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Environment Protection under Constitutional Framework of India
(Courtesy-PIB)
The constitution of India is not an inert but a living document which evolves and grows with time. The
specific provisions on environment protection in the constitution are also result of this evolving nature and
growth potential of the fundamental law of the land. The preamble to our constitution ensures socialist
pattern of the society and dignity of the individual. Decent standard of living and pollution free environment
is inherent in this. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 defines environment as environment includes
water, air and land and the interrelationship which exists among and between air, water and land and human
beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organism and property.
The chapter on fundamental duties of the Indian Constitution clearly imposes duty on every citizen to
protect environment. Article 51-A (g), says that It shall be duty of every citizen of India to protect and
improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for
living creatures.
The Directive principles under the Indian constitution directed towards ideals of building welfare state.
Healthy environment is also one of the elements of welfare state. Article 47 provides that the State shall
regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of
public health as among its primary duties. The improvement of public health also includes the protection and
improvement of environment without which public health cannot be assured. Article 48 deals with
organization of agriculture and animal husbandry. It directs the State to take steps to organize agriculture
and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines. In particular, it should take steps for preserving and
improving the breeds and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle.
Article 48 -A of the constitution says that the state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment
and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.
The Constitution of India under part III guarantees fundamental rights which are essential for the
development of every individual and to which a person is inherently entitled by virtue of being human alone.
Right to environment is also a right without which development of individual and realisation of his or her
full potential shall not be possible. Articles 21, 14 and 19 of this part have been used for environmental
protection.
According to Article 21 of the constitution, no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except
according to procedure established by law. Article 21 has received liberal interpretation from time to time
after the decision of the Supreme Court in Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India, (AIR 1978 SC 597). Article
21 guarantees fundamental right to life. Right to environment, free of danger of disease and infection is
inherent in it. Right to healthy environment is important attribute of right to live with human dignity. The
right to live in a healthy environment as part of Article 21 of the Constitution was first recognized in the
case of Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra vs. State, AIR 1988 SC 2187 (Popularly known as
Dehradun Quarrying Case). It is the first case of this kind in India, involving issues relating to environment
and ecological balance in which Supreme Court directed to stop the excavation (illegal mining) under the
Press Information Bureau (PIB)
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Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. In M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India, AIR 1987 SC 1086 the Supreme
Court treated the right to live in pollution free environment as a part of fundamental right to life under
Article 21 of the Constitution.
Excessive noise creates pollution in the society. The constitution of India under Article 19 (1) (a) read with
Article 21 of the constitution guarantees right to decent environment and right to live peacefully. In PA
Jacob vs. The Superintendent of Police Kottayam, AIR 1993 Ker 1, the Kerala High Court held that freedom
of speech under article 19 (1)(a) does not include freedom to use loud speakers or sound amplifiers. Thus,
noise pollution caused by the loud speakers can be controlled under article 19 (1) (a) of the constitution.
Public Interest Litigation under Article 32 and 226 of the constitution of India resulted in a wave of
environmental litigation. The leading environmental cases decided by the Supreme Court includes case of
closure of limestone quarries in the Dehradun region (Dehradun Quarrying case, AIR 1985 SC 652), the
installation of safeguard at a chlorine plant in Delhi (M.C. Mehta V. Union of India, AIR 1988 SC 1037) etc.
In Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs. Union of India (1996) 5 SCC 647, the Court observed that the
Precautionary Principle and the Polluter Pays Principle are essential features of Sustainable
Development.
Environment protection is part of our cultural values and traditions. Earth is our paradise and it is our duty to
protect our paradise. The constitution of India embodies the framework of protection and preservation of
nature without which life cannot be enjoyed. The knowledge of constitutional provisions regarding
environment protection is need of the day to bring greater public participation, environmental awareness,
environmental education and sensitize the people to preserve ecology and environment.
Air Exercise Between Indian Air Force and French Air Force (Courtesy-
PIB)
With the aim of enhancing Operational Co-operation and to validate capabilities, the Indian Air Force &
French Air Force commenced the bilateral exercise Ex Garuda V at Jodhpur Air Base
During this fortnight long exercise both the Air Forces would engage in Operations based on their
Operational Philosophy and methodology of operations practicing various challenging air situation
scenarios. The Exercise would help both Air Forces in appreciating the intricacies of planning and conduct
of combat missions in an Operational Environment.
Frontline fighter aircraft of the IAF including the SU 30, Mig-27 (UPG), Mig 21 Bison and force multipliers
such as the AWACS and Flight Refueller Aircraft IL 78 would be participating from the Indian Air Force
while the French AF has fielded their frontline Rafale Fighter aircraft along with their KC 135 Refueller.
The Fifth Indo-French bilateral Air Exercise Garuda-V is scheduled from 2-13 June at Air Force Station
Jodhpur. The previous edition of the exercise was held at Istres, France during 2010. The exercise will
involve the assets of IAFs main operational formations including the Gandhinagar based South Western Air
Command and Allahabad based Central Air Command.
During the war game, both the Air Forces will practice aerial warfare which would include maneuvers to
carry out surgical strikes.
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Environmental Hazards to Health a Major Concern( Courtesy-PIB)
On the occasion of World Environment Day, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Harsh
Vardhan, has announced his resolve for greening the health care and to converting All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi into a green hospital.
With environmental degradation and environmental risks emerging as the single biggest source of diseases
from ordinary water borne diseases to cancers the Health Minister has announced plans for setting up a
network of capacity building institutions all over India modelled on the line of All India Institute of Hygiene
and Public Health, Kolkata, and the Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health in Delhis Maulana
Azad Medical College.
Dr Harsh Vardhan expressed concern at the insufficient data available with health authorities in India on the
adverse health outcomes and disease burden attributable to various environmental hazards. There is scant
information available on the adverse impact on health caused by ecological and environmental deprivation at
local, regional and national scale, he stated. The movement of masses and a sizable population of migrant
labourers make this mission difficult without inter-sectoral and inter-state coordination.
For this purpose the Health Minister announced that a Management Information System using IT tools
would be developed for the benefit of central and state health departments. The Minister said, The United
Nations, WHO and all international institutions have warned of the dangerous link between deteriorating
environment and disease outcomes.
Green AIIMSa statement of intent
Addressing a distinguished gathering at Vigyan Bhavan, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that his plan to green
AIIMS is based on the governments determination to showcase its determination to fight climate change.
For this to happen the countrys premier medical facility should move away from using conventional energy
that is responsible for polluting environment and adding green house gases, Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
Healthcare institutions should strive to reduce their energy consumption and maximise use of solar energy
and other similar sources, he said.
Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that the new-look AIIMS will have water conservation and waste water recycling
systems in place. There must be regular energy audits and a phased renewal plan must be developed with a
view to making the buildings on the complex more energy efficient, he said. Its entire waste generation
including medical waste generation must be brought down by an approach of reduce, reuse and recycling of
waste. A scavenging system to deal with nitrous oxide and other waste anaesthetic gases is also the need of
the hour, he added.
The health Minister further added that it is not uncommon to see many buildings being singled out and
awarded for their efforts for energy conservation but the hospitals are never seen in the list. Why should not
hospitals try to get such awards sending out positive signals and becoming the brand ambassadors for
environmental protection and preservation adding to the improved health of community.
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The unattractive facade of government hospitals should become a thing of past. We do not have to be
ostentatious to do that. . Beginning with AIIMS-New Delhi, I want all public hospitals to resonate with
inclusivity and enlightenment.
Public Health Institutions
The Health Minister further said that the health infrastructure of India is inadequate to fight the impact of
environmental degradation and consequent adverse health outcomes. The government has therefore decided
to focus on expanding the human resource base.
The pyramidal structure of the public health system of the country will soon be equipped with capacities to
combat diseases caused by environmental risks and a preventive attitude would be encouraged, Dr Harsh
Vardhan said.
Addressing a distinguished audience at Vigyan Bhavan today attended by senior health professionals, health
secretaries, DGHS, representatives from WHO, United Nations, UNICEF and other UN organisations, the
Minister said the government was considering a slew of measures including setting up of institutes for
capacity building of health professionals in environmental health, public health, environmental sanitation
and sanitation engineering.
Highlighting the contribution of the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, which was set up in
1932 in Kolkata with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation of the United States, Dr Harsh Vardhan said
the country needs many such bodies but must add to their agenda and programme the activities to address
environmental health concerns. He said that he has already firmed up plans to set up public health institutes
in the six new AIIMS which are in different stages of completion. Harvard School of Public Health is
already collaborating with two AIIMS- at Jodhpur and Raipur for public health activity.
Information is power
The Minister commented that the Health Ministry and its satellites in the states need an institution like the
Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute. So for the short term he has decided to commission a
Management Information System (MIS) using Information Technology tools which would, at the click of a
mouse, make available a host of valuable data gleaned from computers at every tier of the health
infrastructure.
My ideal is to create an aggressive data collection system and research organization for the health sector
which would preferably be autonomous. I will take up this matter with the Prime Minister soon and involve
the state governments in the endeavour, Dr Harsh Vardhan added.
Dr Harsh Vardhan also announced a sanitation drive for a week in the government hospitals run by the
Central Government in the Capital and declared that he shall soon visit these hospitals to monitor the
sanitation drive.

