Gurdeep Singh Pall Appointed as the Corporate VP of Skype

Microsoft appointed on 30 October 2013 Gurdeep Singh Pall as the corporate vice president of Skype, a popular and free international voiceover and messaging service and Lync communications product. He will replace the Mark Gillett.

About Gurdeep Singh Pall

• Gurdeep Singh Pall, 46, born in Chandigarh.
• He completed his engineering degree in computer science from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani.
• He also holds a master's degree in computer science from the University of Oregon. 
• He has more than 20 patents (in process or approved) in networking, VoIP and collaboration areas.
• He is on the board of trustees of Ashesi University, Ghana. 
• He joined in Microsoft Company in January 1990 as a software design engineer. 
• He worked on many breakthrough products in his tenure, starting with LAN Manager Remote Access Service.
• He was part of the Windows NT development team and led design and implementation of core networking technologies. 
• He was named one of the "15 Innovators & Influencers Who Will Make A Difference" in 2008 by Information Week.
• He co-authored "Institutional Memory Goes Digital", which was published by Harvard Business Review as part of Breakthrough Ideas for 2009 and subsequently presented at the World Economic Forum 2009 in Davos.

Who: Gurdeep Singh Pall

What: Appointed as the Corporate VP of Skype

Banking Practise Bits

1.. Child sex ratio in the age group 0-6 years as per provisional Census 2011 report is–
(A) 921  (B) 925    (C) 914 (D) 920
2. Consider the following statements–
1. Indian Railways is the second largest rail network in the world under a single management.
2. In Indian Railways, about 50% of the total track km has been electrified.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) 1 only     (B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2     (D) Neither 1 nor 2
3. An ‘Innovation fund’ of Rs. 5,000 crore has been planned by the government with an aim to–
(A) promote research and development in defence sector.
(B) promote new talents and their innovation tendencies.
(C) finance the promotional activities to attract foreign direct investment.
(D) promote the development of new generation satellites.
4. With reference to Manufacturing consider the following statements–
1. Manufacturing occupies an unusually large weight (65 percent), relative to its share in national output.
2. It has an exaggerated bearing on inflation measurement in India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) 1 only     (B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2     (D) Neither 1 nor 2
5. With reference to growth in Indian economy which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The long-term growth rate of the agriculture sector over the last 60 years has been 2.7 percent.
2. Industrial sector registered a higher growth rate than the services sector ever since Independence.
3. Services sector accounts for highest share of sectoral composition of GDP followed by Industry and Agriculture.
(A) 1 and 3     (B) 2 and 3
(C) 1 and 2     (D) All of these
6. Scheduled Commercial Banks are allowed to borrow at their own discretion using
(A) Net demand and time liabilities
    (B) Marginal standing facility
(C) Open market operation
    (D) None of these
7. Which of the following does not mainly consist of Portfolio Investment?
(A) FII investment
    (B) American depository receipts (ADRs)
(C) Global depository receipts (GDRs)
    (D) None of these
8. Which of the following does not contribute to sustainable development?
(A) Improvement of economic well being with social justice.
(B) Restrained use of, natural resources.
(C) Protection of interests of future generations.
(D) None of these
9. Which Committee set up by RBI has the mandate to study issues and concerns in the micro-finance sector?
(A) Y. H. Malegam Committee
    (B) J. J. Irani Committee
(C) Mashelkar Committee
    (D) None of these
10. A state of economy where aggregate demand is greater than the total supply of goods and services is called–
(A) Repressed-inflation          (B) Reflation
(C) Deflation       (D) Demand pull-inflation
11. Which of the following-forms a major innovation of National Rural Health Mission?
(A) Creation of a cadre of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA).
(B) Improvised hospital care.
(C) Decentralisation at district level arid effective utilisation of resources through NGOs and community.
(D) All of these
12. Which of the following forms an important component of the foreign exchange reserves of the country?
(A) Foreign exchange assets of RBI
    (B) Gold reserves of RBI
(C) SDR holdings of the Government
    (D) All of these
13. According to World Bank’s “Global Development Finance, 2012” report, India is the fifth most indebted country, after China, the Russian Federation, Brazil and–
(A) Turkey                (B) Indonesia
(C) United States of America (D) Greece
14. Portfolio Investment consists of the following–
1. Foreign direct investment
    2. Foreign institutional investment
3. American depository receipts
    4. Global depository receipts
Select the correct code–
(A) 1 and 2 only     (B) 2, 3 and 4
(C) 1 and 4     (D) 1, 2 and 3
15. In which group of crops, growth rate in yield levels appears to have plateaued over the last few years?
(A) Rice and Wheat
    (B) Pulses and Mustard
(C) Sugarcane and Oilseeds
    (D) Coarse cereals and plantation crop
16. Which of the following forms part of National Manufacturing Policy?
1. Provision for National Investment and Manufacturing Zones (NIMZs).
2. Create appropriate skill sets among the rural migrant and urban poor for their easy absorption in manufacturing.
3. Enable manufacturing to contribute at least 25% of GDP by 2022.
(A) 1 only     (B) 2 only
(C) 1 and 2     (D) All of these
17. Consider the following statements with regard to Environmental Performance Index–
1. India’s Environmental Performance Index rank is 122 out of 132 countries.
2. India’s performance is better on protection of its forests and fisheries.
(A) 1 only     (B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2     (D) Neither 1 nor 2
18. Which of the following States has formed ‘Innovation Council’ based on the lines of National Innovation Council?
(A) Bihar     (B) Haryana
(C) Karnataka     (D) West Bengal
19. ‘Stagflation’ indicates–
(A) Inflation with growth
    (B) Deflation with growth
(C) Inflation with depression
    (D) Inflation with stagnation
20. Which group of labour comes under the provision of Aam Admi Yojana?
(A) All labour in rural areas
(B) Only labour of urban region
(C) All landless labour living below poverty line in rural areas
(D) None of these

