India's Dalveer Bhandari re-elected to ICJ

India’s nominee to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Dalveer Bhandari was on 20th November re-elected to the fifth and the last seat of the world court after Britain withdrew its candidate from the election. Mr. Bhandari received 183-193 votes in the General Assembly and secured all the 15 votes in the Security Council after separate and simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York. The elections were held after United Kingdom, in a dramatic turn of events, withdrew out of the race for the Hague-based ICJ, thus paving the way for Mr. Bhandari’s re-election to the prestigious world court. Mr. Bhandari and Britain’s Christopher Greenwood were locked in a neck-and-neck fight for re-election to the ICJ.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the election of Bhandari, 70, as a “proud moment for us” and credited foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and the external affairs ministry for the victory. He also thanked all members of the General Assembly and Security Council for “their support and trust in India”. For the UK, the vote meant it will not have a judge at the ICJ for the first time in The Hague-based court’s 71-year history. The Guardian described the development as a “humiliating blow to British international prestige and an acceptance of a diminished status” in world affairs.

Dalveer Bhandari acquired degrees in the humanities and law from Jodhpur University and practised in the Rajasthan High Court from 1968 to 1970. In June 1970, he was then invited to a six-week workshop organized by the University of Chicago on research on Indian law in Chicago on an international scholarship and subsequently on another international scholarship, he obtained a Masters of Law from Northwestern University School of Law.

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Khel Ratna Award to Devendra Jhajharia, Sardar Singh

Two-time Paralympic gold-medallist Devendra Jhajharia on 3rd August became the first paralympian to be recommended for the country’s highest sporting honour - the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award along with former hockey captain Sardar Singh. The final call on this would be taken by the Sports Ministry. Besides, the awards selection committee has recommended 17 names for the Arjuna award.

The 36-year-old Devendra Jhajharia, who is the first Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals, was the first choice of the awards selection committee headed by Justice (Retd) C K Thakkar. Jhajharia had won his medals in the javelin throw event.

The committee has picked 31-year-old midfielder Sardar Singh as its second nominee for the top honour and has suggested that both Jhajharia and Sardar be considered for the award jointly.

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President delivers first Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Memorial Lecture

President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee delivered the 1st Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Memorial Lecture on the topic “History of Parliamentary Democracy in India” today (May 15, 2017) in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He also presented the 1st Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Life Time Achievement Honour in Public Service to Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim on the occasion. Addressing the gathering the President said he was honoured to be invited to deliver the inaugural Memorial Lecture instituted in memory of our former Vice-President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, an outstanding statesman and a man of the masses. 

The President stated that Shri Shekhawat and he shared a long history of friendship. Both of them served together in the Rajya Sabha in the 1970s. Later, while Shri Shekhawat was Chief Minister of Rajasthan and the President was Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission, he had opportunity to see Shri Shekhawat’s extensive knowledge about problems being faced by citizens of Rajasthan, and his will to eradicate these day to day problems. He was deeply impressed by Shri Shekhawat’s commitment to the downtrodden and poor.  The President also congratulated Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim on being conferred the 1st Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Life Time Achievement Honour in Public Service. He said that Shri Chamling has made unique contribution to the State of Sikkim which has emerged as a role model. 

In his Memorial Lecture, the President spoke about the History of Parliamentary Democracy in India. He said that he had outlined the history of representative Government for a specific purpose which was to underline the fact that if prominent legislators of pre-independence days with limited powers, could have done so much, how much more can be done by our MPs, MLAs and MLCs of today.  The President said that the 3 Ds – Debate, Dissension and Decision are essential in a Parliamentary system of democracy. Democracy should provide for an enabling environment which helps every section of the society to fully participate in the process of governance. 