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First CM of Telangana
Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrashekhar Rao was sworn in as the first Chief
Minister of Telangana, which became the 29th state of India.
Eleven ministers have also taken oath in K Chandrasekhar Rao's Cabinet in the new state of
Telangana.
Rao hoisted the tricolour and took salute at an impressive parade held at Parade Grounds,
Secunderabad.
In his first public address as the CM, Rao vowed to make Telangana a model state in all respects and
said that welfare and development would be the two driving forces of his government.
The Telangana government would maintain cordial relationship not only with the Centre but also
neighbouring states.
Rooting out "political corruption" would also be top on his agenda to ensure transparent governance.
Demise of Union Minister Gopinath Munde
President Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the untimely demise of Union Minister Gopinath Munde
and said the country has lost a veteran leader who always worked for the common man.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely saddened by the demise of his friend and
cabinet colleague Gopinath Munde, whom he hailed as a true mass leader.
The party and government, he said, stands by the bereaved family members of the 64-year-old
leader.
The President, expressing his shock, grief and sorrow over the death of Munde, said that his passing
away is a huge loss for the people of Maharashtra and India.
Munde, the Rural Development Minister and the OBC face of BJP in Maharashtra, died apparently
of shock and cardiac arrest suffered during a road accident.
Munde, who made his entry into the Union Cabinet for the first time after the Lok Sabha polls, was
on his way to the airport when his car was hit by another vehicle.