NPAs of Public Sector Banks
As per provisional data received from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) as on 30th June 2013 was Rs. 1,76,009 crore.  The Gross NPAs of PSBs were Rs. 1, 12,489 crore in March 2012 and Rs. 1, 55,890 crore in March, 2013.
Although the Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) of the bank has shown a rising trend, the position is continuously and closely being monitored by the Bank and there is no cause for alarm. The stress on the asset quality is a reflection of the stress in the economy of the country.
The details of recovery made by PSBs through suit filed cases, as available with RBI, are as under:
(Amt. in Rs. Crore)

Period         Suit             Amt          % of
                  Filed         Recovered    of Recovery
2009-10      47,576       2,403           5.1
2010-11      52,672       2,342           4.4
2011-12      79,117       1,700           2/1
2012-13      97,701       1,905           2.0

ANSWERS
1.  C     2.  A    3.  B    4.  C    5.  A    6.  B     7.  D

8.  D  9.  A    10. A    11. D     12. D    13. A    14. B

NAA BANGAARU TALLI' WINS TWO INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

Naa Bangaaru Talli" the Telugu feature film directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Rajesh Touchriver continues to get accolades in International Film Festivals.

This evening the jury for Indonesian International Film Festival(IFFCRM)announced "Naa Bangaaru Talli" as winner of the "Award of Excellence". The award will be given on 27th Nov 2013 at Indonesia.

A few weeks back the film had also won the "Best Feature Film" Award at Trinity International Film Festival, Detroit, USA. This is the second international recognition for this Telugu film, a rare achievement in Tollywood industry.

Based on a true story of sex trafficking, the film revolves around a father and a daughter and their trails and tribulations. The haunting music has been scored by Shantanu Moitra. The film features Anjali Patil (winner Golden Peacock, IFFI), Siddiq, Laxmi Menon, Ratna Sekhar, Nina Kurup.

