Today's GK (4-10-13)

Indians get visa-free, visa-on-arrival access in 52 nations

British citizens enjoy the widest range of visa-free travel in the world, being able to visit 173 countries with just a passport, while Indians get visa-free or visa-on-arrival access in 52 countries.

The UK citizens are at par with those from Finland and Sweden for visa-free access, according to Henley & Partners Visa Restriction Index.

Nine out of the top ten in the index are European Union countries, with the tenth being the United States.

India figures 74th on the list while Afghanistan comes at the bottom of the table, with only 28 countries available for entry without visa. Iraqi passport holders can go to 31 countries while Pakistan and Somalia are tied at the third from the bottom with 32.

According to passport information from the International Air Transport Association ( IATA), 52 countries and territories provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to holders of Indian passports.

Twenty-eight countries and territories are accessible visa-free.

Where visa-free access is permitted, such access is not necessarily a right, and admission may technically be at the discretion of border enforcement officers. Visitors engaging in activities other than tourism, including unpaid work, may require a visa or work permit.

Indian citizens do not need a visa to travel and work in Nepal or Bhutan. The country of residence is a factor in determining the visa requirements for Indian passport holders when visiting some countries.

For example, an Indian citizen residing in the US holding a permanent resident permit ( Green Card) does not need a visa to travel to Canada, Mexico and many countries and territories in the Caribbean.

Gen. Giap, Vietnam war hero, dies at 102

General Vo Nguyen Giap, a key figure in securing Vietnam’s independence and winning the Vietnam War, died on Friday at 102, senior military officials and a relative said.

The general died at the 108 Military Hospital in Hanoi, a senior military official at the facility said.

“He died of old age, not because of any illness,” said the official, who requested anonymity. “The news about his death will only be made public after the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam approves,” one of his close relatives said.

The general had been in hospital for several years because of ill health.

Gen. Giap achieved his crowning moment as a commander in the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, which marked the end of the First Indochina War and France’s colonisation of Vietnam. The victory over the French led to the partition of the country and the beginning of a fresh outbreak of hostilities, this time between the communist North and U.S.-backed South.

Gen. Giap was also known as the initiator of the final offensive against South Vietnam in 1975.

Ecuador allows drilling in UNESCO reserve

Ecuador’s National Assembly on Thursday gave the go-ahead to drill in the Yasuni National Park, after failing to secure international compensation for leaving it untouched.

President Rafael Correa asked the assembly in mid-August to allow the move, after a call went unanswered for developed countries to pay Ecuador for not drilling in the nature reserve.

The Yasuni park in the east of the country has been declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve for its exceptional biodiversity, and is home to several indigenous tribes.

But in the six years since Ecuador launched the ITT-Initiative, named after the three oilfields of Ishpingo, Tiputini and Tambococha under the park, pledges have only reached 13.3 million dollars, or 0.37 per cent of the target, prompting Correa to abandon the project.

The deposits are expected to yield profits of 18.3 billion dollars, with extraction to start in five years.

EC announces poll schedule in five States

Assembly elections will be held in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh from November 11, 2013 the Election Commission announced on Friday.

While Chhattisgarh will have a two-phase polling on November 11, 2013 and November 19, 2013 the remaining States will have a single-phase poll.

Delhi and Mizoram will go to polls on December 4, 2013 Madhya Pradesh on November 25, 2013 and Rajasthan on December 1, 2013.

Counting for all the five States will take place on December 8, 2013 Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath told a press conference in New Delhi.

For the first time, voters will have an option of ‘none of the above’ (NOTA) in these polls where they can decide not to vote any of the candidates in the fray.

Mr. Sampath said there were 11 crore voters spread over 630 constituencies in these five States.

Voting will take place in 1.30 lakh polling stations, the CEC said, adding the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately.

Replying to a question on disqualification of convicted MPs, he said the Election Commission will announce vacancies only after they are notified by the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker.

The first phase of polls in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 11, 2013 for which the notification will be issued on October 18, 2013. The last date of filing nominations will be October 25, 2013 and the last date of withdrawal will be October 28, 2013. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 26, 2013.

The second phase of elections will take place on November 19, 2013 for which the notification will be issued on October 25, 2013. While nominations can be filed till November 1, 2013 scrutiny will be held on November 2, 2013. The last date of withdrawal is November 4, 2013.

For the November 25, 2013 poll in Madhya Pradesh, the notification will be issued on November 1, 2013. The last date of filing nominations is November 8, 2013. While scrutiny will take place on November 9, 2013, nominations can be withdrawn till November 11, 2013.

In Rajasthan, where the elections will be held on December 1, 2013, the notification will be issued on November 5, 2013. While November 12, 2013 is the last date of filing nominations, they can be withdrawn till November 16, 2013. In between, the scrutiny of the nominations will be carried out on November 13, 2013.

In Delhi and Mizoram, the elections will be held on December 4, 2013. The notification for Assembly polls in both the States will be issued on November 9, 2013. The nominations can be filed till November 16, 2013 and scrutiny will take place on November 18, 2013. The last date for withdrawal is November 20, 2013.

