Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Present Cabinet Ministers

Serial Number Portfolio Name of Minister
1. Prime Minister and also In-Charge of the Ministries/Departments viz:
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions;
Ministry of Planning;
Ministry of Water Resources;
Department of Atomic Energy; and
Department of Space
Dr. Manmohan Singh
2. Minister of Finance Shri Pranab Mukherjee
3. Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Shri Sharad Pawar
4. Minister of Defence Shri A.K. Antony
5. Minister of Home Affairs Shri P. Chidambaram
6. Minister of Railways Km. Mamata Banerjee
7. Minister of External Affairs Shri S.M. Krishna
8. Minister of Steel Shri Virbhadra Singh
9. Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh
10. Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad
11. Minister of Power Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde
12. Minister of Law and Justice Shri M. Veerappa Moily
13. Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah
14. Minister of Urban Development Shri S. Jaipal Reddy
15. Minister of Road Transport and Highways Shri Kamal Nath
16. Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Shri Vayalar Ravi
17. Minister of Textiles Shri Dayanidhi Maran
18. Minister of Communications and Information Technology Shri A. Raja
19. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Murli Deora
20. Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smt. Ambika Soni
21. Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge
22. Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Kapil Sibal
23. Minister of Mines and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Shri B.K. Handique
24. Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Anand Sharma
25. Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri C.P. Joshi
26. Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Minister of Tourism Kum. Selja
27. Minister of Food Processing Industries Shri Subodh Kant Sahay
28. Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. M.S. Gill
29. Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan
30. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pawan K. Bansal
31. Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Mukul Wasnik
32. Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Kantilal Bhuria
33. Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri M.K. Alagiri
Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

“NATIONAL GANGA RIVER BASIN AUTHORITY’ (NGRBA) : OBJECTIVES, APPROACH AND FUNCTIONS

Backgrounder
 
The Central Government, by a notification dated 20.2.2009, as set up ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority’ (NGRBA) as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganga river,in exercise of the powers conferred under the Environment (Protection) Act,1986.  

The Prime Minister is ex-officio Chairperson of the Authority, and it has as its members, the Union Ministers Concerned and the Chief Ministers of states through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others

The objective of the Authority is to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning. 

The functions of the Authority include all measures necessary for planning and execution of programmes for abatement of pollution in the Ganga in keeping with sustainable development  needs.
  
Key Features of New Approach
  • River basin will be the unit of planning and management. This is an internationally accepted strategy for integrated management of rivers.
  • Accordingly, a new institutional mechanism in the form of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) will  spearhead river conservation efforts at the national level. Implementation will be by the State Agencies and Urban Local  Bodies
  • The new strategy will take into account the competing demands on water and will seek t ensure minimum ecological flows. STPs minimise the pollution load up to discharge standard of BOD of 30mg/litre requiring dilution to achieve  river water quality of 3mg/ litre.
  • The minimum ecological flows or the entire Ganga will be determined through  modelling exercises. NGRBA
  • will take appropriate measures to regulate water abstraction for maintaining ecological flows in the river.
Functions of  NGRBA
  • The NGRBA would be responsible for addressing  the problem of pollution  in Gangain a holistic and comprehensive manner. This will include water quality, minimum ecological flows, sustainable access and other issues relevant to river ecology and management.
  • The NGRBA will not only be regulatory body but will also have developmental role in terms of planning & monitoring of the river conservation   activities and ensuring that necessary resources are available.
  • The NRGBA would work for maintaining the water quality of the river Ganga upto  acceptable standards. The pollution abetment activities will be taken through the existing implementation mechanisms in the State and also through special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs0 at the pollution hotspots.
  • The NGRBA    will ensure minimum ecological flow in the Ganga by regulating water abstraction and by promoting water storage projects.
  • The NGRBA will plan and monitor programmes for cleaning of Ganga and its tributaries. To being with, it will concentrate on Ganga main stream.
  • The NGRBA would draw upon professional expertise within and outside the Government for advice on techno-economic issues.
  • The technical and administrative support to NGRBA shall be provided by the Ministry of Environment  &  for advice on techno-economic issues.
  • The technical and administrative support to NGRBA shall be provided by the Ministry of Environment & Forests
Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Bhangra

Indian Bhangra dancers- One of the many perfor...Image via Wikipedia
Bhangra dance and music traces its origins to the Punjab region of Northern India. The exact age of the dance is uncertain but evidence of it can be traced as far back as 300 B.C. Although, some historians and gurus argue the dance could in fact be around 3,000 years old.
It was practiced by the Punjabi farmers of the villages and mainly performed during the harvest festival of Bhaisakhi. To this day, Bhangra is still danced to welcome in the spring weather. Its main purpose is to simply have fun and celebrate life.

