Thursday, August 9, 2012

India’s Industrial Output declined to 1.8 Percent in June 2012

India’s industrial output plunged to 1.8 per cent in June 2012 compared to 9.5 per cent growth registered during June 2011. For the first quarter, the index of industrial production (IIP) declined 0.1 per cent against 6.9 per cent growth in the same quarter of fiscal 2011-12. The figure released by the Central Statistics Office of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 9 August 2012.
Manufacturing sector at -3.2 per cent and mining sector at 0.6 per cent largely hurt the overall IIP growth in June 2012. Manufacturing sector had recorded 11.1 per cent growth and mining sector output declined by 1.4 per cent in June 2011.
The capital goods category recorded a decline of 27.9 per cent in output in June 2012, while, the category had seen a 38.9 percent growth in the same month in 2011.
Basic goods output grew 4.1 per cent in June against 7.8 per cent growth in the June 2011. Growth of Intermediate goods remained unchanged at 1.6 per cent.
Consumer durables witnessed a growth of 9.1 per cent. However, consumer non-durables declined 1 per cent in June against a growth of 4.3 per cent in the same month last year.
Power sector registered a marginal 8.8 per cent growth in June 2012, higher than 8 per cent growth recorded in the same month in 2011.
The weak number of IIP could force Reserve Bank of India to cut policy rates at the next mid-quarter monetary policy review meeting slated for mid-September. Thus far the central bank has been counting on tight monetary policy to keep inflation in check. RBI had left the key policy rates unchanged in its mid-quarterly monetary policy review in July 2012.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
(Index of Industrial Production IIP) is compiled using data received form 16 source agencies including Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP); Indian Bureau of Mines; Central Electricity Authority; Joint Plant Committee; Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas; Office of Textile Commissioner; Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals; Directorate of Sugar; Department of Fertilizers; Directorate of Vanaspati, Vegetable Oils & Fats; Tea Board; Office of Jute Commissioner; Office of Coal Controller; Railway Board; Office of Salt Commissioner and Coffee Board.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

DR. Zaidi takes Over as New Election Commissioner


Dr. Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi On August 7 assumed the charge as Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. He fills the vacancy in the Election Commission caused by the assumption of charge by Sh. V.S. Sampath as the 18th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) succeeding Dr. S.Y. Quraishi.

Dr. Zaidi superannuated as Civil Aviation Secretary on July 31. Dr. Zaidi had earlier worked as Director-General of Civil Aviation, and was India’s representative in the International Civil Aviation Organisation. He was also the Joint Secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry, and Commissioner of Bareilly Development Authority.

Union Government approved Relaxation in Policies Related to Transfer of Government Land

The Union Government of India on 2 August 2012 approved relaxation in policies relating to transfer of government land. The objective of the policy is to speed up private-public partnership in the country and to fast-track pending infrastructure projects. The decision will ensure that infrastructure projects are not held up for procedural delays.
A ban was imposed in 2011 on transfer of government-owned land to any entity except in cases where land was to be transferred from one government department to another.This ban however excluded the cases where the land was to be transferred from one government department to another. The policy has also been relaxed for all land transfers from ministries to statutory authorities or PSUs (Public Sector Units).
Besides, the government allowed use and development of railway land by Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA), as per the provisions of Railways Amendment Act, 2005.

SBI CLERKS GENERAL AWARENESS PRACTICE MCQs


1.  The limit of overseas investment in government bonds/securities has been raised
     from $15 billion to _________.
  
     a) $20 billion
     b) $25 billion
     c) $30 billion
     d) $35 billion
     e) None of the above


2.  According to “World Investment Report 2012″, the total FDI inflow in India in
     2011 stood at ________.
     a) $67 billion
     b) $87 billion
     c) $52 billion
     d) $78 billion
     e) None of the above

3.  According to The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012, India ranks at ____.
     a) 42nd
     b) 36th
     c) 56th 
     d) 53rd
     e) 62nd

4.  Which country tops the overall rankings in The Global Competitiveness Report
     2011-2012?

     a) Sweden
     b) Singapore
     c) Netherland
     d) Switzerland 
     e) None of the above

5. The World Bank Group have entered into an agreement with which among the
     following industrial bodies to establish the India Wildlife Business Council (IWBC)
     to promote tiger and biodiversity conservation for sustainable development?
     a) Industrial Development Bank of India
     b) Indian Industries Association
     c) Confederation of Indian Industry
     d) The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
     e) None of the above

6.  The country’s first indigenously designed microwave imaging satellite, Radar
      Imaging Satellite  (RISAT-1) was launched by Indian Space Research Organisation
      on April 26, 2012. Which of the following statments about RISAT-1 is/are correct?
      1. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV C-19 was used to launch RISAT-1.
      2. It has cloud penetrating capability and can imaging even without sunlight.
      3. The RISAT-1 is an advanced C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite
           working in 5.35 Giga Hertz frequency.
      4. It was launched from Sriharikota located in Rajasthan.
      a) 1 and 2 only
      b) 2 and 3 only
      c) 1, 2and 3 only
      d) 1, 3 and 4 only
      e) All 1, 2, 3 and 4

7.  Who among the following has been appointed as chairman of Expert Committee
     on GAAR for examining issues on General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR)?
     a) Sudhir Gupta
     b) C. Rangarajan
     c) N. Rangachary
     d) Parthasarathi Shome
     e) None of the above

8.  Which of the followings scheme(s) is/are launched by Ministry of Panchayati Raj
     (MoPR)?
      1. Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF)
      2. Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY)
      3. Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan (PMEYSA)
    a) Only 1     a) Only 2     a) Only 3     a) 2 and 3 only     a) All 1, 2 and 3

9.  Name the person who took oath as the 25th Prime Minister of Pakistan recently?
     a) Yusuf Raza Gilani
     b) Makhdoom Shahbuddin
     c) Hina Rabbani Khar
     d) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
     e) None of the above

10. Which country became a major non-NATO ally of the United States recently?
      a) Japan
      b) Israel
      c) Pakistan
      d) Newzeland
      e) Afghanistan

11. Jim Yong Kim who assumed the World Bank presidency recently, is the _____
      president of the World Bank Group.
      a) 12th 
      b) 13th
      c) 14th
      d) 15th
      e) None of the above

12. A highly controversial book ‘Beyond the Lines’ is an autobiography written by 
      a) Aravind Adiga
      b) Salman Rushdie
      c) Kuldip Nayyar
      d) Khushwant Singh
      e) Taslima Nasreen

13. Which of the followings recommendations were made by National Commission for
      Women (NCW) in concern to the proposed amendments to the Dowry Prohibition
      Act, 1961?
      1. Amendment to definition of Dowry
      2. Provision for registration of lists of gifts received at the time of marriage.
      3. Penalties for non-maintenance of lists of gifts received at the time of the marriage.
      4. Protection officers appointed under the Protection of Women from Domestic
          Violence Act, 2005 to carry out the duties of the Dowry Prohibition Officers.
      a) 1, 2 and 3 only
      b) 2, 3 and 4 only
      c) 1, 2 and 4 only
      d) 1, 3 and 4 only
      e) All 1, 2, 3 and 4

14. An e-TDS return should be filed under ________ of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
      a) Section 206
      b) Section 205 
      c) Section 208
      d) Section 192
      e) None of the above

15. The e-TDS prepared by the deductor has to be submitted at
      a) TIN Facilitation Centres 
      b) TAN Facilitation Centres
      c) PIN Facilitation Centres
      d) PAN Facilitation Centres
      e) None of the above

16. Which is the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar volume/market value?
      a) Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE)
      b) London Stock Exchange (LSE)
      c) New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
      d) Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE)
      e) None of the above

17. FBI’s two-year investigation project called “Operation Ghost Click” was aimed
      to uncovered a network of
      a) Rogue DNS Servers
      b) Rogue FTP Servers
      c) Rogue Proxy Servers
      d) Rogue HTTP Servers
      e) None of the above