Sudhir Vasudeva gets appointed as Regional Director-South Asia by SPE

Sudhir ONGC and Vasudeva, the Chairperson CMD, of Indian Council of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has been invited by 2013 SPE President Egbert Imomoh to take over the responsibility of first Regional Director of South Asia region for 2014.Newly carved South Asia region would include sections and chapters of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. With this, India would have the distinction of being 8 th regional centre in addition to Houston, Dallas, Cal

Cairn India ranked fastest growing energy firm in the world

Cairn India has been ranked as the fastest growing energy company in the world while Reliance Industries is the top ranked Indian energy firm in the global ranking.

With a compound growth rate of 121 per cent in past three years, Cairn was ranked the fastest growing energy company in the world ahead of Cnooc of China, Valero Energy of the US, PetroChina, Essar Energy and Russian Rosneft, according to the Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings.

Platts said Cairn, an independent oil and gas exploration and production company whose main asset are the prolofic Rajasthan oilfields, has given 25 per cent return on invested capital and is for the second year in running the world's fastest growing energy firm.

Releasing the Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings for 2013, RIL has toppled state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) to become the top Indian firm in a global ranking.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led RIL improved eight positions to grab the 19th position on the ranking. ONGC held on its 22nd ranking, the position it had in 2012, while RIL improved from last time's 27th rank.

This year's list is topped by Exxon Mobil Corp, with Chevron Corp in the second place.

The US giants are followed by Royal Dutch Shell and Russia's Gazprom, Statoil of Norway, Total of France and Lukoil of Russia. Chinese firm PetroChina makes an entry at number 8, while UK's BP Plc is ranked number 11.

The Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings, now in its 12th year, is based on data compiled and maintained by S&P Capital IQ, which, like Platts, is a part of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

The 2013 rankings reflect fiscal 2012 financial performance in four key areas: asset value, revenue, profit and return on invested capital (ROIC).

Noted satirist KP Saxena passes away in UP

In Uttar Pradesh noted satirist KP Saxena died today in Lucknow at a private after long illness. He was 81. He was battling cancer for the last one and a half years.

Our Allahabad correspondent reports that a renowned Hindi litterateur KP Saxena has been writing for almost five and a half decades. He also penned dialogues for several acclaimed films including Lagaan, Swades and Jodha Akbar. He has also scripted Hulchal and several Bhojpuri movies.

He began his career with a short story in the late 1950s but recognition came his way in 1960s after he started writing columns and scripts for All India Radio.

He has written more than 17 thousand stories and captured so many shades of life in his stories.

His popularity could be gauged from the fact that Governor BL Joshi paid a personal visit to him when he heard that Saxena was hospitalized.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has expressed his sorrow and grief over death of KP Saxena and said his death has caused a great loss to the Hindi literature.

Britain pledges $ 200 mn annual economic assistance to Afghanistan until 2017

Britain has pledged 200 million dollar annual economic assistance to Afghanistan until 2017. This was announced by the British Secretary for International Development Justine Greening during her meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in London yesterday. 

A press release issued by the President's office in Kabul today said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations between Afghanistan and the United Kingdom including cooperation towards development projects in Afghanistan. 

The aid will be used in infrastructure projects including projects related to education, agriculture, electricity, road construction and business development. Earlier, President Karzai also met with the British Queen Elizabeth in the Buckingham Palace and the two sides discussed bilateral, regional and international issues. Afghan President thanked British people for helping Afghanistan during the last decade.

India and Cuba signed MoU for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and ICRT

India and Cuba on 30 October 2013 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Cuban Radio and Television Institute (ICRT).
The MoU was signed by India's ambassador to Cuba Chinthapalli Rajasekhar and vice-president of the ICRT Emillio Moises Garcia Borroto.

Under the agreement both countries will explore co-production opportunites on matters of mutual interest. The pact would facilitate exchange programmes in fields of cultural entertainment, education, science, sports and news. It also opens up avenues for co-production of broadcast content for creative ventures including films and coverage of events. 

The MoU was signed during the official visit of India’s vice President Hamid Ansari to Cuba.

Who: India and Cuba

Where: Havana, Cuba

What: India and Cuba signed MoU

When: 30 October 2013

Why: For cooperation in broadcasting

Subhas Goswami Appointed as the Director General of ITBP

Subhas Goswami, director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy appointed as the Director General (DG) of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on 30 October 2013. He will succeed Ajay Chadha, IPS.