The Forms.

There are nine forms of Bhangra traditionally practiced in various regions of the Punjab nation.

  • Gidha: The dance performed only by women. The movements are presented more gracefully with an obvious feminine flair.
  • Julli: A Muslim sitting- dance practiced by priests or holy men as a form of worship on hermitages.
  • Jhumar: A folk dance where the dancers circle around a drum, clapping and chanting.
  • Kikli: A dance in which four girls join hands weaving in and out of a circle while singing.
  • Saami: A dance performed by women from the Sandalbar region.
  • Daankara: A dance performed for weddings by the men. The clack sticks together in time with the drum while traveling in a circle.
  • Dhamal: A very wild dance with aggressive shoulder bounces, head shaking, arm waving and shouting.
  • Luddi: A dance in which the dancer extends one arm and the other behind his head while swaying like a snake in time to the music, almost as though in a trance.
  • Gatka: A martial art performed by the Sikh men.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, June 11, 2010

Some PSUs in GOI

 
  Balmer & Lawrie
Established in 1867 by two Scotsmen, George Stephen Balmer and Alexander Lawrie, the company represents a tradition of stability and resilience. High standards of customer service, innovative outlook and dedicated human resources have enabled the organization to achieve a leadership role in today's highly competitive markets.
web site url : http://www.balmerlawrie.com
  Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL)
Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) is a Public Sector Undertaking engaged in mining of coal and allied activities. It occupies an important place in as much as it produces bulk of the coking coal mined in the country. BCCL meets almost5 50% of teh total prime coking coal requirement of the intregrated steel sector. It also supplies substantial quantity of coal to the pig iron sector and bulk of the coal requirement of the power station in the Northern region.
web site url : http://www.bccl.nic.in/
  Bharat Dynamics Ltd
BDL was established in July 1970 under the control of Ministry of Defence with the prime objective of establishing a production base for guided missiles in India. It is now one amongst a few strategic industries of the world having the capability to produce the most advanced guided missile systems for Armed Forces.
web site url : http://bdl.ap.nic.in/
  Bharat Earth Movers Ltd
Bharat Earth Movers Limited is a premier ISO 9001-2000 Company in India and the second largest manufacturer of earthmoving equipment in Asia. A four- decade-old multi-locational and multi-product company, BEML has vital applications in diverse sectors of economy such as coal, mining, steel, cement, power, irrigation, construction, road building and railway. It has expanded its product range to cover high-quality hydraulics, heavy-duty diesel engines, Welding robots and undertaking of heavy fabrication jobs.
web site url : http://www.bemlindia.com/
  Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
BHEL manufactures over 180 products under 30 major product groups and caters to core sectors of the Indian Economy viz., Power Generation & Transmission, Industry, Transportation, Telecommunication, Renewable Energy, etc. The wide network of BHEL's 14 manufacturing divisions, four Power Sector regional centers, over 100 project sites, eight service centers and 18 regional offices, enables the Company to promptly serve its customers and provide them with suitable products, systems and services - efficiently and at competitive prices.
web site url : http://66.39.99.160/bhel/
  Bharat Refractories limited
Bharat Refractories limited, a public sector company under administrative control of ministry of steels, Govt. of India came into existence in 1974. Since inception, the company has crossed major milestones to become one of the largest refractory producers in India. The company is world renowned for its quality and has been successfully catering to the requirement of the steel industry and other users.
web site url : http://www.bharatref.com/
  Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL).
On October 1, 2000 the Department of Telecom Operations, Government of India became a corporation and was christened Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL). Today, BSNL is the No. 1 Telecommunications Company and the largest Public Sector Undertaking of India with authorized share capital of $ 3600 million and networth of $ 13.85 billion. It has a network of over 45 million lines covering 5000 towns with over 35 million telephone connections.
web site url : http://www.bsnl.co.in/
  Bongaigaon Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd
Bongaigaon Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited (BRPL) was incorporated as Government of India Undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on 20th February 1974. The company became a subsidiary of IndianOil on 29th of March 2001 after disinvestments of share by Govt of India.
web site url : http://www.brplindia.com/
  Cement Corporation of India Limited (CCI)
Cement Corporation of India Limited (CCI) was incorporated as a Company wholly owned by Government of India on 18th January 1965 with the principal objective of achieving self sufficiency in cement production. The authorised and paid-up capital of the company as on 31.3.2003 was Rs. 700 crores and Rs. 428.28 crores respectively.
web site url : http://business.vsnl.com/cci/
  Cental Coal Fields Ltd
The Mission of CCL is to produce and market the planned quantity of coal and coal products efficiently and economically with due regard to safety, conservation and quality.
web site url : http://ccl.cmpdi.co.in/