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आर्थिक समीक्षा 2015-16

आर्थिक समीक्षा 2015-16 के प्रमुख बिन्दु :

• केंद्रीय वित्त मंत्री अरुण जेटली ने 26 फ़रवरी को संसद में वर्ष 2015-16 का आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण पेश किया। 29 फ़रवरी केआम बजट से पहले आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण पेश किया गया।
• अंतर्राष्ट्रीय आर्थिक माहौल में निराशा के बीच भारत स्थायित्व के केन्द्र के रूप में खड़ा है 2015-16 में जीडीपी विकास दर का दायरा 7 से 7.75 रहने की उम्मीद  है
• संसद में पेश की गई आर्थिक समीक्षा 2015-16 के मुताबिक वर्ष 2015-16 में इसके सकल मूल्‍यवर्धन की वृद्धि में सेवा क्षेत्र का योगदान लगभग 66.1 प्रतिशत रहा
• आर्थिक समीक्षा 2015-16 के अनुसार वर्ष 2015-16 के लिए 3.9 प्रतिशत का राजकोषीय घाटा लक्ष्‍य अर्जि‍त किया जाना संभव है। यह आकलन अनुमानित जीडीपी वृद्धि दर से निम्‍न वृद्धि दर हासिल किये जाने से पेश होने वाली चुनौतियों के बावजूद चालू वित्‍त वर्ष के पहले 9 महीनों के राजस्‍व एवं व्‍यय की पद्धति पर आधारित है।
• 2015-16 के बजट आकलनों के अनुसार, जीडीपी के समानुपात के रूप में कुल सब्सिडी बिल के जीडीपी के 2 प्रतिशत से कम रहने की उम्मीद है। बड़ी सब्सिडियों में 1.7 प्रतिशत की गिरावट की वजह अप्रैल-दिसंबर 2015 के दौरान पेट्रोलियम सब्सिडी में लगभग 44.7 प्रतिशत की कमी थी, जबकि इस अवधि के दौरान खाद्य एवं उर्वरक पर अन्य बड़ी सब्सिडियों में क्रमशः 10.4 प्रतिशत एवं 13.7 प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी हुई। 
• चालू वित्त वर्ष की पहली तीन तिमाहियों में सकल कर राजस्व में मजबूत वृद्धि को अप्रत्यक्ष करों में 34.8 प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी से मदद मिली, जबकि केन्द्रीय उत्पाद शुल्कों में लगभग 68 प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी हुई।
• आर्थिक समीक्षा में कहा गया है कि वित्तीय दृष्टिकोण से आगामी वर्ष के चुनौतीपूर्ण रहने के आसार है। वैश्विक मंदी के जारी रहने की आशंका के कारण 2016-17 में भारत की विकास दर के 2015-16 के स्तर से बहुत अधिक रहने की अधिक संभावना नहीं है।  इसके अतिरिक्त वेतन आयोग की अनुशंसाओं और वन रैंक वन पेंशन (ओआरओपी) योजना के क्रियान्वयन से व्यय पर अतिरिक्त बोझ पड़ेगा।

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Counter Terrorism Conference 2016 in Jaipur, Rajasthan

President Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Counter-Terrorism Conference- 2016 at Jaipur on 2nd February 2016. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that terrorism is undoubtedly the single gravest threat that humanity is facing today. Terrorism is a global threat which poses an unprecedented challenge to all nations. No cause can justify terrorist acts. It is imperative that the world acts in unison against terrorism, without political considerations. Therefore, there is a need to take a resolve to not justify terrorist means whatever be the reason or the source. The President said that an important aspect of counter-terrorism strategy is capacity building to prevent attacks through intelligence collection and collation, development of technological capabilities, raising of Special Forces and enactment of special laws. Though we have evolved certain mechanisms in this direction, there is scope for further intensifying these efforts.
The President said that our counter-terrorism effort has to be more pointed, more focused, more objective and more professional. While doing so there will always be a dilemma of whether we are threatening individual liberties or human rights. We have, therefore, to be judicious in protecting larger freedoms and democratic values. We need to fight this scourge at all levels- through shaping of public opinion, society building and evolving a concerted and integrated counter- terrorism policy premised on international cooperation in intelligence sharing. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Shri Kalyan Singh, Governor of Rajasthan, Smt. Vasundhara Raje Scindia, Chief Minister of Rajasthan and Shri Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Railways.