NATIONAL EVENTS
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Road safety in India
Every four minutes a life is lost in a road accident in India with 1,40,000 deaths recorded in 2012
alone. In the past decade, over a million people have lost their lives in road accidents in the country
and over 5 million have been left seriously injured or permanently disabled.
According to Save LIFE Foundation, an advocacy group which aims to reduce the high number of
road accident deaths in India through rapid emergency care for injured victims, road safety has been
a victim of Indias policy paralysis since 2001.
The World Health Organization 2013 Global Status Report on Road Safety indicates that worldwide
the total number of road traffic deaths remain unacceptably high at 1.24 million per year.
Only 28 countries, covering 7 per cent of the worlds population, have comprehensive road safety
laws on five key risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets,
seat-belts, and child restraints.
For India, the report notes the rising fatalities in road accidents rising from 8 deaths per lakh of
population to nearly 12 in 2010. Sixteen per cent of all such deaths occur in four wheeled cars and 32
per cent in two or three wheelers.
Sumitra Mahajan
Eight-term member Sumitra Mahajan was unanimously elected Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha,
becoming the second woman presiding officer of the Lower House after her predecessor Meira
Kumar.
71-year-old Mahajan, the longest-serving woman MP, was elected after a motion moved by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by BJP veteran L K Advani was adopted by voice vote called
by Protem Speaker Kamal Nath.
13 similar motions proposed and seconded by several parties in the ruling NDA as also in the
opposition supporting Mahajan were also approved by the House.
An active parliamentarian, she has not only headed important committees, but has also been a keen
debater and avid questioner inside the House, often seen putting ministers on the mat with her calm
but firm interventions.
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The mild-mannered Mahajan has over the years emerged as a force to reckon with in Indore where
she never lost since she first became an MP in 1989 and a generation of opposition leaders have been
waiting to trounce her.
She, however, had lost the Indore Assembly election thrice before becoming an MP.
Ms. Mahajan won her Lok Sabha seat for the eighth consecutive time in this election by an
impressive margin of 4.67 lakh votes.
Within the BJP, Ms. Mahajan has grown from being President of the BJP Mahila Morcha in Madhya
Pradesh in 1990 to being the national general secretary in 1998.
LoP in Rajya Sabha
Ghulam Nabi Azad is set to become Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha after his appointment
as leader of Congress in the Upper House.
Anand Sharma was made deputy leader of the party.
Since Congress has the requisite number to claim the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Upper
House, Mr. Azad would be the natural choice.

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A new U.S.-Russia proxy war
With Russia and the United States as far apart as ever on ways of resolving the crisis in Ukraines
southeast, its outcome may well be decided on the battlefield.
Russias President Vladimir Putin has not spoken with U.S. President Barack Obama since Kiev
launched its anti-terrorist operation against anti-government protesters in Russian speaking regions
in the east six weeks ago.
While Moscow denounces the Ukrainian crackdown in the east as a punitive operation against the
civilian population, Washington maintains that Kievs authorities have every right to take steps to
maintain law and order in their own country.
The Ukrainian border guard service has reported several convoys of trucks with militants and
weapons crossing the porous border from Russia in recent weeks.
Russia has refrained from openly supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine and still hopes to
persuade Kiev to resolve the conflict by granting broad autonomy to the region.
The conflict in the east is fast morphing into civil war. This was in stark display earlier this month in
Odessa, a peaceful multiethnic Ukrainian port city on the Black Sea, where a group of
ultranationalists from western Ukraine burnt alive and clubbed to death at least 48 pro-Russian
activists.
Obamas energy policy
The path breaking clean energy policy unveiled by the Obama administration would put the US at a
disadvantage against countries like India and China, top US lawmakers and policy advocacy groups
have said.
The US Environmental Protection agency has announced to cut carbon emission from existing power
plants, which is the single largest source of carbon pollution in the US, by 30 per cent by the year
2030.
It also announced to cut by 2030 particle pollution, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide by more than
25 per cent as a co-benefit.
The White House described this as American leadership to the world.
INTERNATIONAL
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But Republicans and many others are not willing to buy the argument, according to whom such a
policy would put the United States at an disadvantage against countries like India and China.
The United Mine Workers of America international president Cecil E Roberts alleged that the
proposed rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency will lead to long-term and irreversible
job losses for thousands of coal miners, electrical workers, utility workers, boilermakers, railroad
workers and others without achieving any significant reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Spain's abdication law
The cabinet of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has approved a proposal for emergency
legislation that allows King Juan Carlos to abdicate and hand over his duties to Crown Prince Felipe.
The proposal will be fasttracked by the Spanish Parliament and is expected to pass easily because
Mr. Rajoys Popular Party has the majority of seats and the leading opposition Socialist Party also
supports the legislation.
Jesus Posada, who leads the Parliaments lower house, predicted the law will take effect by June 18,
meaning Prince Felipe would be proclaimed king before lawmakers shortly after that.
Juan Carlos is widely respected for leading Spains transition from dictatorship to democracy and
staring down a 1981 coup attempt, but was hit hard by royal scandals over the last several years.
Iran oil sanctions suspended
With Iran complying with its commitment on a controversial nuclear weapons programme, US
President Barack Obama has suspended his action on Iranian oil sanctions for the next six months.
Even though there is enough oil in the international market for countries like India and China to
reduce their dependence on Iranian oil, so as to avoid US sanctions as per Congressional Act, Mr.
Obama determined that there is no need to do so for the next six months as Tehran is fully co-
operating with the US-led international community to address their concerns about its nuclear
weapons program
The International Atomic Energy Agency has verified that Iran is complying with these
commitments.
The analysis contained in the Energy Information Administrations report of April 24, indicates that
global oil consumption has exceeded production in recent months.
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Egypt president sworn in
Egypts former army chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been sworn in as President for a four-year term,
taking the reins of power in a nation roiled since 2011 by deadly unrest and economic woes.
Mr. el-Sisis inauguration came less than a year after the 59-year-old career infantry officer ousted
the countrys first freely elected President, Mohammed Morsy, following days of mass protests by
Egyptians demanding he step down.
8th of June was declared a national holiday and tight security was enforced by the police and military
throughout Cairo.
Outside the building, modelled to look like an ancient Egyptian temple, around a hundred el-Sisi
supporters gathered, waving Egyptian flags and posters of the countrys new President.
G-7 summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin was kept out of the summit of world leaders but dominated the
meeting as President Barack Obama and his counterparts from the G-7 group of major economies
sought the Kremlin chiefs renewed cooperation to end the Ukraine crisis.
In March, the U.S. and its most important allies retaliated for Mr. Putins military occupation and
subsequent annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula by suspending Russias membership in what
had been the G-8 club of rich countries.
They also nixed Mr. Putins plan to hold the meeting in Sochi, the city Russia lavished billions on to
host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Mr. Obama, however, has no plans to meet with Mr. Putin a clear indication the U.S. is more
reluctant than its European peers about renewing the dialogue.
The meeting was not expected to produce any major decisions. Many observers criticise the format
as being mostly a talking shop since the role of setting rules for global economic governance in the
wake of the 2008-2009 financial crisis has shifted to the wider Group of 20, which also includes
emerging economies like China, India and Brazil
New Ukraine President
Petro Poroshenko has taken the oath of office as Ukraines President, assuming leadership of a
country mired in a violent uprising and economic troubles.
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Mr. Poroshenko, who became a billionaire as a candy tycoon, was elected after the pro-Russian
president Viktor Yanukovych fled the country in the wake of months of street protests.
The ceremony in the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, was attended by high-ranking
delegations from Western governments, which include U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, E.U.
President Herman Van Rompuy and the presidents of Poland and Germany, Bronislaw Komorowski
and Joachim Gauck.
New high commissioner for human rights
U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has said he will appoint Jordans ambassador as the new high
commissioner for human rights, bringing to that post a voice from the West Asia.
Mr. Bans office announced that Prince Zeid al Hussein, a long-time diplomat and former U.N.
peacekeeper, has been nominated to replace Navi Pillay.
The South African-born Ms. Pillays term as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights was
originally set to end in 2012 but was extended for two years.
Prince Zeid, who has been ambassador to both the U.N. and the United States, announced in late
April he would resign as U.N. ambassador.