About Subhas Goswami

• Subhas Goswami is an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre.
• He served in Assam in various capacities as SP NC Hills and Morigaon; Commandant of Battalions in Assam Police; DIG (Central Western Range), Guwahati; DIG, Western Range, Kokrajhar; DIG (Security); DIG (Border) and Director, Assam State Forensic Science Organisation, Guwahati; and IGP (Bureau of Investigation and Economic Offences).
• He served as IGP of CRPF from February 2001 to February 2008. 
• He served the Assam Police Housing Corporation Ltd., as its Chairman-cum-Managing Director from November 2009 to February 2013. 
• He was decorated with the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2001 and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services in 2007.

About Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
• The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is an Indian force conceived on 24 October 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
• ITBP is a specialized mountain force.

Who: Subhas Goswami

What: Appointed as the Director General ITBP

When: on 30 October 2013

Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports were Declared as International Airports

The Union Cabinet of India on 30 October 2013 gave its approval for declaring the Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports as international airports to fulfill the long pending demand of people as well as the State Governments of Odisha and Manipur. Declaration of these airports as international airports will offer improved connectivity, wider choice of services at competitive cost to the air travelers resulting in boosting international tourism and economic development of the region and the country.

Bhubaneswar Airport

Biju Patnaik Airport or Bhubaneswar Airport belongs to Airport Authority of India and is suitable for operation of Code `D` aircraft of type B-767-400. The airport is also equipped with facilities for night operations, runway 14/32 of dimension 2743m X 45m, apron to park six aircrafts and navigational aids. A new domestic terminal building with all modern amenities for handling 400 arriving and 400 departing passengers has been constructed and inaugurated in March 2013. The modification/renovation of the existing domestic terminal building into international terminal building with an area of 6264 sqm. suitable for handling international operations has been completed. Six check-in-counters, custom counters and immigration counters are being provided and the requisite facilities of customs, immigration, health services and animal and plant quarantine at the airport have also completed.

Imphal Airport

Imphal Airport belongs to Airports Authority of India and is suitable for `C` type (A-320/321) of aircrafts operations in all weather conditions. Major facilities including night operations, runway of dimension 2746m X 45m, Apron to park 3 nos. A-320 and 1 No. ATR-72 at a time, terminal building having an area of 6592 sqm. modified to integrated terminal building, navigational aids, nineteen check-in-counters, custom counters, immigration and sufficient space for health services and animal and plant quarantine are being provided at the airport.

Who: The Union Cabinet of India

What: the Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports were declared as international airports

When: 30 October 2013

Joint Parliamentary Committee Submitted Report on 2G Spectrum to Lok Sabha Speaker

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on allocation and pricing of telecom licences and 2G Spectrum during 1998-2009 was submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on 29 October 2013.

Joint Parliamentary Committee Recommendations

• The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 2G spectrum has recommended a comprehensive audit of spectrum to ensure greater transparency in its allocations. It also suggested quantification of available spectrum for maximum utilization. 

• In its report the Committee also underlined the need for amending the TRAI Act for harmonious balance between the Regulator and the Licensor.

• The Committee also recommended the review of policy and formation of stringent guidelines on allocation of additional spectrum.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) constituted on 4 March, 2011 to examine matters relating to Allocation and Pricing of Telecom Licences and Spectrum. The Joint Parliamentary Committee was headed by PC Chako and consists of 30 memebers ( 20 Loka Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs). 
Joint Parliamentary committee is an Ad hoc committee of the Indian parliament. The chairperson and the members of the committee will be appointed by Lok Sabha Speaker.

Who: Parliament

Where: New Delhi

What: JPC report on 2G Spectrum

When: 29 October 2013

Why: To look in to the 2G Spectrum issue

Gujarat CM Laid the Foundation Stone of the Statute of Unity

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2013 laid the foundation stone of the Statute of Unity-a 182-metre(597 feets) tall statue (World’s largest statue) of iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 138th birth anniversary at Sardar Sarovar Dam site in Bharuch district in Gujarat.