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Padma Shri Award for Gulabo Sapera, Rakash Chand Surana from Rajasthan

Gulabo Sapera and Rakash Chand Surana from Rajasthan to get Padma Shri Award 2016. ‘Padma Shri’ is awarded for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.  These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year.  This year the President of India has approved conferment of Padma Awards to 112 persons as per the list below. Check Complete List of 10 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 83 Padma Shri Awardees.  

Gulabo Sapera is a Rajasthani Folk dancer. She was born in 1960 in the nomadic Kalbaliya community. Gulabo Sapera became a celebrity dancer later in life. She was nicknamed Gulabo by her father. She is very active in the musical work of Titi Robin. In 2011, Gulabo featured in the reality television show Bigg Boss (season 5) as contestant no. 12.

Late Shri Prakash Chand Surana (Posthumous) to gets Padma Shri award under Art-Classical Music. 

Prakash Chand Surana was classical music artistes who passed away last year.

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Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (CIAH), Bikaner | केन्द्रीय शुष्क बागवानी संस्थान

केन्द्रीय शुष्क बागवानी संस्थान, बीछवाल (बीकानेर) । Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (CIAH), Beechwal (Bikaner):  Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (ICAH) was established  is 1993 by Indian Council of Agricultural Research,Ministry of Agriculture. Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (CIAH) is located on National Highway No. 15 (Bikaner-Sri Ganganagar Road), 10 km away from the Bikaner city. ICAH is  involved in research and development work of horticultural fruit and vegetable since 1993. The recurrent drought and extreme aridity are common phenomena. The average rainfall is about 230 mm/annum. May-June are hottest months (mean maximum temperature 42.9 0C and mean nimumun temperature 29.6 0C and December-January are coldges months of the year (mean maximum temperature 23.70C and mean minimum temperature 8.9 0C. Occasional frost is also experienced durign January and February. The soil of the area is sandy, desertic, poor in fertility and water holding capacity.

राजस्थान "सामान्य-ज्ञान" के सम्पूर्ण नोट्स, समसामयिकी एवं टेस्ट अब मोबाइल एप्प पर भी उपलब्ध है।  "राजस्थान GK" फ्री एप्प डाउनलोड करें:  http://tinyurl.com/rajasthangk
- राजस्थान के प्रमुख अनुसंधान केंद्र 

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केन्द्रीय पशुधन प्रजनन फार्म | CCBF, Suratgarh

केन्द्रीय पशुधन प्रजनन फार्म, सूरतगढ़ (श्रीगंगानगर) । Central cattle Breeding Farm, Suratgarh (Ganganagar): Central Cattle Breeding Farm(CCBF) Suratgarh(Rajasthan) was established in the year 1967 under Centrally administered / plan – scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The other Central Cattle Breeding Farms are located at Suratgarh ( Rajasthan), Chiplima and Sunabeda (Orissa), Dhamrod (Gujarat), Hessarghatta (Karnataka), Alamadhi (TamilNadu) and Andeshnagar (U.P). are maintaining bull mothers of important cattle and buffalo breeds which include Tharparkar, Red Sindhi, Jersey, Holstein Friesian, Crossbred (HF x Tharparkar, Jersey x Red Sindhi), Surti and Murrah.
The objectives of CCBF Suratgarh:

• Progressive heritable improvement for milk production in Tharparkar cattle by following scientific methods.
• The Breed maintained at Suratgarh (Rajasthan) is mainly Tharparkar.
• Production and distribution of superior pedigreed breeding bulls for using them in cattle breeding programme.
• Training of the farmers in improved farm practices and dairy cattle management.