Union Cabinet Approved Proposal for Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences

The Union Cabinet on 3 October 2013 approved the proposal to establish a Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFILMS), along with a 500-bed General Hospital, a 300-bed Super Specialty Hospital, a Nursing College and a School of Paramedics. CAPFILMS will be registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and shall have a Governing Body and a Governing Council, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The objective of creation of the Institute is to facilitate attraction of talented professionals in the Central Armed Police Forces and their retention, besides providing in-house training, specialization, Post Graduate and Super Specialty Post Graduate courses to in-service health care professionals.  This in turn will help in boosting the morale of the force personnel as well as provide required trained technical hands in the medical set up of CAPFs for the benefit of their personnel and families.

The overall cost of the project is 1366.53 crore Rupees and it will be completed by 2018-2019. For this purpose, the land measuring 48.80 acres has already been purchased at Maiden Garhi, New Delhi through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).

Indian Railways Installed New Technique to Detect Faults in Coaches, Wagons & Locos

Indian Railways on 4 October 2013 adopted first ever unique modern technology for maintenance of its passenger coaches, wagons and locomotives in its continuous endeavour to enhance safety in Railway operations. The new maintenance technique which uses acoustic method of diagnostics is known as Acoustic Bearing Detectors (ABD) & Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD).

When used in combination together they are known as Online Monitoring of Rolling Stock (OMRS) systems. This technique involves placing arrays of microphones and sensors that record the audible noise and forces generated by the running coaches, wagons and locomotives. Conventional method to maintain passenger coaches, wagons and locomotives is to physically examine when these are in stationary condition at the maintenance depots. Under the new technique, the faults in the Rolling stock can be detected while on run which is a big advantage as it will make maintenance faster reducing turn -around time for Rolling stocks thereby ensuring availability of high number of wagons/coaches etc. for operation.

The OMRS equipment is so sensitive and accurate that it is often able to indicate the specific sub-component that is not behaving the way it should and therefore causing abnormal noise. Moreover, this can be monitored remotely using mobile communication facilities. In the conventional method, it is nearly impossible to detect this problem unless major assemblies are completely dismantled and checked in the maintenance depot.

Portugal's Luis Leao Pinto won Himalaya Bicycle Rally

 

Budgetary Support of 8632.77 Crore Approved for National AIDS Control Programme Phase-IV

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3 October 2013 approved the gross budgetary support of 8632.77 crore Rupees for implementation of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-IV by the Department of AIDS Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

NACP IV will integrate with other national programmes and align with overall 12th Five Year Plan goals of inclusive growth and development.

Objectives of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-IV

• Reduce new infections by 50 percent (2007 Baseline of NACP III)
• Provide comprehensive care and support to all persons living with HIV/AIDS and treatment services for all those who require it

 

INDIA Re-elected in the New Council of ICAO

India was re-elected in the new Council of International Civil  Aviation Organization (ICAO) as one of the states making the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for international civil air navigation. The 38th session of the Assembly of ICAO completed the election of the Council in Montreal on 1October 2013. The 36- member Council is the governing body of the Organization and is elected for a three-year term.

Afghanistan Qualified for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

CCEA approved RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan)

RUSA: Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3 October 2013 approved the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for reforming the state higher education system.

During the 12th Plan period, 80 new universities would be created by converting autonomous colleges/colleges in a cluster to State universities. 100 new colleges, including professional/technical colleges would be set up and 54 existing colleges would be converted into model degree colleges. Infrastructure grants would be given to 150 universities and 3500 colleges to upgrade and fill critical gaps in infrastructure especially libraries, laboratories etc. RUSA would also support 5000 faculty positions.

In the 12th Plan period, RUSA would have a financial outlay of 22855 crore rupees, of which 16227 crore rupees will be the Central share. In addition, allocation of 1800 crore rupees in the 12th Plan for the existing scheme Sub-Mission polytechnics would also be subsumed in RUSA. Thus the total central share, including the existing scheme of polytechnics will be 18027 crore rupees during the 12th Plan. Centre-State funding would be in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and 65:35 for other States and Union Territories.

RUSA will be a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme spread over two plan periods, for improving access, equity and quality in the state higher education system. With over 96 percent of students enrolled in the state higher education system, there is a need for State colleges and universities to be strengthened through strategic Central funding and implementing certain much needed reforms. RUSA also aims to incentivize States to step up plan investments in higher education.

The National Development Council (NDC) approved RUSA as part of the 12th Plan. It was subsequently included in the list of 66 schemes approved by the Cabinet on 20 June 2013, as part of the restructured CSSs for implementation in the 12th Plan.

India is Largest Recipient of Foreign Remittances: World Bank Report

The World Bank report entitled Migration and Remittance Flows: Recent Trends and Outlook-2013-16 released on 2 October 2013 revealed that India emerged as the largest recipient of foreign remittances among developing economies in 2013.

In 2013 Non-Resident Indians (NRI) sent a record 71 billion Dollars home compared to 70 billion dollars in 2012. According to a Word Bank report NRIs are estimated to remit up to 85 billion dollars a year by 2015.

World Bank in its report stated India and China will represent nearly a third of total remittances to the developing world in 2013.

The surge in remittances continues despite the recent decline in Rupees against the Dollar. The gulf countries account for nearly 40 per cent of remittances in India while it was 48 percent to South Asian countries.