 The Statue of Unity will be double of the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 metres) in the USA. 

About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• Vallabhbhai Patel was born on 31 October 1875 in Nadiad, a small village in Gujarat.
• Sardar Vallabhai Patel was an Indian freedom fighter and one of the great social leaders of India. 
• He is one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of the Republic of India. 
• After India's independence, he became the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India. 
• He was the man behind the consolidation of 565 semi-autonomous princely states to form a united India.

Carbon dioxide emissions increased at slower rate in 2012: Report

The world's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased at a slower rate in 2012 — 1.1 per cent compared to a 2.9 per cent annual increase over the past decade, a report said on Thursday. 

This was despite a global economic growth rate of 3.5 per cent and was partly the result of a shift to hydroelectric power in China and shale gas in the United States, according to an analysis by theNetherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

"This development signals a shift towards less fossil fuel-intensive activities, more use of renewable energy and increased energy saving," said a statement. 

The output still represented a new record 34.5 billion tonnes. CO2 is the greenhouse gas chiefly responsible for man-made global warming — which the UN has said must be limited to 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 deg Fahrenheit) above pre-Industrial Revolution levels. 

Scientists have said this is possible only if CO2 emissions from 2000 to 2050 do not exceed 1.0 to 1.5 trillion tonnes — yet an estimated 466 billion tonnes have been emitted since 2000, according to data cited in the report. 

In May this year, the concentration of climate-altering carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere exceeded 400 particles per million for the first time since humans have walked the Earth. 

The report said China's CO2 emissions increased by 3.0 per cent last year to 9.9 billion tonnes from 2011 — a low rate compared to annual increases of about 10 per cent over the past decade. 

In the United States, emissions decreased by four per cent to 5.2 billion tonnes, mainly due to a shift from coal to shale gas in the power sector. It was the lowest emissions level in the United States since 1993. 

The European Union saw its emissions drop by 1.6 per cent as the economic downturn continued to dampen energy consumption and road freight transport. 

China was responsible for 29 per cent of emissions in 2012, the United States 15, the European Union 11 per cent, India six per cent, Russia five per cent and Japan four per cent. 

Fossil-fuel burning accounted for 90 per cent of total CO2 emissions and power generation was the biggest contributing sector. 

The use of nuclear energy has decreased in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident, but hydropower output increased by 4.3 per cent from 2011 to 2012, said the report.

UAE education foundation launches $ 1 mn best teacher award

A UAE-based Indian education foundation has announced a massive one million award for world's greatest teacher and the hunt for the same will commence next year. 

Varkey GEMS Foundation (VGF), the philanthropic arm of GEMS Education, will select the best educator from candidates nominated by individual nations around the world and judged by an international jury committee. 

The process will be audited by Price Water house Coopers, a multinational professional services firm headquartered in London. 
The details of the award will be released in 90 days and nominations will formally open at the Global Education and Skills Forum in March, 2014, a statement released here said. 

Sunny Varkey, the founder and the chairperson of VGF, said the award is aimed at promoting teachers as stars and highlight the enormous impact they have on people. 

"Our goal for this award is to emulate the Nobel Prizes, but in the field of education. We will endeavour to find the greatest teacher in the world starting in March 2014, at the Global Education and Skills Forum which will be held in Dubai, chaired by former US President Bill Clinton," founder of the Varkey GEMS Foundation, Sunny Varkey, said. 

"We will invite all countries of the world to participate in the prize through national nominations, and citizens of each nation will be encouraged to root for their candidates and their most illustrious teachers to create an atmosphere of global excitement about the selection of the greatest teacher. 

