26.05.2007

• I am often asked through mail and also in the shout-box as to how should the preparation for Civils be started. Having answered it a number of times individually, I thought it is time that I share my ‘gyan’ (juss kidding) with all of you. Look at the piece I posted on the Discover It blog today on this topic here. Do let me know your reactions by way comments on the blog. It would do a lot of good to all the other aspirants.
• It is time again for us to learn some language. What is meant by ‘parrying’ questions?
• When you read something like “parrying questions on the Taj Corridor case...” what do you understand by ‘parrying’?
• It means being evasive or defensive in answering.
• Deepak Rao, the guy who can read your mind!!!
• The only feeble connection that I can think of for this person on our blogs is that, some of the things that he is able to perform on stage made me wonder whether or not it is time for some of you living in Mumbai to really test the skills he is imparting for helping in your preparation for the Civils.
• For those of you who have the inclination to contact him check out his web site at http://www.mastermind-india.com/
• 72^nd Conference of the Presiding Officers of Legislative Bodies in India
• It was held in Tiruvananthapuram.
• This is where our Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjea has expressed his view that the right to recall legislators should be there for any misbehaviour in the Hosue or for failure to serve their electroates.
• Economic blockade in Manipur
• The ATSUM (All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur) has been blockading the national highways demanding appointment of tribals for their graduate posts on a 50% basis to clear the backlog.
• The talks with the Okram Ibobi government of Manipur had ended in a stalemate.
• What are the pitfalls in blindly promoting biofuel?
• In an interesting editorial, The Hindu gave out a three solid reasons/cautions on promoting biofuel as the manna from heaven. Take a look at them:
• The burgeoning biofuel industry ultimately may result in farmers shifting from producing food to producing biofuel.
• In the long term, the diversion of productive farm land for biofuel crops cannot be ruled out, and such diversion can only be at the cost of food and fuel wood.
• The rush to switch to energy derived from plants can drive deforestation, push small farmers off their land, and heighten poverty.
• India’s primary rationale for going the biofuel way is related to the fact that it has an estimated 63 mn hectares of wasteland. The idea is to set aside a good proportion of this for biofuel plantations.
• Among the crop options is Jatropha curas, a shrub that can sustain itself under difficult climatic and soil conditions.
• A book that is making waves in Britain
• “The Islamist” by Ed Husain is a very revealing book. It gives an insider’s account of how a hardcore Islamist is made out of normal people. It is getting rave reviews there.
• He explains how the British University campuses are breeding grounds of recruiting these radicals. British born children of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent are caught up between two cultures and face an identity crisis. This is often compounded by racism they face growing up in a white country. They would simply be willing to embrace something that would offer them an identity, a sense of their own self, and a purpose in life. Radical ideas from Islamic groups find fertile ground in these minds.
• National Identity Card scheme launched
• MNIC – Multipurpose National Identity Card scheme is a Rs. 45 crore project spearheaded by the Registrar General of India. It envisages the provide 2 mn cards to people above 18 years in 13 districts across 12 states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• Devender Kumar is the Registrar General of India.
• Ireland’s Prime Minister
• Bertie Ahern.
• He is winning the elections for the third time to continue as PM.
• Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention extended
• The Myanmarese pro-democracy leader who is under detention for the last four years, will continue to be under detention for one more year. The Military junta ruling the country has served orders to this effect.
• Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. She has spent 11 of the past 17 years in detention.
• Cricket
• Australian bowler Bill Johnston passes away
• He was part of the Don Bradman’s “Invincibles”.
• Bradman’s invincibles are regarded as one of the finest cricket teams every to play the game.
• Bradman died in 2001 at the age of 92. Only 5 of his invincibles team are surviving now.
• What is augmented reality?
• A HP (Hewelett Packard) initiative, this technology turns the mobile phones as virtual tour guides.
• The technology uses built-in sensors in mobile phones that can detect position, light and motion to help people find their way with the help of software.
• 3G open only for domestic players says TRAI
• What are para IV filings?
• These are patent challenges made by generic drug manufacturers against patent holding companies in the US to gain an entry into the US market.
• IRMA, Anand Director
• Vivek Bhandari
• India’s dependence on monsoons and where do irrigation plans stand?
• More than 60% of the country’s population is dependent on agriculture for livelihood. Agriculture accounts for a little less than 20% of the GDP.
• Only about 40% of arable land is under assured irrigation.
• It is not the quantum but also the spatial distribution and timing of the monsoon that are important. Even an ‘overall adequate’ precipitation forecast by the met department can leave the farmers in doldrums.
• Over the years, public investment in irrigation has steadily declined.
• Irrigation is one of the six components for development of rural infrastructure under Bharat Nirman and an additional 1 crore hectare is to be brought under assured irrigation by 2009.
• Virus killing water
• Scientists in US developed a form of water which they claim could kill vast quantities of bacteria, viruses and fungi, including many that are unaffected by bleach.
• The water called Dermacyn, is recommended for external use only and should not be drunk.