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Modis scheduled visit to US
The confirmation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States means two things:
that Mr. Modi is keen to extend his summit-level approach to bilateral ties past the subcontinent to
the U.S. as well, and that U.S. President Obama wants to patch up the damage to Indo-US ties,
enough to break with US protocol for a second year in a row for an Indian Prime Minister.
This year, a very different circumstance has necessitated the US exception being repeated for Prime
Minister Modi. The last year has seen a low in Indo-US relations that rivals Cold-war era ties over
the Khobragade affair. Not only did Ministry officials and Indian diplomats in the US feel outraged
by the manner of her arrest, they felt angered by the lack of advance warning on the case.Despite that
decision, however, the Indo-US relationship has yet to get that 'reset button' pushed. decisions on
several deals, including on FDI in retail, nuclear business, and defence deals await resolution. India's
push for H1B visas, and outsourcing contracts have been rebuffed in the past years.
With his decision to accept the US President's invitation for end-september, Mr. Modi is also
heralding a busy period of international travel for him. In mid-July he will travel to the BRICS
summit in Brazil. In September he heads to the UN and to Washington, while in November he is
expected to attend the G-20 in Brisbane, Australia. Many Team Modi members have guessed his first
bilateral stop with be Japan, that was amongst the first countries to invite him.
In between, he is slated to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Delhi, while Australian PM
Tony Abbott has expressed an interest in a flying visit to tie up and possibly announce an agreement
on Uranium sale, and a nuclear partnership that has been in the works for years. But official sources
maintain, the immediate neighbourhood will remain the new governments focus, with the SAARC
summit in Kathmandu planned in November this year.
Evacuation of Indian nationals from Lugansk
India has made arrangements to evacuate all its nationals, mainly students, from violence-hit
Ukrainian city of Lugansk to Kyiv.

The evacuation arrangements were made in cooperation with the Ukrainian government.

Indian authorities have arranged 500 train tickets to evacuate the Indian nationals.
INDIA AND THE WORLD
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India few days back issued an advisory asking its nationals to leave Donetsk and Lugansk regions in
eastern Ukraine which is witnessing frequent violent clashes between proRussian separatists and
government forces.

In the advisory, it also asked citizens in the other parts of eastern and southern Ukraine to remain
vigilant about their personal safety and security.

Eastern Ukraine is witnessing a fierce escalation of violence between the two sides over the past few
days.