18. Internet’s phone book is :  
      a) ISP
      b) FTP
      c) TCP
      d) DNS
      e) Gopher

19. A collection of infected computers under the control of one or more attackers is:
      a) Bolnet
      b) Botnet
      c) Spybot
      d) Intranet
      e) Web spider

20. Which country ranks at the top in Bt.Cotton cultivation (Area wise)?
      a) USA
      b) Britain 
      c) Russia
      d) China
      e) India

21. According to the ILO, a worker under the following age is a child labourer:
      a) 14 years
      b) 15 years  
      c) 16 years
      d) 17 years
      e) None of the above

22. The largest share (nearly 60 percent) of child labourers is found in
      a) Mining Sector
      b) Service sector
      c) Industrial sector
      d) Agricultural sector 
      e) Construction and contracting sector

23. In which year, ILO establishes the International Programme on the Elimination of
      Child Labour (IPEC)?
      a) 1990 
      b) 1991
      c) 1992
      d) 1994
      e) None of the above

24. Alan Isaac has recently been elected as new President of
      a) ICC 
      b) WWF
      c) AITA
      d) FIFA
      e) FIDE

25. Which of the following terms is NOT associated with the game of Cricket?
      a) LBW
      b) DRS
      c) Duck
      d) Cow Corner
      e) None of above

26.  Which of the following banks removes minimum balance stipulations for Saving Bank
     accounts recently?

     a) SBI
     b) PNB
     c) OBC
     d) HDFC
     e) ICICI

27.  Which of the following statements correctly define the meaning of reverse repo rate?
     a) The rate at which apex bank RBI lends money to commercial banks.
     b) The rate at which the apex bank RBI borrows money from commercial banks.
     c) The amount of funds that the commercial banks have to keep with the RBI.
     d) The rate at which apex bank RBI allows finance to commercial banks.
     e) None of the above

28.  Which is the name of new air station opened by Indian Navy at Campbell bay recently,
      to keep an eagle eye on China’s strategic moves in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)?
     a) INS Baaz
     b) INS Eagle
     c) INS Garuda
     d) INS Prahar
     e) None of the above

29.  The government of India has decided to permit a citizen of Pakistan or any entity
     incorporated in Pakistan to make investments in India under government route.
     Pakistani citizens and companies will be allowed to invest in all sectors other than
     a) Space
     b) Defence
     c) Atomic Energy
     d) Both (a) & (c)
     e) All (a), (b) & (c)

30. According to the latest edition of Forbes magazine, which of the following oil and gas
      companies became the world’s most profitable company in 2011?

      a) ONGC
      b) Areva
      c) Aramco
      d) Gazprom
      e) ExxonMobil

31.  Which computing giant has recently posted its first ever loss since becoming a public
       company 26 years ago?
      a) IBM
      b) Apple
      c) Google
      d) Facebook
      e) Microsoft

32. Which city ranks at the top in India City Competitiveness Report-2012, compiled
      by the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) recently?
      a) Delhi
      b) Mumbai
      c) Chennai
      d) Banglore
      e) Hyderabad

33. A Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. Mihir Shah, Member,
      Planning Commission for suggesting revisions to

      a) SABLA Operational Guidelines
      b) MGNREGA Operational Guidelines
      c) JNNURM  Operational Guidelines
      d) Swavalamban Operational Guidelines
      e) None of the above
 
34. India’s first ever bio toilets developed by DRDO, has been launched in which of
      the following States?
     a) Bihar
     b) Kerala
     c) Gujarat
     d) Rajasthan
     e) Odisha

35. India’s largest industrial solar power plant became operational in
      a) Punjab 
      b) Gujarat
      c) Rajasthan
      d) Maharashtra
      e) None of the above

36. The Andmans and Nicobars are separated by
      e) Coco Channels
      b) Great Channles
      c) Ten Degree Channles
      d) Duncan Passage
      e) None of the above

37. The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was launched by the Indian
      government in
      a) 2008
      b) 2009
      c) 2010
      d) 2011
      e) None of the above

38. Shri Pranab Mukherjee took oath as India’s ________ president.
      a) 13th
      b) 14th
      c) 15th
      d) 16th
      e) None of the above

39. Who administers the oath of office to the president of India?
      a) Prime Minister
      b) Lok Sabha Speaker
      c) Chairman of Rajya Sabha
      d) Chief Justice of India
      e) None of the above

40. Who won the first gold medal of the 2012 London Olympic Games?
      a) Yu Dan
      b) Yi Siling
      c) Katrina Emmons
      d) Sylwia Bogacka
      e) None of the above

41. India’s flag- bearer at opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games was
      a) Sushil Kumar
      b) Gagan Narang
      c) Leander Paes
      d) Saina Nehwal
      e) None of the above

42. Google Fibre, an ultra-high speed internet service offers
      a) 10Mbps download and upload speeds
      b) 100Mbps download and upload speeds
      c) 500Mbps download and upload speeds
      d) 1Gbps download and upload speeds
      e) None of the above

43. The annual Amarnath yatra to Holy Amarnath Cave is organized every year by the
      a) Tamilnadu State Government
      b) Jammu & Kashmir State Government
      c) Maharashtra State Government
      d) Karanatka State Government
      e) None of the above

44. Amarnath Yatra is a pride for Hindu devotees who have faith in
      e) Lord Vishnu
      b) Lord Krishna
      c) Lord Shiva
      d) Lord Brahma
      e) None of the above

45. Which of the following statements is/are correct about ‘Amarnath yatra’?
      1. A person cannot take Amarnath Yatra without taking the permission from
         Government of India.
      2. A prior Amarnath Yatra registration is must.
      3. Helicopter can be used to go Amarnath Cave.
      a) Only 1    
       b) Only 2    
      c) Only 3    
      d) 1 and 2 Only    
       e) All 1, 2 and 3

46.  Which is the projected target of power generation for the Twelfth Five Year Plan?
     a) 72,864 MW
     b) 75,785 MW
     c) 78,385 MW
     d) 76,765 MW
     e) None of the above


47.  The Working Group on Power constituted by Planning Commission for formulation
     of the 12th Five Year Plan has estimated total fund requirement of __________ for
     the power sector during the 12th Plan.
     a) Rs.15,35,765 Crore
     b) Rs.12,42,543 Crore
     c) Rs.13,72,580 Crore
     d) Rs.18,64,382 Crore
     e) None of the above

48.  To what percent of the country’s population, the National Food Security Bill, 2011
     confers a legal right to cheaper food grains?
     a) 63.5 per cent
     b) 65.0 per cent
     c) 70.5 per cent
     d) 75.0 per cent
     e) None of the above

49.  The contribution by the IT sector in India’s GDP has increased from 6.4% in the
     year 2008 to _______in year 2012.

     a) 6.8%
     b) 7.2%
     c) 7.5%
     d) 8.2%
     e) None of the above

50.  In the first quarter review of monetary policy of FY 2012-13, RBI cut the statutory
     liquidity ratio (SLR) by a percentage point to ease the flow of credit to industry.
     Consider the follwoing statements about SLR:
     1. SLR is the amount of deposits banks park in government bonds/securities.
     2. The maximum limit of SLR has been reduced from 24% to 23%.
     3. SLR ensures that banks do not provide all the deposits as loan.
     Which of the above statements is/are correct?
     a) Only 1
     b) Only 2
     c) 1 and 2 only
     d) 1 and 3 only
     e) All 1, 2 and 3