राजस्थान "सामान्य-ज्ञान" के सम्पूर्ण नोट्स, समसामयिकी एवं टेस्ट अब मोबाइल एप्प पर भी उपलब्ध है।  "राजस्थान GK" फ्री एप्प डाउनलोड करें:  http://tinyurl.com/rajasthangk
- राजस्थान के प्रमुख अनुसंधान केंद्र 

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राष्ट्रीय अश्व अनुसंधान केन्द्र | NRCE Bikaner

राष्ट्रीय घोड़ा अनुसंधान केन्द्र, बीकानेर, National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Bikaner: राष्ट्रीय अश्व अनुसंधान केन्द्र का एक परिसर जोड़बीड़, बीकानेर में स्थित है, हालांकि इसका मुख्य केंद्र हरियाणा के हिसार में है ।  राष्ट्रीय घोड़ा अनुसंधान केन्द्र की स्थापना घोड़ों के स्वास्थ्य एवं अनुसंधान हेतु 7 जनवरी 1986 में हिसार (हरयाणा) में की गयी ।  1989 में बीकानेर में राष्ट्रीय घोड़ा अनुसंधान केन्द्र के एक उप-परिसर की स्थापना की गयी जिसका उद्देश्य राजस्थान राजस्थान में घोड़ों के प्रजनन और अनुसंधान के लिए किया गया।
National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) is a premier institute established under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for conducting research on equine health and production. The Centre became operational at Hisar on 7th January 1986 for conducting researches and for providing effective health coverage for equines. A sub-campus at Bikaner, Rajasthan was created during 1989 for conducting researches for improving the technologies for optimization of reproduction and work performance of the equines. The Centre has the responsibility on generation of technologies for augmenting equine performance in order to uplift the socio-economic status of poor equine owners.

राजस्थान "सामान्य-ज्ञान" के सम्पूर्ण नोट्स, समसामयिकी एवं टेस्ट अब मोबाइल एप्प पर भी उपलब्ध है।  "राजस्थान GK" फ्री एप्प डाउनलोड करें:  http://tinyurl.com/rajasthangk
- राजस्थान के प्रमुख अनुसंधान केंद्र 

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Dr Kamal Kishore Goenka gets Vyaas Samman 2014

Noted Hindi writer Dr Kamal Kishore Goenka was awarded the 24th Vyaas Samman for the year 2014 for his celebrated work 'Premchand ki Kahaniyon ka Kaal Kramanusaar Adhyayan'. Instituted by the KK Birla Foundation, the award recognises notable contributions in the field of Hindi literature.

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Dronacharya Awards, Dhyan Chand Awards and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2015

The Dronacharya Award, instituted in 1985, are given to honour eminent Coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams and enabled them to achieve outstanding results in international competitions. Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievements in Sports and Games, instituted in the year 2002, is given to honour those sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute to the promotion of sports even after their retirement from active sporting career. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar, introduced in 2009,  are given to entities, both in public sector and private sector and non-governmental organizations, with a view to recognizing the contribution made to sports development. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar has four categories, namely, Identification and nurturing of budding/young talent, Encouragement to sports through Corporate Social Responsibility, Employment of sports persons and sports welfare measures and Sports for Development. Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has approved to confer Dronacharya Awards, Dhyan Chand Awards and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for 2015 upon the following coaches, persons and entities.