The violence started after Russia annexed Crimea an autonomous peninsula within Ukraine with a
Russian ethnic majority in March following which the proRussian rebels seized control of parts
of eastern Ukraine and demanded its independence.
Modis first stop: Thimpu
Keeping his focus on the neighbours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to make his first
trip abroad to India's closest ally, Bhutan.
While a date for Mr. Modi's visit will be finalised during the advance team's visit, sources confirmed
that it will be his first visit to a foreign country. With this decision Mr. Modi is making it clear that
the neighbourhood is his immediate priority. He began his tenure in office by inviting all the SAARC
leaders to his swearing in, and will travel to Kathmandu for the SAARC summit slated for
November.
The decision to visit Bhutan, with whom India holds the closest ties, is the third surprise
announcement from the government, after decisions to invite SAARC leaders and to visit the US for
bilateral talks and the UNGA in September.
India, U.S. policy forum meet
Trade officials of India and the U.S. are expected to meet in Delhi to prepare the groundwork for the
ministerial level meeting of the Trade Policy Forum (TPF).
The U.S.-India TPF is an inter-agency collaboration led by the USTR. It is the principal trade
dialogue between the countries.
It has five focus groups: Agriculture, Investment, Innovation and Creativity (intellectual property
rights), Services, and Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers.
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In recent months, the U.S. has increased its attack against Indias intellectual property regime and
safety issues related to domestic pharmaceutical sector. The American pharma sector had alleged that
the Indian IPR laws discriminate against U.S. companies and violate global norms.
The USTR in its Special 301 report had kept India out of the priority list, but has said that they
would do an out-of-cycle review of Indias IPR regime.
At present, bilateral trade is around $100 billion. The U.S.-India Business Council had said bilateral
trade between the countries could touch $500-billion mark over the next one decade.

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Civil Services Exam: What, Why and How ?

How to Read A Newspaper for IAS Exam

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Preparing for Civil Services without Coaching

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Restrictions on foreign exchange proprietary trades
A stronger rupee has paved the way for high-street banks to have a greater play in the currency
market, with last year's unnerving choppiness suddenly looking like a thing of the past.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently told several large lenders that they are free to carry out
foreign exchange proprietary trades in which bank treasuries bet on the dollar-rupee movement.
The move will deepen the currency market and offer finer foreign exchange rates to customers,
particularly large corporates with regular exports, imports and dollar borrowings.
The RBI allows each bank a certain net open position (NOP) limit for prop (or, proprietary) trades;
the limit varies from $20 million to $100 million, depending on a bank's size and level of treasury
activity.
In 2013, when the rupee buckled under speculators' attack, the limits were whittled down by banks to
$5 million and even zero at the RBI's instruction.
Key policy rates unchanged by RBI
Despite intense pressure and widespread anticipation, the Raghuram Rajan-led Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged.
In doing so, it has indicated that it is prepared for a wait-and-watch approach.
Perhaps, it has chosen to await the maiden budget of the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre so
as to get a sense of direction of the new fiscal managers.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility
(LAF) unchanged at 8.0 per cent. It has also decided to keep the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of
scheduled banks unchanged at 4.0 per cent of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL).
However, it has reduced the statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) of scheduled commercial banks by 50
basis points from 23.0 per cent to 22.5 per cent.
The apex bank has also decided to continue to provide liquidity under 7-day and 14-day term repos
of up to 0.75 per cent of NDTL of the banking system.
Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF will remain unchanged at 7.0 per cent, and the
marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 9.0 per cent.
ECONOMY
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Core sector growth at 4.2 %
Helped by healthy growth in electricity, fertilizers, cement and coal, the output of eight core
industries increased 4.2 per cent in April, up from 2.5 per cent in the previous month.
The growth of the eight core sector in April, 2013, was 3.7 per cent.
Electricity production increased 11.2 per cent in April this year from 3.5 per cent in the same month
last year.
Similarly, fertilizers, cement and coal registered higher growth during the month under review.
Fertilizers, cement and coal recorded a growth 11.1 per cent, 6.7 per cent and 3.3 per cent,
respectively, in April, according to the data released by Commerce and Industry Ministry .
Coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity sectors had
expanded 2.7 per cent in 2013-14. The eight industries have a combined weight of about 38 per cent
in the Index of Industrial Production. Steel production increased 3.1 per cent compared with 10.1 per
cent in the same month last year. Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum refinery product sectors
contracted 0.1 per cent, 7.7 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively, in April.
FDI restrictions on online retailers to be eased
India could allow global online retailers such as Amazon.com to sell their own products as early as
next month, removing restrictions that have held back competition in one of the worlds biggest, and
most price-sensitive, retail markets.
The decision, which is likely to be announced in or alongside the budget, is one of the first tangible
signs of economic reform by the business-friendly government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The move could allow the government to circumvent political opposition to opening up Indias $500
billion retail sector to global retail giants such as Wal-Mart Store.
RIL downgraded
JP Morgan downgraded Reliance Industries Ltd to "neutral" from "overweight", saying share prices
already reflect positive catalysts even as fundamentals remain on "a solid footing".
Reliance Industries' strategy of organic growth in core businesses is very much positive and there is a
belief that the current share price already reflects the positive catalysts that were identified in our
upgrade in 4Q CY13.
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Sun-observing IRIS
Nasas sun-observing IRIS (Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph) spacecraft has captured its first
stunning close-up of a colossal coronal mass ejection(CME) erupting from the sun.
The field of view for this imagery is about five times the width of earth and about seven-and-half
times its length, a tremendous sheet of solar material can be seen erupting in a latest video released
by Nasa.
The view is unprecedented for IRIS which was launched in June last year to observe the lowest
levels of the suns atmosphere with better resolution than ever before.
IRIS must commit to pointing at certain areas of the sun at least a day in advance, so catching a CME
in the act involves some educated guesses and a little bit of luck.
Kepler-10c
Astronomers have discovered the Godzilla of all Earths a new type of rocky planet that weighs
17 times as much as our planet and is more than twice as large in size, a surprising find that could
change scientists understanding of the origins of the universe.
The newly found mega-Earth, Kepler-10c, circles a Sun-like star once every 45 days. It is located
about 560 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. Theorists believed such a world could
not form because anything so hefty would grab hydrogen gas as it grew and become a Jupiter-like
gas giant. This planet, though, is all solid and much bigger than previously discovered super-
Earths, making it a mega-Earth.
Kepler-10c was originally spotted by NASAs Kepler spacecraft. Kepler-10c was known to have a
diameter of about 18,000 miles, 2.3 times as large as Earth. This suggested it fell into a category of
planets known as mini-Neptunes, which have thick, gaseous envelopes. The team used the HARPS-
North instrument on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) in the Canary Islands to measure the
mass of Kepler-10c. They found that it weighed 17 times as much as Earth far more than expected.
This showed that Kepler-10c must have a dense composition of rocks and other solids.