Monday, August 6, 2012

GENERAL AWARENESS QUESTIONS FOR ALL COMPETITIVE EXAMS

1. Wrestler-actor who died recently at the age of 84 ?

"Rustam-E-Hind" Dara Singh   
2. How is Oscar Pistorius known in the sporting world?
An athlete who would compete in  London Olympics (individual 400 metres and 4 * 400relay)
3. Who will replace Mark Thompson as BBC director general in August 2012?
George Entwistle
4. Which  Indian PSU bank recently setup its Security Operation Centre?
United Bank of India
5. Harvard Business Review has featured which ho me appliances maker as  one of the 6th most successful sales and  marketing company in the world?
Eureka Forbes
6. Which country announced 16.7 billion in extra taxes on big business and rich to meet deficit targets and balance its budget by 2017?
France
7. Shadow of what has been clicked b y scientists with an effort lasting more than 5 years?
Single Atom
8. Name the movie shot by kannada director Arvind Kaushik in a record 2 hours.
Nam Areiali Innondhina
9. Which football team is set to file  IPO in New York Stock Exchange?
Manchester united
10. Where does India stand on global innovation index rank as it drops 2 positions from
existing one?
64th rank
11. Expand FTII. (Hint: Film)
Film and Television Institute of India
12. India will sign an audio-visual co-operation agreement with which country to increase cooperation in filmmaking, screening and student exchange programmes?
Poland
13. From which part of India does Srilanka-based Mihin Lanka Airlines will operate flights
to Colombo?
Madurai, Tamil Nadu
14. Which mobile network recently launched Flat 30p plan for its customers in India?
Sistema Shyam Teleservices  Ltd. which operates under MTS brand
15. Who is elected India's 13th President?
Pranab Mukherjee 
16. Name the project of Mozilla which is workin g on Mobile Operating System, firefox OS.
Boot to Gecko project
17. What quantity o f wheat would be exported to ease storage crunch in India?
2 million tonnes
18. Who is appointed as Chairman for Australian and New Zealand  operations by Mahindra
Satyam?
Edward Ted Pretty
19. Which PSU bank has waived off minimum balance criteria for savings b ank account?
State Bank of India
20. How many IPO's worth 50,500 crores were called off in 18 months?
55
21. Thomas Cook recently expanded its presence in which Indian state?
Bihar
22. Who will become the first Australian to compete at 7 Summer Olympics Games?
Andrew Hoy
23.  Bollywood's first superstar who dies recently at 69 ?
Superstar Rajesh Khanna 
24. Why is the Mohanlal star rer movie 'Spirit' exempted from tax?
Film creates awareness on social issues faced b y the society due to increase in liquor consumption
25. Where will the Under-19 World Cup 2012 be played and who will lead Indian team?
Australia, Unmukt Chand
26. Who is elected as President of the Indian Medical Association for  Bihar state for the year
2012 -13?
Paediatrician Dr.Arun Kumar
27. Who won the Irish Open 2012 title?
Welshman Jamie Donaldson
28. Who will become the first Indian woman and 5th sportsperson to be conferred with
Lt.Colonel rank?
MC Mary Kom
29. How do we know Bob Diamond with respect to b anking domain?
Ex-CEO of Barclays
30. Name the Chief Operating Officer of Barclays who quit recently.
Jerry del Missier
31. Who released comic book based -on chef mafias recently?
Anthon y Bourdain
32. Who was named player of Euro 2012?
Magisterial Iniesta
33. Which  Indian state will setup 200 hi-tech mini-dairy units to boost milk production?
Haryana
34. Which  Indian Union Territory has been included in Indian Science Congress
Association's chapter?
Puducherry
35. What is the length of world's longest cable-stayed bridge built by Russia?
1,104 meter link Valdivostok and Russk y Island
36. Who won against Usain Bolt in the 200 metres final event?
Yohan Blake
37. What is the budget estimates for Manipur state set for 2012 -2013?
Rs.3,500 crore
38. How man y listed companies on BSE and NSE will be facilitated with electronic voting
by their shareholders for all postal ballot resolutions?
Top 500 listed companies
39. Name the Barclays chairman who quit recently.
Marcus Agius
40. Which of  India's forest area has been added to list of world heritage sites by the United
Nations Organisation?
1,600km long Western Ghats
41. Australia is set to play  an ODI against which emerging cricket nation in Middle East in August 2012?
Afghanistan
42. Expand GGCL. (Hint: Gas)
Gujarat Gas Company Limited
43. Where is the National Electrical Summit 2012 scheduled in India?
Vadodara, Gujarat
44. Name the Baroda state's visionary ruler whose 150th birth anniversary would be celebrated by FGI Business Centre.
Sayajirao Gaekwad III
45. Who is the  Indian business person among 27 global leaders appointed b y the United Nations to eliminate malnutrition?
Vinita Bali
46. Which state boards in India are suggested b y State Bank of  India to be listed?
State Electricity Boards
47. Expand NDS-OM. (Hint: Order)
Negotiated Dealing System Order-Matching
48. Who won the Mexico presidency elections?
Enrique Pena Nieto
49. People earning over what value of income should now file income tax returns
electronically in India?
Rs.10 lakh and above
50. Travelguru will be acquired by which company?
Yatra.com
51. What value worth agreement did Egypt sign with Saudi-based Islamic Development
Bank to receive energy and food imports?
$1 billion
52. Who sworn in as the 27th Chief Minister of Karnataka?
Jagdish Shettar  
53. Who is sworn-in as Hong Kong leader by Chinese  President Hu Jintao?
Leung Chun-ying
54. Which state recently launched a financial aid scheme for HIV/AIDS patients poor family with the assistance of Rs.1,000 per month for medical treatment?
Delhi
55. Expand AIDWA. (Hint: Women)
All India Democratic Women's Association
56. Which state will observe July 2012 as anti-dengue month?
Punjab
57. Expand IIAS. (Hint: Arsenic)
International Institute of Arsenic Studies
58. Over what value of annual turnover will imp act private tuition providers to pay 12% tax out of the earnings?
Rs.10 lakh
59. Who won and retained European Championship title 2012?
Spain
60. Who won the Euro 2012 Golden Boot?
Fernando Torres
61. What percentage of growth did Nagaland register over 2011 -2012 annual plan?
27%
62. Name the concert held in Bangkok, Thailand on June 21st 2012 to celebrate World Music
Day.
Handshake Concert
63. Where was the global  agri-business meet 2012 held?
Shangai, China
64. List some of the new services which are under 12% service tax category.
Speed Posts, Express Parcels
1st class and air-conditioned travel b y railways
Travel and holiday
tickets bought from online portals
Taking GMAT and
GRE tests
Passport and Visa services
Currency exchange Mutual fund exit loads
Actors, Singers and Other performers
Entry fee for conference, seminars, workshops, sport and cultural events
Services of Fashion Designers, marriage bureaus, astrologers and numerologists
65. Which services from railways are exempted from service tax starting July 1st 2012?
Passenger fare and freight
66. What is the extra second added to UTC known as?
Zulu time
67. Who now owns a joint stake in Tata Group's  Life Insurance?
Hong Kong-based AIA Group, Tata AIA Life In surance
68. Which state's Driving License would now indicate the person as 'Organ Donor'?
Karnataka
69. Which newspaper launched its website in Chinese language?
The New York Times
70. Who has been appointed as UK government's Chief Scientific Advisor?
Prof Sir Mark Walport
71. What is the name of the weight-loss pill approved by US health regulators which can help people to lose on average of 5% of their body weight?
Belviq
72. Who has been appointed as United States first Ambassador to Burma in 22 years?
Derek Mitchell

Modification in the Guidelines of the scheme of National Projects

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the inclusion of Extension, Renovation & Modernization (ERM) projects envisaging restoration of lost potential of 2 lakh ha. or more under the category of National Projects. Under the scheme of National Projects, such projects would become eligible for 90% funding of the cost of works of the irrigation and drinking water components of the project from the Central Government.

At present, the eligible ERM projects are provided central assistance @25% of the cost ,of works for non special category States and @90% for DPAP/Tribal/Flood prone areas and special category States under AIBP.

The cost of restoration of irrigation potential through ERM projects is much less than that of creation of the same potential through new projects. During the XII Plan, considerable emphasis is being laid on improving the water use efficiency of irrigation projects. This is also one of the five goals of the National Water Mission. It is therefore proposed that for improvement in water use efficiency of the ongoing approved irrigation projects, ERM projects which can restore lost irrigation potential of 2 lakh ha. or more be included in the category of National Projects.

The scheme will be funded out of the allocations for AIBP during the Xllth Plan.

