent required to meet India's grain  requirement by 2020-21, he said. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The Prime Minister also pointed out distortions arising from pricing and subsidy regimes resulting into soil degradation. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">He expressed concern over volatility in  prices of farm products. "There is a big gap between farm gate and  retail prices that the consumers pay. There is also volatility with  prices being low after harvest. We need to address all this by reforming  agricultural marketing systems and investing in supply chains," he  said. </li>
</ul></div></div>

India set to harvest record 250 million tons foodgrains: PM

Exceeding target, the country is set to harvest a record 250 million tonnes of foodgrains this ye...

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Govt announces steps to arrest economic slowdown

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Giving a push to economy hit by  slowdown, the government unveiled a slew of policy measures including  relaxation of spectrum rules for the telecom companies, assuring coal  linkages to power sector and according environmental clearances to a  mega hydel project.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>A flurry of activities in the economic ministries, apparently at the  instance of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), is aimed at sending a  strong signal that the government wants to tackle the slowdown by  fast-tracking decision making, sources said.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The economic growth rate during the current fiscal is expected to slowdown to 6.9 percent from 8.4 percent a year ago.<span>  </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>At the instance of the PMO, Coal India will sign by March end  agreements for supply of fuel to power projects commissioned up to  December 2011.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The decision addresses long-standing tussle between the  state-controlled coal sector and private power producers and follows  constitution of a Committee of Secretaries (CoS) constituted by the  Prime Minister to look into issues.<span>  </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Giving a major advantage to old GSM operators, the government said  all telecom service providers would be allowed to hold higher spectrum  of up to 10 MHz. Current prescribed limit is 6.2 MHz of GSM spectrum.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In another important decision, Environment Minister Jayanthi  Natarajan has given the green signal for construction of a 1,750 MW  Demwe Lower Hydro Electric hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh on Lohit  river, overrulling ecological concerns.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>In order to give a boost to the National Manufacturing Policy, the  government announced that units in the proposed mega industrial enclaves  will be given highest priority for environmental clearances.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Besides, the procedures for green approvals have been relaxed,  exempting the individual units within proposed National Manufacturing  and Investment Zones (NMIZs) from public hearings, once they have been  held for the entire zone, provided they are notified by the concerned  state government.<span>     </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Meanwhile, the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), headed by  Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee decided to offload 5 percent equity in  the energy major ONGC through the auction route.<span> </span></li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The decision would help the government in mopping up Rs 12,000 crore  from disinvestment within the current financial year. With less than  one-and-half months to go for the current fiscal, the government managed  to raise only Rs 1,145-crore from stake sale in Power Finance  Corporation (PFC). </li>
</ul></div>

Govt announces steps to arrest economic slowdown

Giving a push to economy hit by slowdown, the government unveiled a slew of policy measures including relaxation of spectrum rules for the...

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Iran dares US & allies, trumpets nuclear advances

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="6015" style="display: block;">                                          <ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Iran trumpeted advances in nuclear  technology, citing new uranium enrichment centrifuges and domestically  made reactor fuel, in a move abetting a drift towards confrontation with  the West over its disputed atomic ambitions.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The announcement underlined Iranian determination to pursue a  nuclear programme its Islamic clerical rulers see as a pillar of power,  protection and prestige despite Western sanctions that are inflicting  increasing damage on Iran's oil-based economy.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Iran has been resorting to barter to import basic staples as  sanctions, imposed over its pursuit of nuclear activity seen in the West  as geared to developing atomic bombs, have spread to block its oil  exports and central bank financing of trade.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Tehran has for some years been developing and testing new  generations of centrifuges to replace an outdated, breakdown-prone  model. In January it said it had successfully manufactured and tested  its own fuel rods for use in nuclear power plants.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>The aim of its announcements was to show that international  sanctions are failing to stop it making progress in nuclear know-how  despite trade embargoes and to strengthen its hand in any renewed  negotiations with six world powers. </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Western analysts were sceptical of the proclaimed advances.  </li>
</ul><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>"We have seen this before. We have seen these announcements and  these grand unveilings and it turns out that there was less there than  meets the eye. I suspect this is the same case," said Shannon Kile at  the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). </li>
</ul></div></div>

Iran dares US & allies, trumpets nuclear advances

Iran trumpeted advances in nuclear technology, citing new uranium enrichment centrifuges and dome...

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