  Centre For Railway Information Systems
Centre For Railway Information Systems is entrusted with the task of design, development and implementation of the Freight Operations Information Systems(FOIS), alongwith its associated communications infrastructure. The Centre started functioning from July,1987. It is a registered society having an autonomous status and headed by Managing Director . CRIS is mainly a project oriented organisation engaged in development of major computer systems on the Railways.
web site url : http://www.cris.org.in/
  Coal India Ltd
The company is incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and is wholly owned by the Government of India (GOI). Company's objective is to promote the development and utilisation of the coal reserves in the country for meeting the present and likely future requirement of the nation with due regard to need for conservation of non-renewable resources and safety of mine workers.
web site url : http://coalindia.nic.in/
  Engineers India Ltd
Engineers India Limited was established in 1965 to provide engineering and related technical services for petroleum refineries and other industrial projects.In addition to petroleum refineries, with which EIL started initially, it has diversified into and excelled in other fields such as pipelines, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing, offshore structures and platforms, fertilizers, metallurgy and power.
web site url : http://www.engineersindia.com/
  Erstwhile Gas Authority of India Limited(GAIL)
GAIL (India) Ltd, (Erstwhile Gas Authority of India Limited) was set up by the Indian Government in August 1984 to create gas sector infrastructure for sustained development of the gas market in India. Primarily a natural gas company, it deals with all aspects of the gas-value chain, including exploration, production, transmission, extraction, processing, distribution and marketing of natural gas and its related process, products and services.
web site url : http://www.gailonline.com/
  Food Corporation of India
The Food Corporation of India was setup under the Food Corporations Act 1964, in order to fulfil objectives of the Food policy. Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers. Distribution of foodgrains throughout the country for Public Distribution System; and Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure National Food Security.
web site url : http://fciweb.nic.in/
  Heavy Water Board
Heavy Water Board (HWB), a constituent unit under Department of Atomic Energy, is primarily responsible for production of Heavy Water (D2O) which is used as a 'moderator' and 'Coolant' in the nuclear power as well as research reactors. HWB is successfully operating six Heavy Water Plants in the country.
web site url : http://www.heavywaterboard.org/
  Hindustan Aircraft Limited
HAL's supplies / services are mainly to Indian Defence Services, Coast Guard and Border Security Force. Transport aircraft and Helicopters have also been supplied to Airlines as well as State Governments of India. The Company has also achieved a foothold in export in more than 30 countries, having demonstrated its quality and price competitiveness.
web site url : http://www.hal-india.com/
  Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL)
HIL, a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Deptt. Of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Government of India, was incorporated Programme launched by the Government of India. Subsequently the Company diversified into agro pesticides to meet the requirements of agriculture sector, and has grown manifold, with a turnover of 1148 million rupees in 2001-02. Company has also entered into the field of safe and eco-friendly botanical and bio-pesticides for public health and plant protection.
web site url : http://www.hil-india.com/
  Hindusthan Aeronautics Ltd
The history of the Indian Aircraft Industry can be traced to the founding of Hindustan Aircraft Limited at Bangalore in December 1940 in association with the erstwhile princely State of Mysore and late Shri Seth Walchand Hirachand, an Industrialist of extra -ordinary vision. Govt. of India became one of its shareholders in March 1941 and took over the management in 1942. Hindustan Aircraft Limited was merged with Aeronautics India Limited and Aircraft Manufacturing Depot, Kanpur to form Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 01st October 1964.
web site url : http://www.hal-india.com/
  Indian Oil Corporation
Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil) is the country's largest commercial enterprise, with a sales turnover of Rs. 1,30,203 crore.IndianOil is India's No.1 Company in Fortune's prestigious listing of the world's 500 largest corporations, ranked 189 for the year 2004 based on fiscal 2003 performance. It is also the 19th largest petroleum company in the world.
web site url : http://www.indianoilcorp.com/
  India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)
India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)is the nodal agency of the Government of India for promoting the country's external trade. ITPO, during its existence of nearly three decades, in the form of Trade Fair Authority of India and Trade Development Authority, has played a proactive role in catalysing trade, investment and technology transfer processes. Its promotional tools include organizing of fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad, Buyer-Seller Meets, Contact Promotion Programmes, Product Promotion Programmes, Promotion through Overseas Department Stores, Market Surveys and Information Dissemination.
web site url : http://www.indiatradepromotion.org/
  Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited
Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited, a wholly owned Government of India Enterprise, was established in 1976 to develop the mine and plant facilities to produce 7.5 million tonnes of concentrate per year. The mine and plant facilities were commissioned in 1980 and the first shipment of concentrate was made in October 1981. A pelletisation plant with a capacity of 3 million tonnes per year was commissioned in 1987 for production of high quality blast furnace and direct reduction grade pellets for export
web site url : http://www.kudremukhore.com/
  National Fertilizers Ltd
NFL was incorporated on 23rd August, 1974 with two manufacturing Units at Bathinda and Panipat. Subsequently, on the reorganization of Fertilizer group of Companies in 1978, the Nangal Unit of Fertilizer Corporation of India came under the NFL fold. The Company expanded its installed capacity in 1984 by installing and commissioning of its Vijaipur gas based Plant in Madhya Pradesh.
web site url : http://www.nationalfertilizers.com/
  National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC)
NSTFDC is the Apex organisation for providing financial assistance for scheme(s)/project(s) for the economic development of Scheduled Tribes. The objectives of NSTFDC are Identification of economic activities of importance to the Scheduled Tribes so as to generate employment and raise their level of income.Upgradation of skills and processes used by the Scheduled Tribes through providing both institutional and on the job training etc.
web site url : http://nstfdc.nic.in/
  National Small Industries Corporation Ltd.
The National Small Industries Corporation Ltd., an ISO 9001:2000 Company, was established in 1955 by the Government of India with a view to promote, aid and foster the growth of Small Industries in the country. NSIC continues to remain at the forefront of industrial development throughout the country, with it's various programs and projects, to assist the small scale sector in the country.
web site url : http://www.nsicindia.com/
  Neyveli Lignite Corporation
NLC Limited is an integrated project complex owned by Govt.of India. Liginite excavation and power generation are the core activities of NLC. It has three opencast liginite mines.
web site url : http://www.nlcindia.co.in
  Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is a wholly owned Enterprise of the Government of India under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. It has been incorporated in September 1987 as a Public Limited Company under the Companies Act, 1956 with the objective of undertaking the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the atomic power stations for generation of electricity in pursuance of the schemes and programmes of the Government of India under the provision of the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
web site url : http://www.npcil.org/
  Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
A modest entity in the serene Himalayan settings - Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) was set up as a Commission on August 14, 1956. The company became a corporate on June 23, 1993, which has now grown into a full-fledged horizontally integrated petroleum company. Today, ONGC is a flagship public sector enterprise and India's highest profit making corporate, achieving the record of being the first Indian corporate to register a five digit profit figure of Rs. 10,529 Crore in the year 2002-03.
web site url : http://www.ongcindia.com/
  Shipping Corporation of India
The Shipping Corporation of India was established on 2nd October 1961 by the amalgamation of Eastern Shipping Corporation and Western Shipping Corporation. Starting out as a marginal Liner shipping company with just 19 vessels, the SCI today has metamorphosed into a giant conglomerate having 83 ships of 4.6 million DWT with substantial interests in 10 different segments of the shipping trade.
web site url : http://www.shipindia.com
  Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is the leading steel making company in India. It is a fully integrated iron and steel maker, producing both basic and special steels for domestic construction, engineering, power, railway, automotive and defence industries and for sale in export markets.
web site url : http://www.sail.co.in
  Steel Authority of India
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is the leading steel-making company in India. It is a fully integrated iron and steel maker, producing both basic and special steels for domestic construction, engineering, power, railway, automotive and defence industries and for sale in export markets.
web site url : http://www.sail.co.in/
  The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC)
The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), established in the year 1971 is a major industrial unit of Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. The complex is responsible for the supply of nuclear fuel bundles and reactor core components for all the nuclear power reactors operating in India. It is a unique facility where natural and enriched uranium fuel, zirconium alloy cladding and reactor core components are manufactured under one roof starting from the raw materials.
web site url : http://www.nucfuel.gov.in/default.htm
  Uranium Corporation Ltd
Incorporated on 4th October 1967, Uranium Corporation of India ltd, a public sector Enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy, is at the forefront of the Nuclear Power Cycle. Fulfilling the requirement of Uranium for pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, UCIL plays a very siginificant role in India's Nuclear Power Generation Programme.
web site url : http://www.ucilindia.com/
Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Woman Space Record