(i) Dronacharya Awards 2015

S.No	NAME OF THE COACH	DISCIPLINE
1	Shri Naval Singh	Athletics-Para-sports
2	Shri Anoop Singh	Wrestling
3	Shri Harbans Singh	Athletics- Lifetime
4	Shri Swatantar Raj Singh	Boxing- Lifetime
5	Shri Nihar Ameen	Swimming-Lifetime

  

(ii)        Dhyan Chand Award 2015 

S. No.	NAME OF THE SPORTSPERSON	DISCIPLINE
1	Mr. Romeo James	Hockey
2	Mr. Shiv Prakash Mishra	Tennis
3	Mr. T.P.P. Nair	Volleyball

 (iii) Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar, 2015

Sl. No.	Category	Entity recommended for Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Purushkar, 2015
1.	Identification and nurturing of budding /young talent	Directorate General of Military Training
2.	Encouragement to sports through Corporate Social Responsibility	Coal India Limited
3.	Employment of sportspersons and sports welfare measures	Haryana Police
4.	Sports for Development	Sports Coaching Foundation, Hyderabad

The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2015. Dronacharya Awardees and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of Rs.5 lakh each.  Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar awardees will receive certificates and trophies.

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राजस्थान के पंच पीर

राजस्थान के पंच पीर (Rajasthan ke Panch Peer):  राजस्थान की धरा पर अनैक संत एवं महापुरुषों ने जन्म लिया जिन्होंने विभिन्न धर्मो व जाति-पाति के विवाद को खत्म करते हुए आपसी भाईचारे का संदेश दिया । राजस्थान के लोक जीवन में कई महान व्यक्तित्व देवता के रूप में सदा के लिए अमर हो गए। इन लोक देवताओं में कुछ को 'पीर' की संज्ञा दी गई है। एक जनश्रुति के अनुसार राजस्थान में पाँच पीर हुए हैं। इन्हें 'पंच पीर' भी कहा जाता है, जिनके नाम इस प्रकार हैं-
1. पाबूजी
2. हड़बूजी
3. रामदेवजी
4. मंगलियाजी
४. मेहाजी
राजस्थान के पंच पीरों के बारे में एक प्रसिद्ध दोहा इस प्रकार है:
पाबू, हड़बू, रामदे, मांगलिया, मेहा। पांचो पीर पधारज्यों, गोगाजी जेहा॥

राजस्थान में प्रजामण्डलों का इतिहास एवं अन्य जानकारी के लिए पढ़ें सम्पूर्ण नोट्स हमारी फ्री एंड्राइड एप्प राजस्थान GK हिंदी में,
डाउनलोड लिंक: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.csurender.android.rajasthangk

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उदयपुर में स्‍थापित हुई एशिया की सबसे बड़ी दूरबीन

उदयपुर में फतेहसागर झील स्थित उदयपुर सौर वेधशाला एशिया की सबसे बड़ी मास्ट (मल्टी एप्लीकेशन सौलर टेलीस्कॉप) दूरबीन स्‍थापित की गई। मंगलवार को इसका उद्घाटन मुख्य अतिथि भौतिक अनुसंधान प्रयोगशाला प्रबंधन परिषद के अध्यक्ष और इसरो के पूर्व अध्यक्ष प्रो यूआर राव ने किया। इस दूरबीन से सूर्य की प्रति मिनट डिजिटल वेलोसिटी की तस्वीरें प्राप्त कर सूर्य के बारे में अधिक से अधिक जानकारी ली जा सकेगी। राव ने कहा कि उदयपुर में पहले से स्थापित सौर वेधशाला के कारण इसका चयन किया गया है। उदयपुर का वातावरण सूर्य और चुम्बकीय क्षेत्र में अध्ययन के लिए अनुकूल है। उन्होंने कहा कि वर्तमान में सूर्य के संबंध में हमें बहुत कम जानकारी प्राप्त है। मास्ट की मदद से सूर्य के बहुत से रहस्यों से पर्दे उठेंगे। इसके अलावा इसमें आदित्य की मदद भी मिलेगी। आदित्य एक उपग्रह है, जिसके माध्यम से सूर्य के कोरोना का अध्ययन किया जा सकेगा।
मास्ट की मदद से सूर्य के बहुत से रहस्यों से पर्दे उठेंगे। इसके अलावा इसमें आदित्य की मदद भी मिलेगी। आदित्य एक उपग्रह है, जिसके माध्यम से सूर्य के कोरोना का अध्ययन किया जा सकेगा। उन्होंने कहा कि आदित्य के प्रक्षेपण से पहले इस दूरबीन की स्थापना बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। इसके जरिये सूर्य की नवीनतम जानकारी हासिल हो सकेगी। उदयपुर सौर वेधशाला के प्रमुख पी़ वेंकटकृष्णन ने कहा कि मास्ट उदयपुर सौर वेधशाला की एक महत्वपूर्ण उपलब्धि है। इसके माध्यम से सूर्य के चुंबकीय क्षेत्रों का अध्ययन किया जा सकेगा। यह दूरबीन सूर्य के थ्री-डी इमेज लेगी फिर उनका अध्ययन किया जाएगा। भारतीय अंतरिक्ष अनुसंधान संगठन (इसरो) के अध्यक्ष और अंतरिक्ष विभाग के सचिव एएस किरण कुमार का संदेश पढ़कर सुनाया गया। उन्होंने अपने संदेश में उन्होंने कहा कि बेल्जियम से बनकर आई एशिया की सबसे बड़ी दूरबीनों में शुमार इस मास्ट दूरबीन को वर्ष 2012 में सौर वेधशाला में स्थापित किया गया था। कई तकनीकी समस्याएं दूर करने और अन्य सभी पहलुओं की जांच परख के बाद इस दूरबीन ने काम शुरू किया है। वैज्ञानिक अब इसके माध्यम से सूर्य का अधिक गहनता से अध्ययन करने में सक्षम होंगे।

