Super Wi-Fi or WHITE WiFi

Super Wi-Fi

Super Wi-Fi is a term coined by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to describe a wireless networking proposal which the FCC plans to use for the creation of longer-distance wireless Internet access. The use of the trademark "Wi-Fi" in the name has been criticized because it is not based on Wi-Fi technology or endorsed by the Wi-Fi Alliance. A trade show has also been called the "Super WiFi Summit" (without hyphen).Various standards such as IEEE 802.22 have been proposed for this concept.
Instead of using the 2.4 GHz radio frequency of Wi-Fi, the 'Super Wi-Fi' proposal uses the lower-frequency white spaces between television channel frequencies. These lower frequencies allow the signal to travel further and penetrate walls better than the higher frequencies previously used.The FCC's plan was to allow those white space frequencies to be used for free, as happens with shorter-range Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

History

As result of hearing on the safety of analog television broadcasting and the telecommunication act of 1996 along with the preliminary hearing material, the U.S. Federal Communication Commission laid the ground work for a framework for HDTV. One major player in the development of Super WiFi is the various patents for Nielsen Rating Technology which predates the development of commercial WiFi. For example, US Patent 7152287 credits many previous patent since 1982 but many reference the Nielson Rating to about the 1920.
US Federal Communications Commission's approved the rules for "white spaces" on September 23, 2010 as it has done for many university since the 1990s.
On April 19, 2011, Rice University, in partnership with the nonprofit organization Technology For All, installed the first residential deployment of Super Wi-Fi in east Houston. The network uses white spaces for backhaul and provides access to clients using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.
On May 8, 2011, a public Super Wi-Fi network was developed in Calgary, Alberta. Calgary based company WestNet City Wi-Fi. launched the network for free and paid subscribers.
On January 26, 2012, the United States first public Super Wi-Fi network was developed in Wilmington, North Carolina. Florida based company Spectrum Bridge, Inc. launched the network for public use with access at Hugh MacRae park.
On July 9, 2013, West Virginia University launched the first campus Super WiFi network.

BIO-DIGESTER

Biodigester technology has been developed for resolving the problems of un-decomposed human waste. The innovation degrades and converts the human waste into usable water and gasses in an eco-friendly manner. The generated gas can be utilized for energy/ cooking and water for irrigation purposes.
The process involves the bacteria which feed upon the faecal matter inside the tank, through anaerobic process which finally degrades the matter and releases methane gas that can be used for cooking, along with the treated water.
The Bio-digester tank can be manufactured and customised as per the requirement.
Salient Features:

No bad smell in toilets from the tanks
Faecal matter in the tank not visible
No infestation of cockroaches & flies
No clogging of digester
Effluent is free from off odour and solid waste
Reduction in pathogens by 99%
Reduction in organic matter by 90%
No maintenance required
No requirement of adding bacteria/ enzyme
No need of removal of solid waste
Use of phenyl is permitted upto 84 ppm
 
Areas of Applications
 Bio-Toilets
Septic tanks

Methane Hydrates-Future of Carbon Fuels

When gas molecules are trapped in a lattice of water molecules at temperatures above 0°C and pressures above one atmosphere, they can form a sta­ble solid. These solids are gas hydrates.
Most gas hydrates are formed from methane (CH4). Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, and is the primary component of the natural gas that we burn for energy. If you hold a hydrate nodule in your hand and light it with a match, it will burn like a lantern wick. There is fire in this ice!
Gas hydrate deposits along ocean margins are estimated to exceed known petroleum reserves by about a factor of three. These hydrate beds leak gas­es into the water, forming cold seeps on the ocean floor. This hydrocarbon seepage is common on continental margins around the world.
Chemosynthetic communities similar to those found at hydrothermal vents form at cold seeps, using hydrocarbons or hydrogen sulfide for carbon and energy. Seep tube worms, mussels, and clams form two-meter-high bushes over kilometer-sized beds. Most seeps are also characterized by high microbial productivity.
Hydrates influence ocean carbon cycling, global climate change, and coastal sediment stability. Localized melt­downs have caused massive continental slope failure, which can present a geological hazard for shelf oil and gas production. Massive hydrate dissolution events, releasing vast amounts of the greenhouse gas methane, are possible causes of some of the abrupt climate chang­es seen in the geologic record.