SCIENCE AND TECH
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Full capacity attained in Kudankulam reactor
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project crossed the much-awaited milestone as the first reactor of
the upcoming nuclear park attained its maximum capacity of 1,000 MW.
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) engineers were operating 1,000 MWe
reactors built with VVER technology, supplied by Atomstroyexports, Russia.
When the reactor reached 90 per cent of its capacity on May 5 last, it was expected that the first unit
would attain the maximum power generation capacity within a week or so.
Though the NPCIL had originally planned to commission the first of the 2 X 1,000 MWe reactor
within five years from the date of first pouring of concrete, the completely new technology for the
NPCIL technocrats, a range of technical issues, delayed supply of components, incorporation of
additional safety measures, anti-KKNPP struggle and other reasons delayed its completion. Finally,
the reactor is now ready for commercial power generation 11 months after it attained criticality last
year.
2014 HQ124
1,000-feet wide beast travelling at a speed of 50,400 km-per-hour enough momentum to wipe
out an entire city passed by earth recently.
The asteroid will safely pass earth at a distance of 1.25 million km more than three times the
distance from earth to the moon.
Nicknamed the Beast, the mighty rock would have caused an explosion measured in megatons and
wiped out a city if it had hit earth.
Designated 2014 HQ124, the asteroid was discovered April 23, 2014, by NASAs NEOWISE
mission, a space telescope adapted for scouting the skies for asteroids and comets.
2014 HQ124 is designated a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) by NASA.
Slowest internet penetration growth in India
India, which accounts for the third largest online user base globally after China and the U.S., has had
the lowest internet penetration growth in Asia Pacific (APAC) at 17.4 per cent so far this year,
research firm eMarketer said in a report.
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However, it left behind major emerging markets in APAC like China and Indonesia in terms of
growth in online users as of May 2014.
Asia-Pacific will boast of over 1.33 billion internet users this year, the largest online population of
any region in the world.
The research firm said there is a clear split between developed internet economies South Korea,
Japan and Australia, which all have at least three-quarters of their total populations online and less
developed, but growing, markets like Indonesia and India.
South Korea accounted for the highest 78.9 per cent of the internet penetration growth in Asia
Pacific followed by Japan (77.3 per cent), Australia (76 per cent), China (48.5 per cent) and
Indonesia (33 per cent).
New supercomputer unveiled by IIT-Kanpur
One of India's top educational institutes, the Indian Institute Of Technology at Kanpur (IIT-K) has
unveiled a new supercomputer recently.
It is the second supercomputer that has been developed by the prestigious institute. The computer has
been ranked fifth in the country in terms of performance and 130th in the list of world top 500
supercomputers.
According to Srivastava , the machine operate at a peak performance of 307.2 Terra Flops (TF) and a
realised performance of about 249 TF.
They said the new machine would be used for regular education, research and training purposes.
The machine has been launched after extensive research by a seasoned team and the engineers
behind the project felt that this is one of the best supercomputers. The project cost Rs 48 crore to the
institute.