1963: First woman in space, first woman in orbit - USSR cosmonaut Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova [also Valentina Tereshkova] was not only the first woman in orbit, but also the first ordinary person in space. She was a textile mill worker who enjoyed the hobby of parachute jumping when she was picked for a class of women to train for spaceflight. USSR Premier Nikita Khrushchev wanted a spectacular, so, by age 25, Tereshkova was a cosmonaut. She spent 71 hours orbiting Earth 48 times in June 1963 in her capsule Sea Gull. Following Yuri Gagarin as the first man in space in 1961, Tereshkova's 1963 flight brought additional prestige to the Soviet Union and what then appeared to be the dominant space program. [more...]

1960s: First American female astronauts - The Mercury 13 [also Mercury 13 and Mercury 13 and Mercury 13] were NASA female astronauts tested for the same physical and psychological conditions that America's original Mercury 7 male astronauts endured. However, the Mercury 13 were not assigned to space duty.[more...]

1982: Second woman in space, second woman in orbit - USSR cosmonaut Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya [also Svetlana Savitskaya and Svetlana Savitskaya] flew to the USSR's Salyut 7 space station August 19, 1982.

1983: First American woman in space, first American woman in orbit - Dr. Sally Kristen Ride rode in shuttle Challenger June 18, 1983. She rode Challenger to space again, a year later, and was training for a third flight when Challenger exploed during liftoff on January 28, 1986. More than three dozen women have flown on U.S. space shuttles since Sally Ride's first trip.

1984: First woman to take a spacewalk - USSR cosmonaut Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya

U.S. astronaut Judith Resnik
Judith Resnik
1984: Second American woman in space, second American woman in orbit - Dr. Judith A. Resnik flew in shuttle Discovery August 30, 1984. Two years later, Dr. Resnik died when the shuttle Challenger exploded during lift-off in 1986.

1984: First woman to go to space twice - Svetlana Savitskaya flew to the Salyut 7 space station in August 1982 and again in July 1984.

1984: First American woman to go to space twice - Sally Ride rode twice in Challenger, in June 1983 and October 1984.

1984: First American woman to take a spacewalk - Dr Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan

1984: First women together in space - Kathryn Sullivan and Sally Ride flew together in shuttle Challenger in October 1984.

1984: First mother in space - Dr. Anna Lee Tingle Fisher, M.D., flew in shuttle Discovery in November 1984.