Inclusion of Saryu Nahar Pariyojana of Uttar Pradesh in the scheme of National Projects

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure today approved the inclusion of "Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana" of Uttar Pradesh in the scheme of National projects. Under the scheme of National Projects, this project would become eligible for 90% funding from the Central Government.

The Sarayu Nahar Pariyojana has been under execution by the State Government of Uttar Pradesh since 1977-78 but could not be completed because of lack of funds with th© State Government. Once completed, it would provide an ultimate irrigation potential benefit to 14.04 lakh hectare in the districts of Bahraich, Shrawasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Basti, Sant Kabirnagar, Siddharth Nagar & Gorakhpur. The amount required for completion of the project is Rs, 3238 crore out of which Rs. 2915 crore would be provided by the Central Government. The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2016.

The High Powered Steering Committee for National Projects constituted by the Ministry of Water Resources has cleared the Project in December 2011 for inclusion under the scheme of National Projects.

The total central liability on account of this project is approximately Rs.2915 crore.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

9 physicists worldwide received the Fundamental Physics Prize

9 physicists worldwide were given the Fundamental Physics Prize on 31 July 2012. The prizes were given to the physicists for their remarkable contribution to the field of fundamental physics. Fundamental Physics Prize has been established by Russian Businessman Yuri Milner and the most money-spinning academic prize in the world.
Winners of the award include , Ashoke Sen, N J Nima, Arkani-Hamed, Juan Maldacena, Nathan Seiberg, Edward Witten, Andrei Linde, Alexei Kitaev, Maxim Kontsevich, Ashoke Sen

The winners will receive 3 million dollar as the prize amount. The Nobel Prize currently comes with an award of 1.2 million dollar, which is generally divided between two or three people.

Power Tripped in Northern, Eastern and North Eastern Grids: India’s Biggest Power Blackout

India witnessed its biggest ever power blackout on 31 July 2012. Post the collapse of the northern power grid twenty states in India were left with no electricity till late evening. This is the second time that the country saw a power failure of a huge margin, interestingly both the failures happened in a time frame of over twenty four hours.
The collapse happened  at around one o clock in the noon, when the northern grid tripped, which then immediately led to a similar effect on the eastern and north-eastern grids, as the two are connected as a common grid. The problem was compounded as several states had removed the under frequency relays that island their systems when grid disruptions occur.
Apparently, the failure of the three power grids despite a stable electricity supply was due to the mounting demand for electricity as monsoon rains remained deficient, outdated power transmission equipments and utter lack of discipline by state utilities in drawing power.
Among the states affected were Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Orissa, Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Assam, meaning that the power trip covered more than half of the country’s population.
Amongst the worst hit were the two hundred coal miners trapped in West Bengal and Jharkhand as their shafts remained closed. Amongst the railways, almost three hundred trains remained stranded , also the Delhi Metro, which is a life line to many came to a stop leaving the traffic situation in the state a tizzy. During the peak hour the supply stood less than 40,000 MW against the demand of 130,000 MW.
The situation came back to control later by evening on 31 July 2012, forty percent of the system was operating normally again and power was eventually restored over the states. The first power cut of this kind happened just few hours back on the night of 30 July 2012.

One Thousand Nine Hundred Crore Rupees Allocated to Rain Deficient States

The union government announced a financial assistance of 1900 crore under various schemes for the rain deficient states. It also extended a diesel subsidy of fifty percent to farmers to save the standing crops through groundwater irrigation which would be shared between the centre and the states.
The decisions were taken at the meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM). The meeting was chaired by Agriculture Minsiter, Sharad Pawar.
Amongst the states facing the problems are Parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. The overall kharif sowing is lower by 56.03 lakh hectares compared to the normal area, with a shortfall in the cultivation of rice, coarse cereals and pulses largely in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Apart from this, an interim assistance of Rs. Thirty eight crore for supply of drinking water would be given to Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

India’s Exports slipped by 5.45 Percent in June 2012

According to the data released by the Commerce Ministry on 1 August 2012 India’s exports in June slipped by 5.45 per cent, year-on- year, to 25 billion dollar on account of sluggish global economy.
Imports dipped more sharply, by 13.46 per cent to 35.37 billion dollar during the month, compared to 40.8 billion dollar in June 2011, resulting in a narrower trade deficit of 10.3 billion dollar.
The data reveled that, exports during the April-June quarter of fiscal year 2012-13 dipped by 1.7 per cent to 75.2 billion dollar, from 76.5 billion dollar during the corresponding period of fiscal year 2011-12. Imports during the quarter also witnessed a slump as it dipped by 6.10 per cent to 115.25 billion dollar from 122.74 billion dollar in the same quarter of 2011-12.
Trade deficit during the April June quarter stood at 40 billion dollar, which was lower than the deficit of 46 billion dollar during April -June, 2011-12.
The decline in exports and imports is largely attributed to pessimistic economic environment world over. State of economic uncertainties in western economies has added to the woes of ailing world trade.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Anil Kumar was appointed as the new Director General for ESIC

Anil Kumar was appointed as the new Director General for Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on 27 July 2012. Employee’s State Insurance Corporation comes under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 

Anil Kumar was an IAS Officer from the 1981 batch. He was the former Additional Chief Secretary in Animal Resources Development Department, Government of West Bengal.

He had successfully completed his graduation and post graduation from IIT Kanpur and IIM Bangalore respectively. In addition, he had completed his Master’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Columbia, United States.

Indian Economy Key Sector IT-BPO


The year 2011-12 was marked by growing global uncertainties. Global recovery has stalled, growth prospects have dimmed and downside risks have escalated. By contrast, the Indian IT-BPO Industry (including hardware) continued to exhibit resilience. It weathered uncertainties in global business environment and reached a significant milestone in the year 2011-12 by aggregating revenue of US $ 101 billion, a growth of about 14.7 per cent over the previous year. Thus, the year 2011-12 is a landmark year for the IT-BPO Industry.

The Indian software and services export including BPO exports is estimated at US $ 68.7 billion in 2011-12, an increase of 16.4 per cent. The IT services exports is estimated to be US $ 39.8 billion, showing a growth of 18.8 per cent. BPO exports are estimated to grow to US $ 15.9 billion in 2011-12, a year-on-year growth of about 12 per cent. IT services contributed 58 per cent of total IT-BPO exports in 2011-12, followed by BPO at 23 per cent and Software products/engineering services at 19 per cent.

USA continues to drive IT-BPO exports growth. Growth is being driven by higher demand for IT services and support. Continental Europe and UK, the second largest markets for Indian IT-BPO exports are seeing their share decline in the last three years. Indian service providers have been aggressively growing business in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market. Aimed at reducing their geographic dependency and spread currency risk, APAC is growing fastest at nearly 18 per cent; its share in total IT-BPO exports is expected to increase to nearly 8 per cent.

The IT-BPO market is being driven by demand across all key consumer segments. Notwithstanding the growth witnessed in the IT-BPO domestic segment, it accounts for a little over 21 per cent of overall industry revenues. India continued its dominant position as the leading sourcing market as compared to other emerging economies. Its share is global sourcing stood at 58 per cent in 2011.
The IT-BPO sector has become one of the key sectors for the Indian economy because of its economic impact. The sector is responsible for creating significant employment opportunities in the economy. Direct employment within the IT-BPO sector reached 2.77 million, with over 2,30,000 jobs being added in 2011-12.

The spectacular growth performance in the IT-BPO industry in the last decade has helped the industry contribute substantially to India's GDP. In 2011-12, this sector’s contribution to GDP is estimated to be 7.5 per cent. The IT-BPO industry has played a key role in putting India on the world-map. This segment has enormous potential to grow in the year to come. By 2012-13, this would have developed to a potential to touch US $ 100 billion in revenues as compared to US $ 87.7 billion in 2011-12, a growth of about 14 per cent.