Sensex hits an historic high of 21,034 points

BSE Sensex on October 30, 2013 hit a record high of 21,034 points on global cues and increased FII inflows. The index has surged nearly 105 points to close at all-time high of 21,033.97 on heavy foreign fund inflows in blue chips. The 50-share Nifty index also managed to hit its fresh 35 month high at 6,269.70 and finally closed 30.80 points higher at 6,251.70 points. Foreign funds have continued to buy domestic stocks for 18 straight sessions, encouraging domestic participants to increase bets, they said. Sectorally, the BSE Healthcare sector index gained the most by rising 1.19 per cent, followed by FMCG (1.12 per cent), TECK (0.66 per cent), Power (0.51 per cent) and realty (0.47 per cent). The 25 of Nifty stocks closed in the green and broader market too was positive with advance decline ratio placed at 1.15:1. BSE SENSEX The S&P BSE SENSEX (S&P Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index), also-called the BSE 30 or simply the SENSEX, is a free-float market capitalization-weighted stock market index of 30 well-established and financially sound companies listed on BSE Ltd. Published since 1st January 1986, the S&P BSE SENSEX is regarded as the pulse of the domestic stock markets in India. The term Sensex was coined by Deepak Mohoni, a stock market analyst. The base value of the S&P BSE SENSEX is taken as 100 on 1st April 1979, and its base year as 1978–79. During 2008-12, Sensex 30 Index share of BSE market capitalisation fell from 49% to 25% due to the rise of sectoral indices like BSE PSU, Bankex, BSE-Teck, etc. CNX Nifty: The CNX Nifty, also called the Nifty 50 or simply the Nifty, is National Stock Exchange of India's benchmark index for Indian equity market. Nifty is owned and managed by India Index Services and Products Ltd. (IISL), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NSE Strategic Investment Corporation Limited. IISL is India's first specialized company focused upon the index as a core product. IISL has marketing and licensing agreement with Standard & Poor's for co-branding equity indices. 'CNX' in its name stands for 'CRISIL NSE Index'. The CNX Nifty covers 22 sectors of the Indian economy and offers investment managers exposure to the Indian market in one portfolio.

What: BSE Sensex hit a record high of 21,034 points When: October 30, 2013 Why: Heavy foreign fund inflows

Bus on fire leaves 44 dead in Andhra Pradesh

Total 44 people lost their lives in a deadly accident happened in the early hours of October 30, 2013 to an air-conditioned luxury bus travelling from Bangalore to Hyderabad. A collision of the bus with a culvert ignited the fuel tank of the vehicle and seemed to have caused a blaze. The fire started when part of a faulty axle dropped on to the road and ruptured the bus's fuel tank. The incident happened at Kothakota in Mahbubnagar district, 140km from Hyderabad. The bus carried 50 passengers, most of them were sleeping when the incident took place and only seven, including the driver and his assistant, broke the windows of the bus and managed to flee. The automatic locking system and absence of glass breaking hammers and emergency door made it difficult for the passengers to break through the burning bus. The incident has brought forth the over speeding and maintenance negligence of the private bussing agencies in the state.

What: Bus on fire leaves 42 dead When: October 30, 2013 Where: Near Kothakota in Mahbubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh Why: Over speeding and Maintenance negligence