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General Budget 2015-16 Highlights

General Budget 2015-16 Highlights, full in PDF: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present Union Budget 2015-16 today 2015-16 fiscal year that begins on April 1. Here is Live updates on Union Budget 2015-16 Highlights from Loksabha.

General Budget 2015-16 in English PDF Format

General Budget 2015-16 in Hindi PDF Format

Union Budget 2015-16 Highlights:
- Arun Jaitley leaves North Block with finance ministry officials for Lok sabha.
- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley begins General Budget 2015-16 speech in Loksabha.
 TAXATION
1. Abolition of Wealth Tax.
2. Additional 2% surcharge for the super rich with income of over Rs. 1 crore.
3. Rate of corporate tax to be reduced to 25% over next four years.
4. No change in tax slabs.
5. Total exemption of up to Rs. 4,44,200 can be achieved.
6. 100% exemption for contribution to Swachch Bharat, apart from CSR.
7. Service tax increased to14 per cent.
AGRICULTURE
1. Rs. 25,000 crore for Rural Infrastructure Development Bank.
2. Rs. 5,300 crore to support Micro Irrigation Programme.
3. Farmers credit - target of 8.5 lakh crore.

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One Life Is Not Enough Book by Natwar Singh

One Life Is Not Enough : An Autobiography is New Book by Kunwar Natwar Singh politician from Rajasthan and former cabinet minister. Natwar Singh talks about his experiences in Delhi’s political corridors and sets the record straight on several events, including the Volcker controversy. The book is no holds barred account of his political career providing an insider view on the various machinations of Delhi's political circles. The book covers revelation of sensitive developments during Indira Gandhi's, Rajiv Gandhi's, Narasimha Rao's and Manmohan Singh's regimes. The book also deals about Natwar Singh's close political relationship with Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The book also gives Natwar Singh's account of the controversial Volcker report and the various political motions that took place in the background leading up to his resignation. The U.N. Independent Enquiry Committee (popularly known as Volcker committee) named his Indian National Congress party and him as beneficieries of illegal payoffs in Iraqi oil scam, resulting in his forced resignation from the Cabinet on December 6, 2005. The book is being called a Nuclear Bomb because it is expected to reveal even more about the inner workings of the Congress and its first family. 