NERAMAC – A Vibrant Agri-Marketing Organization of North East


North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) Ltd, is a Government Enterprise under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). The Company with an authorized capital of Rs 10.00 Cr and a paid up capital of only Rs 7.62 Cr has registered a sales turnover of Rs. 96 Cr during the just concluded fiscal year 2011-12 with a net profit of Rs 1 Cr.

NERAMAC is playing a significant role by intervening in the sourcing, procuring and marketing of cash crops like ginger, fresh pineapple, cashew nut, Kiwi fruits etc. from the farmers and growers of the North Eastern Region. Its role as a dynamic and vibrant marketing organization essentially to support farmers of North East has started showing visibility through its operations to sustain farmers’ interest in production by application of post harvest technology thereby arresting decline in prices arising from larger output of the farm produces and marketing.

It has also procured and marketed various other items such as turmeric, large cardamom, maize etc, input supplies like fertilizer, assorted seeds, planting materials, floriculture items etc. under the Horticulture Mission for North East & Hill States (HMNEHS) & National Horticulture Mission. It has tied up with reputed companies in the field of setting up of various Horticultural Projects like High-tech green house, tissue culture laboratory, supply of planting materials etc. besides its initiative in supporting tiny and small scale processors in marketing their end products. NERAMAC helped farmers in getting better price of their produce besides procurement of the same. The Corporation has initiated building linkages by tying up through MoU with different farmer’s Societies as well processed products manufacturers having FPO licenses. It has helped building confidence among farmers and producers for a better network of procurement through NERAMAC.

It has taken initiative in involving various stakeholder particularly private sector in the field of processing thereby playing a greater role to tap the market potential for Kiwi and Passion fruit. Linkage were initiated with Passion Fruit Growers Association of Manipur and for procurement of passion fruit from them to make end product with the help of private and women entrepreneurs and marketing them through NERAMAC. Similiarly, Kiwi fruit was introduced  by sourcing them from Arunachal Pradesh by involving private entrepreneur group.

In order to support the large cardamom growers of Sikkim, NERAMAC has set up a Large Cardamom Auction Centre at Rongpo,Sikkim during the last fiscal. Large cardamom growers are getting immense benefit as it has given them edge in getting value for their produce.Traders from all over the country are coming and participating in this auction program which has given a fillip to the cardamom producers.

NERAMAC has also taken a lead in setting up a outlet at Siliguri Regulated market to make way for produces like oranges and other fresh produces. This has given a facelift to the farmers. Oranges from Wakro and Tezu of Arunachal Pradesh are coming to Assam.

The Company has hosted a series of programs in the North-East to scale up awareness among the budding agri-preneurs, inviting investment on food processing involving national institutes and organizations of repute and large business houses in agro- horticulture processing with the financial support of Ministry of Food Processing Industries & North Eastern Council.

It has organized North East Food Processing Expo, an exhibition for the fruit processors of North East followed with conference and buyers sellers meet at Guwahati during January 2012 where processors from all the North Eastern states participated. This initiative was organised for the first time with the financial support of the Ministry of DoNER.

NERAMAC in association with IIP, Mumbai, organised for the first time in the region,  INDPACK 2012 at Maniram Dewan Trade Centre, Guwahati to support the first generation entrepreneurs of the North East in food processing and value addition. Two food processing entrepreneurs from each state of North East was taken to INDPACK 2011 at Hyderabad to give them the knowledge and expertise in packaging with the support of North Eastern Council.

100 Orange farmers were taken to National Research Centre for Citrus at Nagpur, Maharastra for giving them exposure to better orange production technique & demonstration.

North East Connect program was organised to show case potential of north east at Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai & Bengaluru seeking investment opportunities as well as create business opportunity for the naturally grown organic produces of North East.

For the first time, an initiative has been taken to set up kiosks at six Malls in the National Capital Region (NCR) Delhi to sell North East produces to the consumers of NCR Delhi. Outlets in the name N E Fresh are located at Shipra mall, EDM mall, Mahugana mall, Sab mall, StarCity mall & TDI mall at NCR Delhi. This was followed with weeklong Mall festivals in the beginning.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Abbreviations