Trapped in molecular cages resembling ice, at the bottom of the ocean and in terrestrial permafrost all over the world, is a supply of natural gas that, by conservative estimates, is equivalent to twice the amount of energy contained in all other fossil fuels remaining in the earth’s crust. The question has been whether or not this enormous reserve of energy, known as methane hydrates, existed in nature in a form that was worth pursuing, and whether or not the technology existed to harvest it.
n the spring of 2008, a joint Canadian-Japanese expedition in Mallik in the Northwest Territories, Canada, established that methane hydrates could be harvested by using a water pump to depressurize a well already drilled into the reserve. This involved lowering the pressure by pumping out the water that naturally accumulates in the well. Crucially, it required only 10 to 15 percent of the energy represented by the gas that flowed out of the well, making it a much more viable approach than earlier methods used to harvest hydrates, which involved melting them with warm water. Standard oil and gas drilling equipment was used to reenter an old well drilled to a depth of 3,500 feet and then “refurbish” it by casing the entire well with lengths of steel tubing that cemented into place in order to prevent it from collapsing.

Hydrates require both cold temperatures and high pressure to form; eliminating either condition frees the gas from its icy cage, but past attempts to do this by heating the hydrates proved prohibitively difficult. The Canadian-Japanese expedition successfully produced up to 4,000 cubic meters of gas a day during a six-day trial in 2008 using depressurization.



While no one believes that all of the world’s methane hydrates will be recoverable, the scale of global reserves has been described by the U.S. Department of Energy as “staggering.” They occur anywhere that water, methane, low temperatures, and high pressure co-occur–in other words, in the 23 percent of the world’s land area covered by permafrost and at the bottom of the ocean, particularly the continental shelf.

Increased interest in naturally occurring methane hydrates has been driven by the desire for energy independence from the Middle East and Russia and by the need to find energy sources with less of a potential impact on the climate than coal. (Natural gas produces half as much carbon as coal per unit of energy.) This is reflected by an exponential growth in the number of scientific papers published on the subject per year, according to Carolyn Koh, codirector of the Center for Hydrate Research at the Colorado School of Mines. More than a dozen expeditions designed to harvest or sample terrestrial and marine hydrate reserves have been launched since 2001, not only in the United States and Canada, but also in Japan, Korea, China, and India, 

PROBIOTICS

What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live micro-organisms (mainly bacteria but also yeasts) which are thought provide numerous health benefits. In order to provide these health benefits, probiotics need to be able to survive the acidic environment of the stomach. They also need to be eaten in adequate quantities.

What are the proven health benefits of probiotics?
There is a good deal of scientific evidence suggesting that probiotics are effective for gastrointestinal problems including¹:
Diarrhea: specifically antibiotic associated diarrhea including episodes caused by infection with C. difficile (also known as C. Diff Diarrhea) and

• infectious diarrhea.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease: ulcerative colitis, pouchitis, and Crohn’s Disease.
• Food intolerance
• Helicobacter pylori infection.

Research also suggests that probiotics can inhibit tumors, improve immune function and reduce blood cholesterol levels.

Are all probiotics the same in terms of their health benefits?
No, the health benefits are specific to the genus (clan e.g. Lactobacillus), species (family name e.g. acidophilus) and strain (first name e.g. DDS-1). Different strains can have different effects. Therefore if you want to try a probiotic for a specific complaint be sure to select the specific strain that has been proven to help your particular condition.

How can I add probiotics to my diet?
You can add probiotics to your diet either by eating probiotic foods (including beverages) or by taking probiotic supplements. Generally speaking, probiotic supplements usually contain higher numbers of probiotic organisms than probiotic foods. However probiotic foods do have an advantage over probiotic supplements. Many such as probiotic yogurt, milk kefir and vegetable ferments (e.g. fermented cabbage, also known as sauerkraut) are rich in nutrients and/or fiber. Be aware too that many of the processed probiotic foods (e.g. cereals, granola, ice-cream) that have recently appeared on our grocery-store shelves are often high in sugar and additives.