1986: First women to die during spaceflight - Dr. Judith Arlene Resnik and Mrs. Sharon Christa McAuliffe [also Christa McAuliffe] were aboard shuttle Challenger when it was launched January 28, 1986. The entire crew of that flight died when the shuttle exploded during lift-off. Selected from 11,000 profesional educator applicants, Christa McAuliffe would have been the first teacher in space.

1989: First woman on a U.S. military flight - Dr. Kathryn Ryan Cordell Thornton flew aboard shuttle Discovery on a secret mission in November 1989. Later, in 1992, she flew on the maiden flight of the new shuttle Endeavour, which replaced Challenger.

British cosmonaut Helen Sharman
Helen Sharman
1990: First woman to fly in space as a result of a newspaper ad for " Astronaut wanted - no experience necessary" - British Chemist Helen Patricia Sharman stayed a week at Russia's space station Mir. also Helen Sharman also Helen Sharman

1992: First black woman in space - U.S. astronaut Dr Mae Carol Jemison.

1995: First woman to pilot a space shuttle - U.S. astronaut Eileen Marie Collins. Four years later, she would be the first woman space shuttle commander.

1996: Space endurance record for women and overall U.S. space endurance record - U.S. astronaut Dr Shannon Matilda Wells Lucid in six months aboard the Russian space station Mir. Altogether, Shannon Lucid spent 223 days in space during five space flights, including 188 days aboard Mir space station in 1996. She was the first American to take a spacewalk at Mir. (By comparison, even though the stay in space in 2001 for U.S. astronaut Susan Helms and her two fellow International Space Station Expedition 2 crew members was extended by almost a month because of problems with the robot arm, it still was three weeks shy of NASA's space endurance record.)

1997: Russian woman with most time in space - cosmonaut Yelena Vladimirovna Kondakova flew a total of 178 days, including 169 days aboard space station Mir in 1994 and nine days in a U.S. shuttle flight to Mir in 1997.

U.S. astronaut Susan Helms
Susan Helms
1999: First woman space shuttle commander - U.S. astronaut Eileen Marie Collins.

2001: First woman crew member of the International Space Station - U.S. astronaut Susan Jane Helms. She stayed there 165 days bringing her total in space to 210 days during five flights. She also was the first female amateur radio operator to communicate directly with hams on the ground via amateur radio from the space station.

2002: First ISS science officer, first woman to spacewalk at the space station - To highlight ISS research, Dr. Peggy A. Whitson, a biochemist, became the station's first resident scientist when she flew as part of the Expedition 5 crew. It was her first spaceflight and Dr. Whitson logged 184 days in space. Dr. Whitson ventured outside on August 16 for an EVA of 4 hours 25 minutes to install micrometeoroid shielding. As science officer, she conducted 21 investigations in human life sciences, microgravity sciences and commercial payloads.

2003: Second women to die during spaceflight - Dr. Kalpana Chawla and Dr. Laurel Clark were aboard shuttle Columbia when it disintegrated over Texas on February 1, 2003. The entire crew of seven died.

U.S. astronaut Sunita Williams, of Indian-American origin, has now spent more time walking in space than any other woman. She set the record as she and a crewmate upgraded the international space station’s cooling system. Ms. Williams broke the previous women’s spacewalking hours on Sunday when she and Michael Lopez-Alegria completed the second of what could be a precedent-setting three spacewalks in nine days.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Poultry Feed

India is the fifth largest producer (External website that opens in a new window) of eggs in the world. There are 150 million layers and 650 million broilers in the country. There are two types of poultry feed - layer and broiler feed. Layer feed is quite expensive. An innovative, high-value compound feed can result in increased numbers of eggs, but the risks are too high because of the birds' long life cycle.