AADCP ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation
AADCP ASEAN Aquaculture Development and Coordinating Programme
AADCP-RPS ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Programme Regional Partnership Scheme
AAECP ASEAN-Australia Economic Cooperation Programme
AAF ASEAN Automotive Federation
AAM ASEAN Airlines Meeting
AAPSIP ASEAN-Australia Postharvest System Improvement Programme
AARNET ASEAN-AVRDC Regional Network for Vegetable Research and Development
AASROC Asian-African Sub-Regional Organizations Conference
ABAC ASEAN Business Advisory Council
ABAPAST Advisory Body on ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology
ABASF Advisory Body of the ASEAN Science Fund
ABF ASEAN Business Forum
ACBC ASEAN – China Business Council
ACBC AFTA – CER Business Council
ACCICG AFTA-CER CEP Implementation and Coordination Group
ACCORD ASEAN and China Cooperative Operations in Response to Dangerous Drugs
ACCSM ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters
ACCSQ ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality
ACCTC ASEAN Coordinators of Customs Training Centre
ACDM ASEAN Committee on DIsaster Management
ACE ASEAN Centre for Energy
ACE ASEAN Committee on Education
ACECA ASEAN-Canada Economic Cooperation Agreement
ACEDAC ASEAN Centre for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives
ACF ASEAN Cultural Fund
ACFTA ASEAN-China Free Trade Area
ACJCC ASEAN-China Joint Cooperation Committee
ACP ASEAN Cooperation Plan
ACSOC ASEAN-China Senior Officials Consultation
ACTC ASEAN Center for Combating Transnational Crime
ACTD ASEAN Common Technical Dossiers
ACTS ASEAN Cargo Transport Study
ACTRs ASEAN Common Technical Requirements
ACTT ASEAN Communication Team for Tourism
ACW ASEAN Committee on Women
ACWGDC ASEAN-China Working Group on Development Cooperation
ADB ASEAN Development Bank
ADCF ASEAN Development Cooperation Forum
ADCG ASEAN Datacom Coordinating Group
ADGICM ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Consular Affairs Division
ADPC ASEAN Agriculture Development Planning Centre
ADPC ASIAN Disaster Preparedness Centre
AEBF ASEAN Energy Business Forum
AEC ASEAN Economic Community
AEEAP ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan
AEEMTRC ASEAN-EC Energy Management Training and Research Centre
AEG ASEAN Experts Group
AEGCD ASEAN Expert Group on Communicable Diseases
AEGDM ASEAN Expert Group on Disaster Management
AEGFS Adhoc Expert Group on Food Safety
AEGM ASEAN Experts Group on Minerals
AEIC ASEAN Earthquake Information Centre
AEM
AEMC
ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting
ASEAN-European Community Management Centre
AEMEC ASEAN Economic Ministers on Energy Cooperation
AEMM ASEAN-European Union Ministerial Meeting
AENRIC ASEAN Environmental and Natural Resources Information Centre
AEP ASEAN Environmental Partnership
AERISRP ASEAN Plus Three Emerging and Resurging Infections Surveillance and Response Programme
AERR
AEY
AF
ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve
ASEAN Environment Year
ASEAN Foundation
AFAS ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services
AFC ASEAN Food Conference
AFDM ASEAN Finance and Central Bank Deputies
AFDM-WG ASEAN Finance and Central Bank Deputies Working Group
AFEEC ASEAN Forum on Energy and Efficiency and Conservation
AFF
AFFA
AFHB
ASEAN Fisheries Federation
ASEAN Federation of Forwarders Association
ASEAN Food Handling Bureau
AFMA
AFMM
AFOC
AFPIC
AFPHTC
AFSIS
AFSRB
ASEAN Federation of Mining Associations
ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting
ASEAN Forum on Coal
ASEAN Forest Product Industry Club
ASEAN Fisheries Postharvest Technology Centres
ASEAN Food Security Information System
ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board
AFTA ASEAN Free Trade Area
AFTEX
AGBEP
AHEWS
AHIA
AHMM
AHRN
AHPISA
ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries
ASEAN Business/Economic Graduate Programme
ASEAN Agricultural Hazards Early Warning System
ASEAN Heads of Investment Agencies
ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting
Asian Harm Reduction Network
Animal Health and Production Information System in ASEAN
AHPR ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks and Reserves
AHSOM ASEAN Heads of Statistical Offices Meeting
AHTN ASEAN Harmonised Tariff Nomenclature
AIA ASEAN Investment Area
AIBC
AIC
ASEAN-India Business Council
ASEAN Insurance Commisioner
AICO
AIDA
ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Scheme
ASEAN-India Digital Archive Project
AIDAB Australian International Development Assistance Board
AIFM
AIFOCOM
ASEAN Institute Forest Management
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization Fact Finding Committee to Combat the Drug Menace
AIELTF
AII
AIJSCC
ASEAN-India Economic Linkage Task force
ASEAN Information Infrastructure
ASEAN-India joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee
AIJV ASEAN Industrial Joint Venture
AIMS ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study
AIPA ASEAN Intellectual Property Association
AIPO ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization
AIR ASEAN Investment Report
AIRM ASEAN Insurance Regulators Meeting
AIT
AITRI
AJCCEP
ASEAN Institute of Technology
ASEAN Insurance Regulators Meeting
ASEAN-Japan Committee on Comprehensive Economic Partnership
AJCEP ASEAN-Japan Closer Economic Partnership
AJCEPEG ASEAN-Japan Closer Economic Partnership Expert Group
AJCGM ASEAN-Japan Consultative Group Meeting
AJDF ASEAN-Japan Development Fund
AJSTD ASEAN Journal for Science and Technology Development
AJUT ASEAN-Japan Urban Transportation
AKECOP ASEAN-Korea Environment Cooperation
ALIA ASEAN Legal Information Authority
ALMM ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting
AMAF ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry
AMBDC ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation
AMCA ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts
AMC Australian Managing Contractor
AMCs ASEAN Member Countries
AMEICC AEM-MITI Economic and Industrial Cooperation committee
AMEM ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting
AMG Alliance for Mutual Growth
AMM ASEAN Ministerial Meeting
AMME ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment
AMMH ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Haze
AMMTC ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime
AMMST ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology
AMO ASEAN Macroeconomic Outlook
AMRDPE ASEAN Ministers on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication
AMRI ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information
AMRI-TWC ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information Technical Working Group
AMRSW ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Social Welfare
AMSAT Australian Marince Science and Technology Pty. Limited
AMST ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology
ANDIN ASEAN Newsletter on Disaster Management Information Network
ANEX ASEAN News Exchange
ANWRA ASEAN Network of Water Resource Agencies
ANZEC ASEAN-New Zealand Economic Cooperation Programme
ANZCERTA Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement
ANZECP ASEAN-New Zealand Economic Cooperation Programme
ANZJMC
AONBS
APAA
APAEC
APCASO
ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Management Committee
Asia-Oceania Network on Biological Science
ASEAN Port Authorities Association
ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation
Asia Pacific Council on AIDS Service Organization
APBSD ASEAN Policy Blueprint for SME Development
APCS ASEAN Promotional Centre on Information, Culture and Tourism in Seoul
APCTs
APDRTC
ASEAN Promotional Chapters for Tourism
ASEAN Poultry Disease Research and Training Center
APEC Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
APERC Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre
APHCN ASEAN Plant Helath Cooperation Network
APJSCC
APRIS
ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee
ASEAN Project for Regional Integration Support
APRTC
ARC
ASEAN Poultry Research and Training Centre
ASEAN Research Centre
ARCBC ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation
ARCSTC ASEAN-Russia Commission on Scientific and Technological Cooperation
ARDCMR ASEAN Regional Development Centre for Mineral Resources
ARF ASEAN Regional Forum
ARF ISM CT TC
ARISPA
ARIX
ARPDM
ARWGTEC
ARYDEC
ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime
ASEAN ISP Association
ASEAN Regional Internet Exchange
ASEAN Regional Programme in Disaster Management
ASEAN Russia Working Group on Trade, Economic Cooperation
ASEAN Rural Youth Development Centre
ASAP AIDS Society of Asia Pacific
ASAP ASEAN Services Access Platform
ASC ASEAN Security Community
ASC ASEAN Standing Committee
ASCC ASEAN Socio-cultural Community
ASCHN ASEAN Sub-Committee on Health and Nutrition
ASCLA ASEAN Sub-Committee on Labour Affairs
ASCOE ASEAN Sub-Committee on Education
ASCOPE
ASCU
ASEAN CCI
ASEAN Council on Petroleum
ASEAN Surveillance Coordinating Unit
ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry
ASEANTA
ASEM
ASEP
ASF
ASFOM
ASITF
ASEAN Tourism Association
ASEAN Europe Meeting
ASEAN Subregional Environment Programme
ASEAN Science Fund
ASEAN Senior Finance Officials Meeting
ASEAN Shrimp Industry Task Force
ASLOM ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting
ASLOM ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting
ASMC
ASNEM
ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre
ASEAN Network for Environment Management
ASNET-RESED
ASOD
ASEAN Network for Rapid Exchange of Strong Earthquake Data
ASEAN Senior Officials on Drugs
ASOEN
ASOF
ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment
ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry
ASOMM ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Minerals
ASP ASEAN Surveillance Process
ASP-5
ASPEN
ASEAN Sub-Regional Programme for the Fifth Cycle
ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment
ASTICK ASEAN Science and Technology Community for Innovation, Competitiveness and Knowledge
ASTNET ASEAN Science and Technology Information Network
ASTU ASEAN Surveillance Technical Support Unit
ASTW ASEAN Science and Technology Week
ASW ASEAN Sub-Committee on Women
ASWGFi ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Fisheries
ASWGL ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Livestock
ASY ASEAN Sub-Committee on Youth
ASQP ASEAN Standards and Quality Programme
ATC ASEAN Traffic Control
ATF ASEAN Tourism Forum
ATFI ASEAN Tourism Forum
ATFOA ASEAN Task Force on AIDS
ATFSSN ASEAN Task Force on Social Safety Net
ATIC ASEAN Tourism Information Centre
ATM ASEAN Transport Ministers
ATRC ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators’ Council
ATS Amphetamine-Type Stimulants
ATTC ASEAN Timber Technology Centre
ATTEN ASEAN Tourism Training and Education Network
AUN ASEAN University Network
AUN BOT ASEAN University Network Board of Trustee
AUNILO ASEAN University Network Inter-Library Online
AUNP ASEAN-EU University Network Programme
AUNQUANET ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance Network
AUSAID Australian Agency for International Development
AVDRC ASEAN Vegetable Development and Research Center
AVIST ASEAN Virtual Institute of Science and Technology
AVOC ASEAN Vegetable Oils Club
AWGASME ASEAN Working Group on ASEAN Seas and Marine Environment
AWGATE ASEAN Working Group on Agriculture and Training Extention
AWGCM ASEAN Working Group on Custom Matters
AWGCME ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment
AWGEE ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Economics
AWGEIPAE ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Information, Public Awareness and Education
AWGEM ASEAN Working Group on Environment Management
AWGMEA ASEAN Working Group on Multilateral Environment Agreement
AWGNC ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation
AWGNCB ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity
AWGTCP ASEAN Working Group on Technical Cooperation in Pharmaceuticals
AWGTM ASEAN Working Group on Tax Matters
AWGTP ASEAN Working Group on Transboundary Pollution
AWP ASEAN Women’s Programme
AWPII ASEAN Work Programme on HIV/AIDS II
AYDM ASEAN Youth Day Meeting