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Sharapova reaches fifth French Open semi-final
Maria Sharapova battled into her fourth successive French Open semi-final and fifth of her career
with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over rising Spaniard Garbine Muguruza recently.
The seventh-seeded Russian, who was the 2012 champion and runner-up to Serena Williams last
year, goes on to face Canadas Eugenie Bouchard for a place soon.
But the four-time major winner and former world number one was given a fright by the 20-year-old
Muguruza who had knocked out Serena in the second round.
Ceat awards
India's top batsman Virat Kohli has won the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award while
off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the fastest player from the country to pick 100 Test wickets,
bagged the Indian Player of the Year award for 2013-14.
Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan was named the International Player of the Year while Robin
Uthappa, who was part of the triumphant Karnataka Ranji Trophy team, clinched the Domestic
Cricketer of the Year honour.
Kohli had won the best player award in 2011-12 too. India's under-19 cricketer Vijay Zol got the
Young Player of the Year award while yesteryear stumper Syed Kirmani, one of the finest behind the
stumps who was also part of the 1983 World Cup winning team, was honoured with the Lifetime
Achievement Award. Kirmani played in 88 Tests and 49 ODIs.
Australian Mitchell Johnson, who was instrumental in his country winning the Ashes Series in
overwhelming fashion against England at home, and compatriot Glenn Maxwell received the Test
Player of the Year and Popular Choice awards respectively, while Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al
Hasan got the T20 Player of the award.
South African Cricketer of the Year
A.B. de Villiers dominated the Cricket South Africa Awards banquet by bagging four awards,
including Cricketer of the Year 2014, in Johannesburg .
SPORTS
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De Villiers was also named Test Cricketer of the Year, was recognised by his peers as SA Players
Player of the Year and by popular vote of the public, SA Fans Cricketer of the Year.
The only award for which De Villiers was nominated but did not win was the ODI Player of the Year
which went to Quinton de Kock, who scored four centuries in the period under review including
three in consecutive innings.
Imran Tahir was named T20 International Player of the Year, paceman Dale Steyn won the Delivery
of the Year and veteran Jacques Kallis won the KFC So Good Award for his century in his final
Test match appearance against India.
Marizanne Kapp was named Momentum Womens Cricketer of the Year for the second successive
year.
Rafael Nadal in eighth French Open final
Rafael Nadal will face Novak Djokovic in the French Open final in Paris where he will be aiming for
a ninth title at Roland Garros.
A look at the Spaniard's eight victories so far:
2013 bt David Ferrer (ESP) 6-3, 6-2, 6-3:Nadal overcomes a worrying security breach to become the
first man to capture the same Grand Slam title eight times.
2012 bt Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5: Nadal takes victory when Djokovic double faults
and he breaks the tie for six French Opens he shares with Bjorn Borg. It is his 11th Grand Slam title
while for Djokovic, the Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion.
2011 bt Roger Federer (SUI) 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-1: Nadal wins a 10th Grand Slam crown and
equals Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open titles.
2010 bt Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4: Nadal overpowers the man who 12 months earlier
inflicted his lone defeat at Roland Garros. The win puts him second on the all-time list of French
Open winners, one behind Bjorn Borg whose last title came in 1981.
2008 bt Roger Federer (SUI) 6-1, 6-3, 6-0: Nadal and Federer meet again but the Swiss star is
handed a sobering defeat with the final set passing in a blur in just 27 minutes. It's the first time
Federer suffers a 'bagel' since a 1999 Roland-Garros first round loss to Australia's Pat Rafter.
2007 bt Roger Federer (SUI) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4: It was Federer's second consecutive chance to
become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles at once, having won
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the Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open, in 2006-2007. But Nadal becomes first man since
Bjorn Borg to win three Roland Garros titles in a row.
2006 bt Roger Federer (SUI) 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4): 20-year-old Nadal becomes the first man to
beat Federer in a Grand Slam final.
2005 bt Mariano Puerto (ARG) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 6-1 7-5: On his debut, Nadal, 19, is seeded fourth and
beats top seed Federer in the semifinals before seeing off world number 37 Puerta to claim his first
French Open title.

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The main features of the Essay course would be-
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Sumitra Mahajan
Eight-term member Sumitra Mahajan was unanimously elected Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha,
Kumar.
71-year-old Mahajan, the longest-serving woman MP, was elected after a motion moved by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and seconded by BJP veteran L K Advani was adopted by voice vote called
by Protem Speaker Kamal Nath.
K Chandrashekhar Rao
Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrashekhar Rao was sworn in as the first Chief
Prince Zeid al Hussein
U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has announced that Prince Zeid al Hussein, a long-time
diplomat and former U.N. peacekeeper, has been nominated as as the new high commissioner for
human rights.
Virat Kohli
India's top batsman Virat Kohli has won the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award while