Two kinds of poultry feed may be prepared. One is ready-made and is available in the form of mash or pellets. The other feed is offered in a concentrated form and needs to be mixed with an energy source. The concentrates are sources of protein, which are balanced in amino acids. They contain vitamins, minerals and feed additives. These concentrates are combined with energy sources such as maize, sorghum or bajra to make poultry rations. Vitamin AB2D3K is a vital component of poultry feed as it provides for improved nutrition. It is added to poultry feed manufactured at poultry feed mills, hatcheries and farms.
Poultry feed supplements and feed chemicals usually include substances such as soya meal, rape meal, groundnut meal, cottonseed meal, de-oiled rice bran meal, sunflower meal, guar meal, corn germ cake, copra cake and wheat bran. Supplements also contain substances such as maduramycin ammonium, chlortetracycline, tylosin phosphate, dl-methionine, zinc bacitracin, choline chloride, vitamin ab2d3k, vitamin b complex, betaine anhydrous and salkil powder.
Madhya Pradesh started a Cockerel Yojana Scheme in which one-day-old male hatchlings were distributed to farmers around the State. These hatchlings were of a good breed. The farmers were instructed to feed the hatchlings a well-balanced, high quality chicken feed for the first 15 days. Vaccinations and necessary medicines for the hatchlings were to be provided at the beneficiaries' doorstep.
Uttar Pradesh (External website that opens in a new window) is one of the largest producers of eggs in the country and has been growing at the rate of around 20 per cent per year. As a milestone achievement (103 KB) (PDF file that opens in a new window) , Uttar Pradesh became the first State in India to give poultry production the status of an industry.
Assam (54 KB) (PDF file that opens in a new window) is a big market for poultry feed. The government has made some specific recommendations in this matter.
Source: National Portal Content Management Team

Sunday, October 18, 2009

India at a Glance

India GateImage by Shashwat_Nagpal via Flickr

   BACKGROUND
     
The civilization of India is one of the oldest civilizations in the World, spanning more than 4000 years and witnessing the rise and fall of several Empires, and projecting a unique assimilation of various cultures and heritage. The Country has always been portrayed as a land of spiritual integrity with professors of Philosophy, who have engineered the magnanimity of its nationalism. One of the oldest scriptures in the World, the four-volume Vedas that many regard as the repository of national thoughts, which have anticipated some of the modern scientific discoveries, has been created in the orb of this myth oriented Country. This strong affinity with religion and mythology has been reflected time and again through various art forms and performing arts, which are symbolical of the composite culture of India. Unity in diversity is another facet of the Country’s inherent nationalism, which had been fused by the feeling of national fervour incited by various foreign invasions that ever made its way to the Indian shores. Religious tolerance and cultural amalgamation have given shape to a uniquely secular Nation, which has created an impressive status of itself in the global arena.
     
   GEOGRAPHY
     
Location:   The Indian peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas. The Country is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west, and the Indian Ocean to the south. 
     
Geographic Coordinates:   Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, the Country extends between 8° 4' and 37° 6' latitudes north of the Equator, and 68°7' and 97°25' longitudes east of it.
     
Indian Standard Time:   GMT + 05:30
     
Area:   3.3 Million sq km
     
Border Countries:   Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west; China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north; Myanmar to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
     
Coastline:   7,516.6 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
     
Climate:   The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite of much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons - winter (December-February), (ii) summer (March-June), (iii) south-west monsoon season (June-September), and (iv) post monsoon season (October- November).
     
Terrain:   The mainland comprises of four regions, namely the great mountain zone, plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula.
     
Natural Resources:   Coal, iron ore, manganese ore, mica, bauxite, petroleum, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, magnesite, limestone, arable land, dolomite, barytes, kaolin, gypsum, apatite, phosphorite, steatite, fluorite, etc.
     
Natural Hazards:   Monsoon floods, flash floods, earthquakes, droughts, and landslides.
     
Environment – Current Issues:   Air pollution control, energy conservation, solid waste management, oil and gas conservation, forest conservation, etc.
     
Environment – International Agreements:   Rio Declaration on environment and development, Cartagena Protocol on biosafety, Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on climatic change, World Trade Agreement, Helsinki Protocol to LRTAP on the reduction of sulphur emissions of nitrogen oxides or their transboundary fluxes (Nox Protocol), and Geneva Protocol to LRTAP concerning the control of emissions of volatile organic compounds or their transboundary fluxes (VOCs Protocol).
     
Geography – Note:   India occupies a major portion of the south Asian subcontinent.
     
   PEOPLE
     
Population:   India's population, as on 1 March 2001 stood at 1,028 million (532.1 million males and 496.4 million females).
     