BAAIC Basic Agreement on ASEAN Industrial Complementation
BCJ Builders-Carpentry and Joineries
BFA Bilateral Payment Arrangement
BBC Brand-to-Brand Complementation
BIMP-EAGA Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malysia-Philippines Aast ASEAN Growth Area
BISS Biodiversity Information Sharing System
BSA Bilateral Swap Agreements
CAAS China Academy of Agricultural Sciences
CAMMY China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Youth
CARAM Coordination of Action Research on AIDS and Mobility
CARD Centre for ASEAN Agriculture Research and Development Database
CATC Civil Aviation Training Centre
CCCA Coordinating Committee on the Implementation of the CEPT for AFTA
CCEC Coordinating Committee on Electronic Commerce
CCFAC Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
CCFICS Codex Committee on Food Import and Export
CCFL Codex Committee on Food Labeling
CCFO Codex Committee on Fats and Oils
CCGP Codex Committee on General Principle
CCI Chamber of Commerce and Industry
CCI Coordinating Committee on Investment
CCS Coordinating Committe on Services
CDC Cooper Development Center
CDM Clean Development Mechanism
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Woman
CEP Closer Economic partnership
CEPT Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme
CER Closer Economic Relations
CERTs Computer Emergency Response Teams
CGM Consultative Group Meetings
C&I Criteria and Indicators
CIDA Canadian International Development Agency
CITES Convention on International Trade Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
CLM Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
CLMV Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam
CLP lassification, Labeling and Packaging
CMI Chiang Mai Inisiative
CNS/ATM Communication, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management
COCI Committee on Culture and Information
COE Certificate of eligibiltiy
COFAB Committee on Finance and banking
COFAF Committee on Food, Agriculture and Forestry
COIME Committee on Industry, Minerals and Energy
COP Conference of Parties
COSD Committee on Social and Development
COST Committee on Science and Technology
COTAC Committee on Transportation and Communication
COTT Committee on Trade and Tourism
CPMS Cooperative Programme on Marine Science
CRC Convention on the Right of Children
CRISP Center for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing
CRM Customs Reforms and Modernisation
CSU Coordination and Support Unit
CTI Committe on Trade and Investment
CZERMP Coastal Zone Environmental and Resources Management Project


DGICM Directors-General of Immigration and Consular Matters
DIPs Detailed Implementation Plans
DOTS Directly-Observed Treatment, Short Course






EAEC East Asia Economic Caucus
EAEF EC-ASEAN Energy Facility
EAERR East Asia/ ASEAN Rice Reserve System
EAF East Asian Forum
EAI Enterprise for ASEAN Integration
EASG East Asia Study Group
EATF E-ASEAN Task Force
EAP-AP Environmental Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific
EAVG East Asia Vision Group
EAWG E-ASEAN Working Group
EBU Europe Broadcasting Union
EC European Commission
ECAP ASEAN-EC Patents and Trademarks System
ECCM Experts Committee on Custom Matters
EC-IIP European Community International Investment Partner
ECIP European Community Investment Partner Scheme
ECO Economic Cooperation Organization
ECOPS Environmental Cooperation Project Steering COmmittee
ECU European Currency Union
EDP Executive Development Programme
EE Environmental Education
EE&C-SSN Energy Efficiency and Conservation-Subsector Network
EG Expert Group
EGAT Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
EGIM Experts Group Meeting on Immigration Matters
EIB European Investment Bank
EIP Environmental Improvement Project
EIPA European Institute of Public administration Programme
ELTO English Language Training for Officials
EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility
EMTC Energy Management Training Courses
ENRA Environmental and Natural Resources Accounting
EPG Eminent Persons Group
EPGG Energy Policy Governing Group
EPO European Patent Office
EPSAP Energy Policy and System Analysis Project
ESA European Space Agency
ESC Environmentally Sustainable Cities
ESCAP UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
ESSPA Energy Supply Security Planning in the ASEAN
EU European Union
EVSL Experts Group on early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalization


FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
FANS Future Air Navigation System
FASC Federation of ASEAN Shippers Councils
FASA Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Association
FASID Japan Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development
FCG Fisheries Consultative Group
FDI Foreign Direct Investment
FDRS Fire Danger Rating System
FDS Feasibility Design Stage
FGRID Forest Genetic Resource Information Database
FIFSTA Federation of International Food Science and Technology Associations
FIQC Fish Inspection and Quality Control
FMD Foot and Mouth Disease
FOCPF Future-Orieted Cooperation Projects Fund
FPT Fish Product Technology
FSDPs Full Scale Demonstration Projects
FSMP Fire Supression Mobilization Plan


GAP Good Agricultural Practice
GATS General Agreement on Trade in Services
GATT General Agreement on Tariff and Trade
GMOs Genetically Modified Organism
GMS Greater Mekong Subregion
GMP Good Manufacturing Practices
GRAs Genetic Reource Areas
GRSP Global Road Safety Partnership
GSP General System of Preference


HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points
HAPUA Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities / Authorities
HLTF High Level Task Force
HONLEA Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies
HPA Hanoi Plan of Action
HPG Haze Prevention Group
HRD Human Resource Development
HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
HRDM Human Resources Development and Management
HS Harmonized System
HTTF Haze Technical Task Force


IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
IAECC India-ASEAN Economic Cooperation Committee
IAI Initiative for ASEAN Integration
IAPs Immediate Action Plans
IATEP Inter-ASEAN Technical Exchange Programme
IBRS International Business Reply Services
ICAO Internation Civil Aviation Organization
ICGFI International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation
ICLARM International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Development
ICMSF International Commission on Microbiological Specification for Foods
ICP International Comparison Programme
ICPM International Committee on Phytosanitary Measures
ICTSD Information and Communication Technology for Sustainable Development
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IDCF IAI Development Cooperation Forum
IDEA Initiative for Development in East Asia
IDPAS Institutional Development for ASEAN Secretariat
IEA International Energy Agency
IFIs International Financial Institutions
IFF Intergovernmental Forum on Forests
IILP Inter-Institutional Linkages Programme
IIP International Investment Position
ILO International Labour Organization
ILS Instrument Landing System
ILSI International Life Sciences Institute
IMF International Monetary Fund
IMT-GT Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle
INTA International Trademark Association
IOM Internation Organization for Migration
IP Intellectual Property
IPD Information Preparation and Dissemination
IPM Integrated Pest Management
IPR Intellectual Property Rights
IRS Indian Remote Sensing
ISEAS Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
ISG-CBM Intersessional Support Group on Confidence-Building Measures
ISM-CTTC Inter-sessional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime
ISRO Indian Space Research Organization
ISIS Institute of Strategic and International Studies
ISO Inetrnational Standard Organization
ISP Internet Service Provider
ISQAP Industrial Standards and Quality Assurance Programme (ASEAN-EC Programme)
ITB Internationale Tourisme Bourse
ITS Intelligent Transport System
ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization
ITWG Interim Technical Working Group
IUEP Integrated Urban Energy Planning
IWRM Integrated Water Resources Management


JACPP Japan-ASEAN Cooperation Promotion Programme
JAEP Japan-ASEAN Exchange Project
JAFTA Japan-ASEAN Finance Technical Assistance
JAGEF Japan-ASEAN General Exchange Fund
JATA Japan Association of Travel Agents
JBIC Japan Bank for International Cooperation
JCC Joint Consultative Committee
JCM Joint Consultative Meeting
JETRO Japanese Exetrnal Trade Organisation
JLSAP Joint Linkages Appraisal Panel
JMC Joint Management Committee
JPC Joint Planning Committee
JPC-SC Joint Planning Committee to the Sub-Committee
JPMC Joint Planning and Monitoring Committee
JPRC Joint Planning and Review Committe
JSTC Joint Science and Technology Committee


KAIST Korean Advance Institute of Science and Technology
KDI Korean Development Institute
KIET Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade
KMA Korean Metereology Administration
KOICA Korea International Cooperation Agency
KOTFA Korean World Travel Fair
KOTRA Korea Trade Promotion Corporation
KNTC Korea National Tourism Corporation
KRIBB Korean Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology








LBI Legally Binding Instrument
LCR Living Coastal Resources
LINKS Legal Information Network System
LTIIR Land Transport Infrastructure Integration Roadmap


