India has the third largest ecological footprint: Report

After China and USA, India has the third largest ecological footprint in the world, according to a report released today.
China's share of ecological footprint, which is a measure humanity's demand on the planet, is a massive 19 per cent, followed by USA's 13.7 per cent and India at 7.1 per cent, The Living Planet Report 2014 said.
The top five countries, which includes Brazil and Russia, make up about half the global total.
"Humanity currently needs the regenerative capacity of 1.5 earths to provide the ecological goods and services we use each year," the report brought out by WWF and Global Footprint Network said.
China is ranked 76th in its per capita footprint but has the world's biggest national population and hence has the planet's largest national footprint.
India shifts from having the 136th largest footprint per capita to the third largest in total after multiplying population with per capita demand.
"The report underlines the importance of the choices we are making every day and their impact on the planet. It is imperative to take steps to ensure that all future development is sustainable," Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO, WWF-India commented on the report.
As per the report the population of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have declined by 52 per cent in the 40-year period.
It also highlights the dire situation of local populations due to increasing water scarcity and the alarming situation of depleting ground water resources and aquifers in countries like India, Australia and the United States.
These three countries with the highest water footprint also contain eight of the top ten most populous river basins experiencing almost year-round scarcity, a problem that is likely only to get compounded by climate change, population growth and developmental imperatives, the report added.

‘Punarjagaran’- Mass Awakening Campaign for youth to be launched on 2nd October, 2014

Ministry of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports has decided to launch ‘Punarjagaran’- Mass Awakening Campaign for Youth Participation in Nation Development across India from 2nd October 2014. ‘Punarjagaran’ aims at creating awareness among youth and empower them to become active partners in nation building activities. The programme will be launched simultaneously from four districts which are situated at extreme tips of India - Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, (South), Leh in Jammu and Kashmir (North), Okha in Gujarat (West) and Roing in Arunachal Pradesh (North East) and will culminate on 25th September 2015 at Mathura (UP). The yearlong Campaign also aims to make aware and educate youth on key issues in thematic areas, provide information on the avenues for skill development, encourage and empower them with the spirit of nationalism and volunteerism. The thematic areas of the campaign are encouraging Nationalism, promoting “Swachh Bharat, Shramadaan” and popularizing the recently launched “Jan Dhan Yojana”. It has been assessed that from Leh (J&K) and Okha (Gujarat) to Mathura (UP) the campaign will traverse through 20/21 districts each thus making a total of 40 districts, whereas in case of campaign from Kanyakumari and Roing to Mathura a total of 60 districts will be covered. Therefore, under this campaign youth from a total of 100 districts will be covered. In Roing (Arunachal Pradesh) the programme will be launched by Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Shri Mukut Mithi. Chairman Zilla Praishad, Shri Sipi Elapra, along with senior officers of district administration will be the guests of honor. The programmes and activities include Pledge taking ceremony on Swachh Bharat Mission, cleanliness drive and organization of a 3 km rally. In Leh (J&K) the programme will be launched by Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Shri Thupstan Chhewang from the Polo Ground in the presence of senior officers of District Administration, members of NSS, NYKs Youth Clubs, Kendriya Vidhyalaya and Jwahar Navodya Vidhyalaya. The programme includes Administration of Swachh Bharat Mission pledge followed by youth convention. The resource persons will be giving a talk on development issues. This will be followed by a 3 km youth rally from Polo Ground traversing the Main bazaar and culminating again at Polo Ground. A massive cleanliness drive has been planned on the occasion. In Okha (Gujarat) the programme will be launched by Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Ms. Poonamben Madam. Senior officers of District Administration, Railways, Zilla Panchayat, members of NYKs Youth Clubs are scheduled to participate in the function. The programme will start with Prabhat Pheri followed by pledge taking ceremony and a 3 km Youth Rally from Railway station Okha to Nagarpalika Hqs. Essay and debate competitions, cleanliness drive etc. would be the other highlights of the launch function. In Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) Union Minister of State (Heavy Industries) Shri Radhakrishnan P would launch the campaign. Senior officers of District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, members of NYKs Youth Clubs, School and College students will be participating in the launching programme. A State Level Seminar on role of Youth in Participatory Governance would also be organized followed by a 3 km Youth Rally from Gandhi Mandap to Vivekananda Kendra. A Youth Convention has also been planned on the occasion. About 2000 Youth Participants are expected to participate in each of the four launch programmes.

Ozone layer recovering thanks to Montreal

• zone gas in stratosphere prevents 99.5% entry of UV radiation (255nm) on earth.
• Chlorofluorocarbons / freons: non-reactive, non-flammable, non-toxic. Used in Refrigerators, spray cans, insulation foam and propellant.
• Once they’re released in atmosphere, they reach stratosphere=> react with UV=> release Chlorine free radicals => Ozone broken.
• 1980s: Scientists realized Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) reach had damaged Ozone layer above Antarctica. Result?
  • Skin cancer, Cataract, Sunburns
  • Phytoplanktons die=> fish population declines.
  • Soil Moisutre content declines, plant proteins are mutated=> plant growth affected.
  • Fibers and Wall paints fade faster.
• Late 80s: Montreal Protocol signed, to cut down use of
  • chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) / freons
  • Halons in fire-extinguishers
• 2014: CFC has declined by 90%, Ozone layer showing signs of recovery- as per United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• This will also prevented 2 million skin cancer cases per year.
• 2050: Ozone Layer will recover near mid-latitudes
• 2075: Ozone layer will recover near Antarctic.