About Kunwar Natwar Singh: Kunwar Natwar Singh (born May 16, 1931) is an Indian politician and former cabinet minister. On December 7, 2005, he was removed from his post as Minister in charge of External Affairs under a cloud of scandal and became a minister without portfolio. The U.N. Independent Enquiry Committee (popularly known as Volcker committee) named his Indian National Congress party and him as beneficieries of illegal payoffs in Iraqi oil scam, resulting in his forced resignation from the Cabinet on December 6, 2005.

One Life Is Not Enough : An Autobiograph is available on Preorder on Flipkart.com

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Sita Mata wildlife sanctuary, Pratapgarh Rajasthan

Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary situated in south-east portion of Pratapgarh district (Rajasthan). The Sanctuary provides rich pastures for a variety of Deer that includes the Chowsingha and for Caracal wild Boar, Pangolin and Leopards. Sitamata Sanctuary is spread over the Aravali and Vindhyachal mountain ranges and is the only forest region where teak trees of building value are found. In this sanctuary, around 50% trees are of teak. Besides these salar, tendu, amla and bamboo bel are also found in abundance. The leopard, hyena, jackal, fox, jungle cat, porcupine, spotted deer, wild bear, four - horned antelope and Nilgai are the animals found in Sita Mata wildlife sanctuary.
The most conspicuous animal of the Sita Mata sanctuary is the flying squirrel which can be seen gliding from one tree to another after sunset. Its activities are nocturnal and during the day the day it hides in the hollow. The best time to see this squirrel is between February and March at Arampura Forest Guest House, when most of the trees shed their leaves and it is easier to spot the squirrel on the branches of leafless trees. Here are some more facts about Pratapgarh and Sita Mata wildlife sanctuary, Pratapgarh Rajasthan in Hindi.

- प्रतापगढ़ राजस्थान  का  33 वां जिला है जो राजस्थान के दक्षिणी भाग में स्थित है । इसकी भौगोलिक स्थिति 24.03° N 74.78° E है । 
- प्रतापगढ़ में कुल पाँच उपखण्ड हैं : छोटी सादडी, प्रतापगढ़, अरनोद, पीपलखूंट और धरियावद ।
'कान्ठली' स्थानीय ग्रामीण बोली है ।
- सीतामाता वन्यजीव अभयारण्य, जहाँ बहने वाली जाखम नदी एवं में महुआ पेड़ के के कोटर में पायी जाने वाली उड़न गिलहरी प्रमुख आकर्षण हैं
- गौतमेश्वर तीर्थ आदिवासियों का एक प्रमुख 'तीर्थ' है ।  यहाँ 'मीणा' समाज के जनजातीय श्रृद्धालुओं का सालाना-मेला भरता है, जिसमें दूर-दूर तक के हजारों आदिवासी जोर-शोर से हिस्सा लेते हैं।

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Kedarnath Singh wins Jnanpith award 2013

Noted Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh has been chosen for the prestigious Jnanpith award for 2013. Kedarnath Singh is the 10th Hindi writer to receive the honour and joins the likes of Sumitra Nandan Pant, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar among others. He will be the recipient of the 49th Jnanpith award. Singh, 80, who has also written essays and stories, was born in Balia, UP. Abhi bilkul abhi and Yahan se dekho are among his prominent works. The award includes Rs 11 lakh and a citation, a release from the Jnanpith award committee said. 

With this he joined the league of 10 noted Hindi writers (Sumitranandan Pant (1968), Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (1972), Sachchidananda Vatsyayan (1978), Mahadevi Varma (1982), Naresh Mehta (1992), Nirmal Verma (1999), Kunwar Narayan (2005), Amar Kant (2009), Sri Lal Sukla (2009), Kedarnath Singh (2013)) who have won Jnanpith award. 