M-ATM Meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Ministers
MBDS Mekong Basin Disease Surveilance
MC Management Committee
MCM Multinational Cultural Mission
MEAs Multilateral Environment Agreements
METI Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industri
MFRD Marine Fisheries Research Department
MFN Most Favoured Nation
MITI Ministry of International Trade and Industry
MLS Microwave Landing System
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MRAs Mutual Recognition Arrangements
MRLs Maximum Residue Limits
MT-NIT Multimodal Transport and New Information Technology
MU Ministerial Understanding


NACA Network of Aquaculture Centre in Asia and Pacific
NAFTA North American Free Trade Area
NASDA National Space Development Agency
NBRUs National Biodiversity Refernce Units
NCSW National Council on Social Welfare
NECTEC National Electronics and Computer Technology Center
NERIC National Environment Resource Information Centers
NFP National Forest Programme
NFPWG National Focal Point Working Group
NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations
NGUT Natural Gas Utilization in Transport
NHAPs National Haze action Plans
NIIs National Information Infrastructure
NIIT National Institute of Information Technology
NRSE New and Renewable Sources of Energy
NTBs Non-Tariff Barriers
NTOs ASEAN National Tourism Organizations
NTTCCs National Transit Transprot Coordinating Committees
NWS Nuclear Weapon States


ODA Official Development Assistance
ODS Ozone Depleting Substances
OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation Development
OHIM Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
OIE Organisation Internationale des Epizootics
OPCV Overseas Project Corporation of Victoria
OSHNET ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network
OWP Overall Working Plan


PAC Project Advisory Committee
PAC Project Appraisal Committee
PCA Post Clearance Audit
PCC Project Coordinating Committee
PDD Project Design Document
PEM Policy Exchange Mechanism
PIDS Philippine Institute for Development Studies
PITO Private Investment Trade Opportunities
PIWP Policy Implementation and work Programme
PLANTI Plant Quarantine and Training Institute
PLWHA People Living with HIV/AIDS
PMC Post Ministerial Conferences
POATC Program of Action in Transportation and Communication
POES Polar Orbiting Environment Satellite
PRA Pest Risk Analysis
PRESSEA Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources in Southeast Asia
PROMEEC Promotion of Energy Efficiency and Conservation
PROSEA Plant Resources on Southeast Asia
PSC Project Steering Committee
PTA Preferential Trading Arrangement


QASAF Quality Assurance Systems for ASEAN Fruits
QRs Quantitative Restrictions


RBAAIJV Revised Basic Agreement on ASEAN Industrial joint Ventures
RCCRF Regionalization of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
RCICM Regional Training Course on Integrated COastal Management
RCP Research Priorities Committee
R & D Research and Development
RETA Regional Technical Assistance
RETA PMU RETA’s Project Management Unit
RHAP Regional haze Action Plan
ROD Regional Ocean Dynamics
ROK Republic of Korea
ROO Rules of Origin
RPS Regional Partnership Scheme
RTB Radio Television Brunei
RTD Research and Technological Development
RTP Regional Training Programme


SAEI Southeast Asian Environment Initiative
SAR Search and Rescue
SAREX Search and Rescue Exercise
SARS Severe Acute Respiration Syndrome
SAARC South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation
SCB Sub-Committee on Biotechnology
SCF Special Cooperation Fund
SCFST Sub-Committee on Food Science and Technology
SCIRD Sub-Committee on Science and Technology Infrastructure and
Resources Development
SCMG Sub-Committee on Meteorology and geophysics
SCMIT Sub-Committee on Microelectronics and Information Technology
SCMS Sub-Committee on Marine Science
SCMST Sub-Committee on Materials Science and Technology
SCNCER Sub-Committee on Non-Conventional Energy Research
SCSTA Sub-Committee on Space Technology Application
SCOT Sub-Committee on Tourism
SDI Selective Dissemination of Information
SoE State of the Environment
SEAFDEC South East Asia Fisheries Development Centre
SEA HDR Southeast Asian Human Development Report
SEAMEO Southeast Asian Ministers on education Organization
SEANWFZ Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
SEOM Senior Economic Officials Meeting
SMES Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises
SoER State of the Environment Report
SFM Sustainable Forest Management
SHS Sender-Keeper Management
SKRL Singapore-Kunming Rail Link
SL Sensitive List
SLOA Suplementary Letters of Agreement
SLOM Senior Labour Officials Meeting
SMCE Small and Medium-size Cultural Enterprise and Industry
SMEs Small and Medium enterprises
SMEWG SMEs Agencies Working Group
SOM Senior Officials Meeting
SOM-I Senior Officials Meeting on Investment
SOME Senior Officials Meeting on Energy
SOMEC Senior Officials Meeting on Energy Cooperation
SOME-METI Senior Officials Meeting on Energy – Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
SOMHD Senior Officials Meeting on Health Development
SOMRDPE Senior Officials Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication
SOMSWD Senior Officials Meeting Social Welfare and Development
SOMTC Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime
SOMTI Senior Officials Meeting on Trade and Investment
SOMY Senior Officials Meeting on Youth
SPAE Strategic Plan of Action and the Environment
SPC South Pacific Commission
SPF South Pacific Forum
SPS Sanitary and Phytosanitary
SRCR Sub-Regional Climate Review
SRFA Sub-Regional Firefighting Arrangement
SSN Social Safety Nets
S&T Science and Technology
STOM Senior Transport Officials Meeting


TAC Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
TAGP Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline Project
TCDC Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries
TEDI Trade Electronic Data Interchange
TEL Temporary Exclusion List
TELSOM Telecommunication Senior Officials Meeting
TELMIN Telecommunication Ministers Meeting
TEMIC Telecommunications Executive Management Institute
TFGR Transport Facilitation of Goods Roadmap
TIFA Trade and Investment Framework Agreement
TIPP Trade and Investment Promotion Programme
TISI Thai Industrial Standard Institute
TNC Trade Negotiating Committee
TNG Trade Negotiating Group
TOR Terms of Reference
TPAS Technology Promotion and Assistance Services
TQMC Total Quality Management Control
TREATI Trans-Regional EU-ASEAN Trade Initiative
TRIPs Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
TROPMED Tropical Medicine and Public Health
TTCB Transit Transport Coordinating Board
TWG1 Technical Working Group on Standards and Conformance
TWG2 Technical Working Group on Conformity Assessment
TWG3 Technical Working Group on Testing, Calibration and Laboratory
Accreditation
TQM Total Quality Management


UAP Unprocessed Agricultural Products
UNCSD United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDCP United Nations International Drug Control Programme
UNDESA United Nations Departments for Economic and Social Affairs
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNEP United Nations Environmental Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNICEF United Nations International Children Education Fund
UN-ODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
UNTAET United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor
UNSD United Nations Statistics Division
US-AEP United States Asian Environmental Partnership
US-EIP United States Environmental Improvement Programme
USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency
USTR United States Trade Representative


VAC Visit ASEAN Campaign
VALENTE ASEAN Energy Database, Valorization of Energy Technology
VAP Vientiane Action Programme
VAY Visit ASEAN Millenium Year


WCAIA Working Committee on ASEAN Investment Area
WCT WIPO Copyright Treaties
WEC West-East Corridor
WGABI Working Group on Agribusiness
WGASME Working Group on ASEAN Seas and Marine Environment
WGEE Working Group on Environmental Economics
WGEIPAE Working Group on Environmental Information, Public Awareness and Education
WGEM Working Group on Environmental Management
WGFDIS Working Group on Foreign Direct Investment Statistics
WGIC Working Group on Industrial Cooperation
WGIPC Working Group on Intelectual Property Cooperation
WGL Working Group on Livestock
WGNC Working Group on Nature Conservation
WGTEC Working Group on Trade and Economic
WGTP Working Group on Transboundary Pollution
WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization
WPPT WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development
WTM World Travel Mart
WTO World Trade Organization
WWTTT-CPD Waste Water Treatment Technology Transfer and Cleaner Production
Demonstration
ZOPFAN Zone of Peace Freedom and Neutrality