Challenges:

1. CFCs are replaced with HFCs (Hydroflurocarbons). Although HFCs don’t deplete Ozone layer but they’re greenhouse gases, hence contribute to global warming.
2. Researchers found Carbon tetrachloride increased in atmosphere. This is a banned ozone-depleting carcinogenic solvent.
3. Meaning, some companies in the third world countries are still using it illegally, as a cheaper alternative to HFCs.

Bamiyan finalized as SAARC cultural capital for 2015-16, Dhaka for 2016-17

Bamiyan in Afghanistan is best known for two 6th century colossal statues of Buddhas , belonging to ancient Gandhara School of Art.  These colossal buddha images were destroyed by Taliban in 2001.

In September 2014, Bamiyan has been given the honour of being the SAARCCultural Capital for the year 2015-16. This was agreed upon at the SAARC CultureMinisters Conference, which also designated Dhaka as the cultural capital for the year 2016-17. Also, the year 2016-17 is to be the SAARC Year of Cultural Heritage. These developments are part of the efforts aimed at strengthening cultural ties among SAARC nations.

List of 2014 Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award Winners

The winners of the 2014 edition of the annual Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award were announced by CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) at its 72nd Foundation Day celebrations on 26 September 2014. The 10 awardees have been chosen from various prestigious research institutions inIndia. The list of awardees of this year’s prize are as follows:-

Biological Sciences

• Roop Mallik Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai

Chemical Sciences

• Kavirayani Ramakrishna Prasad Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru.
• Souvik Maiti Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) New Delhi.

Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences

• Sachchida Nand Tripathi Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

Engineering Sciences

• S Venkata Mohan Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT)Hyderabad.
• Soumen Chakrabarti Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai.

Mathematical Sciences

• Kaushal Kumar Verma Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru.

Medical Sciences

• Anurag Agrawal Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) New Delhi.

Physical Sciences

• Pratap Raychaudhuri Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai.
• Sadiqali Abbas Rangwala Raman Research Institute Bengaluru.

This award is given in the memory of Sir Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar, who was Founder -Director of CSIR and first Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). He is known as Father of Indian Research Laboratories, remembered for having established various chemical labs in the country. The award is conferred on individuals for their pathbreaking contributions to the world of science and technology. The award consists of a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a citation and a plaque. 

Justice H.L.Dattu sworn in as 42nd Chief Justice of India

ustice Handyala Lakshminarayanaswamy Dattu was sworn in as the CJI (Chief Justice of India) by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. He succeeds Justice R.M.Lodha, who was also appointed this year in April.

Justice Dattu began his career in 1975 in Bangalore,Karnataka where he practiced civil, criminal, tax and constitutional law. From 1983, he began appearing before the Karnataka HC (high Court), including as a representative of the government in various matters. He was appointed as a senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department in 1995, from where he was elevated to the post of Judge at the Karnataka HC. He went on to serve as the Chief Justice in two High Courts: Chhattisgarh and Kerala. He has served in the SC since 2008. At the SC, he has been heading the bench which was monitoring investigations into the 2G Spectrum case.

Justice Dattu will serve as CJI for 14 months, and is set to retire on the 2nd of December 2015.

Vision Statement for the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership

“Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go”

Chalein Saath Saath, forward together we go. As leaders of two great democratic nations with diverse traditions and faiths, we share a vision for a partnership in which the United States and India work together, not just for the benefit of both our nations, but for the benefit of the world. 

We have vastly different histories, but both our founders sought to guarantee freedoms that allow our citizens to determine their own destiny and pursue their personal aspirations. Our strategic partnership rests on our shared mission to provide equal opportunity for our people through democracy and freedom.

The currents of kinship and commerce, scholarship and science tie our countries together. They allow us to rise above differences by maintaining the long-term perspective. Every day, in myriad ways, our cooperation fortifies a relationship that matches the innumerable ties between our peoples, who have produced works of art and music, invented cutting-edge technology, and responded to crises across the globe.

Our strategic partnership is a joint endeavor for prosperity and peace. Through intense consultations, joint exercises, and shared technology, our security cooperation will make the region and the world safe and secure. Together, we will combat terrorist threats and keep our homelands and citizens safe from attacks, while we respond expeditiously to humanitarian disasters and crises. We will prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and remain committed to reducing the salience of nuclear weapons, while promoting universal, verifiable, and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament.

We will support an open and inclusive rules-based global order, in which India assumes greater multilateral responsibility, including in a reformed United Nations Security Council. At the United Nations and beyond, our close coordination will lead to a more secure and just world.

Climate change threatens both our countries, and we will join together to mitigate its impact and adapt to our changing environment. We will address the consequences of unchecked pollution through cooperation by our governments, science and academic communities. We will partner to ensure that both countries have affordable, clean, reliable, and diverse sources of energy, including through our efforts to bring American-origin nuclear power technologies to India.

We will ensure that economic growth in both countries brings better livelihoods and welfare for all of our people. Our citizens value education as a means to a better life, and our exchange of skills and knowledge will propel our countries forward. Even the poorest will share in the opportunities in both our countries.

Joint research and collaboration in every aspect—ranging from particles of creation to outer space -- will produce boundless innovation and high technology collaboration that changes our lives. Open markets, fair and transparent practices will allow trade in goods and services to flourish.

Our people will be healthier as we jointly counter infectious diseases, eliminate maternal and child deaths, and work to eradicate poverty for all. And they will be safer as we ensure the fullest empowerment of women in a secure environment.

The United States and India commit to expand and deepen our strategic partnership in order to harness the inherent potential of our two democracies and the burgeoning ties between our people, economies, and businesses. Together we seek a reliable and enduring friendship that bolsters security and stability, contributes to the global economy, and advances peace and prosperity for our citizens and throughout the world.

We have a vision that the United States and India will have a transformative relationship as trusted partners in the 21st century. Our partnership will be a model for the rest of the world.