IN THE NEWS (PERSONS)
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Douse the sparks on Article 370
(Courtesy- The Hindu)
In the week since Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in, a succession of controversies have
threatened to overshadow his core agenda of growth and governance reform. None, however, threatens to
erupt into so great a conflagration as the bitter exchanges over Article 370 of Indias Constitution. Ever
since Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office, Jitendra Singh, was reported to have said that the
process of abrogating Article 370 had begun, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have been locked in aggressive polemical exchanges. Dr. Singh has clarified
correctly that he only spoke of initiating a debate on abrogating Article 370, a commitment made in
the Bharatiya Janata Partys election manifesto, rather than of the actual process of removing it from the
Constitution. The rancour isnt surprising, though: just as many Hindu nationalists oppose Article 370 as a
barrier to the full integration of Jammu and Kashmir, many in the State see it as their only protection against
existential threat. Fears of being swamped by a hostile majority remain a powerful motif in Kashmir politics
last erupting into large-scale street battles in 2008.
Little understood outside Jammu and Kashmir, Article 370 lies at the heart of the States constitutional
relationship with India. It makes six special provisions, all emerging from the Instrument of Accession of
Jammu and Kashmir. They include allowing the State its own Constitution, and limiting Parliament's
authority to legislate for it. In 1954, with Sheikh Abdullah in prison, Syed Mir Qasims regime expanded
Parliaments powers, and extended the Constitutions Fundamental Rights to the State. In the years since,
other Constitution Orders have given the Supreme Court jurisdiction over the State, and extended to it the
supervisory power of the Election Commission of India.
In 2001, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution seeking the restitution of the original,
pristine Article 370; the BJP and some Congress leaders from the Hindu-majority Jammu province wanted it
overturned altogether. The National Democratic Alliance flatly refused to discuss the Assemblys demand.
There is no doubt that there will have to be a debate on Jammu and Kashmirs constitutional status at some
point, especially if there is a final resolution of the India-Pakistan dispute over the State. The debate must be
had in a calm frame of mind, though and this is not the time to have it. Prime Minister Modi, who spoke
in measured and open terms on the issue during the election campaign, would do well to douse the sparks his
junior Minister has let fly, before a fire breaks out.
Thimphu beginning
(Courtesy- The Indian Express)
Prime Minister Narendra Modis choice of Bhutan as his first foreign destination may have come as a
surprise to some, but it sends out significant signals. This visit will help build on the message from the
Selected Editorials of Importance
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swearing-in ceremony of the new government, which was attended by leaders of SAARC states. That
unexpected and well-received invitation helped address some concerns in the neighbourhood, where the
decisive verdict for the Modi-led BJP had stoked concerns about a new muscularity of Indias foreign
policy. The PMs decision to prioritise the immediate neighbourhood also underscores his understanding
that foreign policy begins at the nations borders that if India cannot reclaim its primacy in the
subcontinent, it will not see the rest of the world taking it seriously.
Till recently, the intimacies between New Delhi and Thimphu had allowed India a large footprint in Bhutan.
There is coordination still, between the two nations, on several matters, including foreign policy. But with
Bhutan steadily democratising, the rise of competitive politics poses a challenge, requiring Delhi to make its
diplomacy towards the Himalayan nation more transparent. Bhutans nearly $2 billion economy is closely
linked to Indias, and Thimphu has largely resisted pressures to take any decision inimical to Delhi.
However, as Chinas overtures to Bhutan over the last few years have shown, the distance between Thimphu
and Beijing is narrowing. Now, Delhi will have to engage more intensely with Thimphu.
Paternalism only breeds resentment, and Delhis ham-fisted decision reversed soon last year to cancel
the supply of subsidised gas was insensitive to the aspirations of a changing Bhutan. Prime Minister Modi
must take relations with neighbours to the next level, so that Delhi can discard the tradition of offering
economic sops and subsidies and instead concentrate on enabling agreements that allow market forces to
leverage the economic and geographic complementarities across borders.
Modis predecessor, Manmohan Singh, rightly saw Indias destiny as inextricably tied up with the
subcontinents. But Singh was unable to cross Indias borders as often as he should have, barring the odd
regional summit. Modi should make contact with Indias neighbours a matter of routine and follow up his
Bhutan visit with trips to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal at the earliest. Routinisation will not
solve all problems, but the conducive environment thus created may put the subcontinent on the road to
economic integration through trade liberalisation and trans-border connectivity. Delhis ability to deal with a
Beijing or a Washington will improve only when it reconstitutes the subcontinents geo-political unity. It is
time to build on Indias natural geographic advantages.
Get going with the Nirmal Gram Yojana
(Courtesy- The Economic Times)
The brutal rape and hanging of two teenage girls in Uttar Pradesh has again brought India's sanitation crisis
into focus. Yes, open defecation makes women vulnerable, but is an occasion, not cause, for the crime. The
root cause for rape is the unequal distribution of power between men and women, and to reverse this,
societal values must change. Undoubtedly, ending open defecation should be a priority, not just for women's
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safety but also to enhance public health. Every home should have a toilet with proper sewerage
connections/septic tanks to allow safe disposal of waste. The larger point is to fix the unhinged sanitation
system, the damage which does is serious, especially in densely populated urban slums. This should be done
through an integrated public health programme in all states and monitorable inter-ministerial coordination.
Open defecation India accounts for 60% of open defecations in the world poses health and
environmental risks. It should end, millennium development goals or otherwise. Simply improving
sanitation will bring in huge gains: the ADB reckoned it could add 4% to our GDP. The WHO estimates that
every $1 invested in improved sanitation delivers around $9 in socioeconomic benefits. Infection and
morbidity levels will come down, lowering healthcare costs and enhancing productivity.
So, the government should step up investment in programmes such as the Nirmal Gram Yojana that seek to
build toilets, involving local communities. Efforts taken by NGOs such as Sulabh International in improving
sanitation are welcome, but the need is to build more private toilets when space is available. Strengthening
public-private partnership and technological innovations will help. It is imperative for the government to
scale up the war against poor sanitation.
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:: National ::
Q .1
1. Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrashekhar Rao was sworn in as the first Chief
2. Eight-term member Sumitra Mahajan was unanimously elected Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha,
Kumar.
Which of the above statement/statements is /are true?
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
:: International ::
Q. 2
1. The US Environmental Protection agency has announced to cut carbon emission from existing power
plants, which is the single largest source of carbon pollution in the US, by 30 per cent by the year
2030.
2. Petro Poroshenko has taken the oath of office as Spains President, assuming leadership of a country
mired in a violent uprising and economic troubles.
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
MCQs
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c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
:: Economy ::
Q. 3
1. Despite intense pressure and widespread anticipation, the Raghuram Rajan-led Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged.
2. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility
(LAF) unchanged at 8.0 per cent. It has also decided to keep the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of
scheduled banks unchanged at 4.0 per cent of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL).
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

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:: India & World ::
Q. 4
1. India has made arrangements to evacuate all its nationals, mainly students, from violence-hit
Ukrainian city of Lugansk to Kyiv.
2. Keeping his focus on the neighbours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to make his first
trip abroad to India's closest ally,Dhaka.
Which of the above statement/statements is /are not true?
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
:: Science & Tech ::
Q 5.
1. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project crossed the much-awaited milestone as the first reactor of
the upcoming nuclear park attained its maximum capacity of 1,000 MW.
2. 1,000-feet wide beast travelling at a speed of 50,400 km-per-hour enough momentum to wipe
out an entire city passed by earth recently.
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

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:: Sports ::
Q 6.
1. A.B. de Villiers dominated the Cricket South Africa Awards banquet by bagging four awards,
including Cricketer of the Year 2014, in Johannesburg .
2. India's top batsman M.S Dhoni has won the Ceat International Cricketer of the Year award while
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
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Ans 1- c
Ans 2- a
Ans 3- c
Ans 4- b
Ans 5- c
Ans 6- a
MCQs Answers
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convenience.
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Planning Commission
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National Portal of India
National
International
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India And The World
Sports
In The News
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Burning Issues (Editorials From Different Newspapers)
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