Population Growth Rate:   The average annual exponential growth rate stands at 1.93 per cent during 1991-2001. 
     
Birth Rate:   The Crude Birth rate according to the 2001 census is 24.8 
     
Death Rate:   The Crude Death rate according to the 2001 census is 8.9 
     
Life Expectancy Rate:   63.9 years (Males); 66.9 years (Females) (As of Sep 2005)
     
Sex Ratio:   933 according to the 2001 census 
     
Nationality:   Indian
     
Ethnic Groups:   All the five major racial types - Australoid, Mongoloid, Europoid, Caucasian, and Negroid find representation among the people of India.
     
Religions:   According to the 2001 census, out of the total population of 1.028 million in the Country, Hindus constituted the majority with 80.5 %, Muslims came second at 13.4%, followed by Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others.
     
Languages:   22 languages have been recognized by the Constitution of India, of which Hindi is the official national language. Besides these, there are 844 different dialects that are practiced in various parts of the Country. 
     
Literacy:   According to the provisional results of the 2001 census, the literacy rate in the Country stands at 64.84 per cent, 75.26% for males and 53.67% for females.
     
   GOVERNMENT
     
Country Name:   Republic of India; Bharat Ganrajya
     
Government Type:   Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system of Government.
     
Capital:   New Delhi
     
Administrative Divisions:   29 States and 6 Union Territories.
     
Independence:   15th August 1947 (From the British Colonial Rule)
     
Constitution:   The Constitution of India came into force on 26th January 1950.
     
Legal System:   The Constitution of India is the fountain source of the legal system in the Country.
     
Executive Branch:   The President of India is the Head of the State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government, and runs office with the support of the Council of Ministers who form the Cabinet Ministry.
     
Legislative Branch:   The Indian Legislature comprises of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) forming both the Houses of the Parliament.
     
Judicial Branch:   The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts.
     
Flag Description:   The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle, and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. At the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel, which is a representation of the Ashoka Chakra at Sarnath.
     
   ECONOMY
     
Economy – Overview:   Half a Century after gaining its independence, India has overcome all odds and achieved phenomenal standards of economic stability, courtesy the indomitable contributions of various sectors such as agriculture, tourism, commerce, power, communications, science & technology, etc., which have acted as the pillars of the Indian economy. India is today one of the six fastest growing economies of the world. The country is ranked fourth in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2001. The business and regulatory environment is evolving and moving towards constant improvement.
     
GDP – Real Growth Rate:   The second quarter (July-September) of the financial year 2005-06 registers a growth rate of 8 percent.
     
GDP – Purchasing Power Parity:   India is the fourth largest economy, with US$ 3 trillion GDP in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) after USA, China, and Japan.
     
GDP – Per Capita:   As of September 2005, the GDP per capita of the Country stood at US$ 543.
     
GDP – Composition by Sector:   Services 56%, Agriculture 22%, and Industry 22% (As of September 2005). 
     
Labour Force:   According to the Report of the Committee on India Vision: 2020, India’s labour force has reached approximately 375 million in 2002.
     
Unemployment Rate:   9.1% (As of Sep 2005)
     
Population below Poverty Line:   26.10% as on 1999-2000 
     
Inflation Rate:   4.1% as on July 2005. 
     
Public Debt:   The total Debt as on 31st March 2002 stands at Rs. 1372117.58 crores.
     
Exchange Rates:   Indian Rupee/ 1 US$ - 45.3700; Indian Rupee/ 1 Euro – 53.8600; Indian Rupee/ 1 Pound Sterling – 79.7100 (Latest rates).
     
Agriculture Products:   Rice, wheat, tea, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, jute, oilseed, poultry, etc.
     
Industries:   Steel, garments, petroleum, cement, machinery, locomotive, food processing, pharmaceutical products, mining, etc.
     
Currency (Code):   Indian Rupee (INR)
     
Fiscal Year:   1st April to 31st March.
 
Source : Ministry of Environment, Planning Commission, Ministry of Health, Press Information Bureau, Census of India , Minestry of External Affairs, Union Budget, Reserve Bank of India, India 2005 - A Reference Annual, www.indiainbusiness.nic.in
Related Posts with Thumbnails