Srishti Rana crowned Miss Asia Pacific World 2013

Srishti Rana of India, on October 30, 2013, was crowned Miss Asia Pacific World 2013. The twenty-one-year old won the title outclassing 49 other contestants in the event held in Korea, marking a consecutive second year for an Indian to be with the title after Himangini Singh Yadu from India in 2012. She also won the Best National Costume Award and also the Best Personality Award. Srishti is from the city of Faridabad in Haryana state and hails from a Jat family. Srishti participated in Femina Miss India 2013 and became a top 5 finalist. Later she applied for Indian Diva 2013 pageant and was crowned runner up to Manasi Moghe. Dia Mirza, Zeenat Aman and Tara Anna Fonseca were other Indian greats in the history who won the Miss Asia Pacific International title contesting for the country, which is the oldest pageant in the Asia since 1965. Miss Asia Pacific World: The Miss Asia Pacific World is an international beauty contest held annually. The pageant was started by Lawrence Choi of Elite Asia Pacific Company, on October 15, 2011. Traditionally, the winner and runners-up spend months in Korea, in talent management training such as vocal, dance, martial arts, beauty management and its social activities leading to main organization. The current Miss Asia Pacific World is Shristi Rana from India who was crowned by Miss Asia Pacific World 2012 Himangini Singh Yadu from India on 30th October 2013. Miss Asia Pacific International: The Miss Asia Pacific International is the first and oldest beauty pageant in Asia. It began as a regional pageant in 1968, known as the Miss Asia Quest. Participating countries came from Asia and Oceania. In 1985, the pageant changed its name to the Miss Asia Pacific Quest, to encompass countries not just in the Asian and Oceania region, but those of North, Central and South America with borders touching the Pacific Ocean. The pageant took its present form in 2005, when the name was changed to Miss Asia Pacific International, to include countries all over the world. The new edition for the crown, after its 36th in 2005 hasn’t ever happened due to lack of sponsors and postponed indefinitely. The organizers of Miss Asia Pacific International clarified that they are not connected with the newly formed beauty pageant that is going to be held in Korea (Miss Asia Pacific World). The organizers are now renovating the oldest pageant in the Asia since 1965. Miss India or Femina Miss India: Miss India or Femina Miss India is a national beauty pageant in India that annually selects representatives to compete globally. The winner of Femina Miss India vies in Miss World, the first runner up competes in Miss Earth, and the second runner up goes to compete in Miss International. It is organised by Femina, a women's magazine published by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. In previous years, the top three finalists were variously crowned Miss India World, Miss India Universe and Miss India Earth/International/Asia-Pacific. Femina Miss India used to select a winner and two runners up who were then sent to Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss Asia Pacific pageants, respectively. In 1994, after India's historic win at the International pageants, the organization ended the practice of crowning a single winner and instead decided that the top three winners were designated as winners with equal visibility and prizes. In 2002, the third winner was designated to Miss Earth instead of Miss Asia Pacific. In 2010, Femina Miss India decided that they would no longer send a representative to Miss Universe, and relinquished the Miss Universe franchise, choosing instead to designate the third winner to represent India in Miss International pageant. In 2013 Femina Miss India awarded the franchise back after ‘I AM She – Miss Universe India’ concluded their contract with Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is called Indian Diva.

What: Srishti Rana crowned Miss Asia Pacific 2013 When: October 30, 2013 Where: Hallyuworld, South Korea

India developed Surface-to-Surface Missile Pragati

India developed a new tactical surface-to-surface missile Pragati which has a range between 60-170 km. The missile is on offer to India’s friendly countries. The Pragati missile is based on the Prahaar missile and it has been developed by the DRDO for the Army. It was put on display at a defence exhibition at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2013).

Besides 'Pragati' tactical missile, DRDO showcased, 'Akash' missile system and 'Tejas' LCA and its variants.

The LCA is a DRDO project which remains to be completed and the aircraft has not been inducted by the IAF so far. ADEX 2013 hosted more than 300 companies from 33 nations. DRDO's participation in ADX 2013 commemorates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and South Korea.

Kirit Parikh Panel Recommended Hike in Diesel, Kerosene, LPG Prices

Kirit Parikh Panel on advising Pricing Methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene submitted report to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry on 30 October 2013.
The panel in its report recommended a price increase of 5 Rupees per litre in diesel, 4 Rupees per litre in kerosene, and 250 Rupees in LPG cylinder with immediate effect.

Kirit Parikh Panel Recommendations:

 •The Panel recommended that the subsidised LPG cylinders be reduced from thepresent nine to six cylinders per annum to each household.

•Panel suggested capping the subsidy on diesel sales at 6 rupees a litre.

•Panel called for the elimination of subsidy on diesel within one year, which could save the exchequer 72000 crore Rupees in fuel subsidy.

•The panel has stated that the Government should take steps to pass on the impact of rise in price of diesel to consumers, and move rapidly towards making the price of diesel market-determined.

•The panel favoured continuation of existing pricing principles for controlled petroleum products.

Oil firms currently sell diesel at a discount of 10.52 Rupees per litre, kerosene at 38.32 Rupees and LPG at 532.86 rupees per cylinder.