About Jnanpith Award: The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country. The award was instituted in 1961. Any Indian citizen who writes in any of the official languages of India is eligible for the honour. It is presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, a trust founded by the Sahu Jain family, the publishers of the newspaper The Times of India.  As of 2014 most Jananpith award winners, ten have been writing in Hindi followed by eight in Kannada, five each in Bengali and Malayalam, four each in Oriya and Urdu and three each in Gujarati, Marathi and Telugu and two each in Assamese and Tamil. Malayalam writer G. Sankara Kurup was first person to win Jnanpith award in 1965.

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Justice RM Lodha from Jodhpur is New Chief Justice of India (CJI)

Rajasthan's Jodhpur born Justice Rajendra Mal (RM) Lodha is New Chief Justice of India (CJI). He was administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukharjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. At 64, Justice Lodha is the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after Justice Sathasivam. He will have a brief tenure of five months as the Chief Justice as he is scheduled to retire on September 27. He has handled sensitive cases in the Supreme Court and is presently heading the bench monitoring the probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the coal scam.

Born on September 28, 1949 in Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Justice Lodha is the son of former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice S.K. Mal Lodha. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Rajasthan in February, 1973 and practiced law in the Rajasthan High Court, dealing with constitutional, civil, company, criminal, taxation and labour matters etc. He was elevated as a permanent judge of the Rajasthan High Court on January 31, 1994 and transferred to the Bombay High Court on February 16, 1994. He was a judge of the Bombay High Court for thirteen years, and sat on almost all jurisdictions. He was re-transferred to the Rajasthan High Court, where he assumed office on February 2, 2007. His other appointments included being Administrative Judge of the Rajasthan High Court and Chairman, State Judicial Academy, Rajasthan. 

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Padma Awards 2014 Winner - Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri 2014 Awardees list

Padma Awards 2014 Winners List: Padma Awards 2014 is announced today, 25th January 2014. Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.  The awards are given in all disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.  ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.  The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan sometime around March/ April.  This year the President has approved 127 awards including 10 in the category of Foreigners/ NRIs/ PIOs. These comprise 2 Padma Vibhushan, 24 Padma Bhushan and 101 Padma Shri awards.  There are 27 ladies among the awardees.

Padma Vibhushan Awards 2014 Winners List:
1. Dr Raghunath A Mashelkar, Science and Engineering, Maharashtra
2. B K S Iyengar, Yoga, Maharashtra
Padma Bhushan Awards 2014 Winners List 
1. Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Art-Painting, Gujarat
2. Begum Parveen Sultana, Art-Classical Singing, Maharashtra
3. T.H. Vinayakram, Art-Ghatam Artist, Tamil Nadu
4. Kamal Haasan, Art-Cinema, Tamil Nadu
5. Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Public Affairs, Delhi
6. Prof Padmanabhan Balaram, Science and Engineering, Karnataka
7. Prof Jyeshtharaj Joshi, Science and Engineering, Maharashtra
8. Dr Madappa Mahadevappa, Science and Engineering, Karnataka
9. Dr Thirumalachari Ramasami, Science and Engineering, Delhi
10. Dr Vinod Prakash Sharma, Science and Engineering, Delhi

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Angela Merkel to get Indira Gandhi Prize 2013 for Peace

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be the recipient of Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2013. The 59-year-old Merkel will be given the prestigious award for her leadership during the trying financial crisis and her stewardship of German economic growth, Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust announced. The award will be given by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust lauding her commitment to universal peace and disarmament and her leadership role in strengthening productive. The trust said the prize was being given to the German leader because of the work done by her for promotion of global economic stability, her commitment to universal peace and disarmament and her leadership role in strengthening productive and mutually beneficial relations with India and other developing countries. 

Merkel, who became the first woman to be elected as Chancellor of Germany, has been a strong supporter of close relations with India, it said. Her joint declaration with the Indian Prime Minister greatly strengthened the Indo-German relations, leading to inter-governmental consultations during her state visit to India in 2011 and PM Manmohan Singh’s visit to Berlin in 2013 during which the German participation in the ambitious Green Energy Corridors Project was finalised, it added.

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