When is the best time to take probiotics?
When you eat a meal, the pH of the stomach rises. The higher the pH, the more likely it is that the probiotic organisms will survive their journey through the stomach. It therefore makes sense to take a probiotic around half an hour after eating.

Where can I purchase probiotics?
You can purchase probiotic foods from grocery and health food stores. As far as probiotic supplements are concerned, these can be purchased from on-line retailers and over-the-counter from pharmacies.

What side-effects should I expect when starting probiotics?
You may experience symptoms of bloating, flatulence (gas), abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea in the first few days of probiotic therapy. These symptoms occur as your digestive system rebalances in favor of the good bacteria. The symptoms should subside after a few days. However, if they persist, then you can always reduce your dosage and ramp back up slowly.

 Are probiotics safe for children?
Yes, both probiotic foods and supplements are safe for children. There is a wide range of probiotic supplements which are suitable for children. . These are available in a variety of forms including chewable tablets, capsules and powder. Probiotics are also suitable for infants. Once weaned, probiotic foods can be introduced into a baby’s diet. Certain probiotic supplements are also appropriate for infants. 
Some probiotic supplements are cheap, whilst others are expensive. How do I know which supplement offers the best value for money?

The key here is consider the number of probiotic organisms contained in the product. Some probiotic supplements contain very few beneficial organisms, whilst others contain much higher quantities. Information regarding the number of bacteria contained in a product is measured in colony forming units (CFUs) and is listed on the label of all probiotic supplements. Take a look beside “colony-forming units” or “CFUs” on the product label and you will find out how many viable probiotic organisms are contained in each product serving. You can then use this information compare the total number of colony-forming units contained in various products. Click here for our easy-to-use cost comparison tool.
Do all probiotic supplements need to be refrigerated?.
The vast majority of probiotic supplements require refrigeration. However, there are some products, which can be stored at room temperature. These include Align Probiotic, Dr Ohhira’s Probiotics (also known as OMX Probiotics), Florastor and Probiotic Advantage.
I am taking oral antibiotics. Should I take probiotics too?
A side effect of oral antibiotic therapy is that it can adversely affect your digestive flora, wiping out your colonies of good bacteria. As a result one of the most common complaints regarding oral antibiotic therapy is diarrhea. Taking a probiotic supplement can help replenish your good flora, relieving the gastric upset. Remember to take your probiotic supplement at least two hours after your antibiotic dose. This way, the antibiotics do not destroy the good bacteria in the supplement. Continue taking your probiotic supplement for at least two weeks after you have finished your course of antibiotics.

Do all probiotic supplements contain milk?
Many probiotic supplements are grown on milk-based mediums and thus will contain traces of milk. Those containing bacteria belonging to the Lactobacillus clan (genus) are most likely to contain milk as these bacteria thrive best in a dairy medium and thus are usually grown on milk. There are however some probiotic supplements that are dairy free. 

Do all probiotic foods contain milk?
No,only certain probiotic foods contain milk. These include:

• Probiotic yogurt
• Milk kefir
• Buttermilk
• Crème fraiche
• Acidophilus milk
• Fermented dairy milks such as Yakult
• Aged cheeses (for example Gouda, Emmental, Edam and Cheddar)

There are many probiotic foods, which are free of milk products. These include vegetable ferments such as fermented cabbage and Korean kimchi as well as bean ferments including Indonesian Tempeh and miso.

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e-Kranti’

In order to upscale and ramp up eGovernance initiatives across the country, National eGovernance Plan 2.0 titled “e-Kranti” is formulated by DeitY with a focus on transforming eGovernance for transforming Governance.

The rationale behind the formulation of “e-Kranti” are

• Enlarging the existing portfolio of Mission Mode Projects by adding new MMPs from uncovered domains like social sector schemes, legislature, women & child development, Financial Inclusion etc,
• Leveraging emerging technologies like cloud and mobile,
• Providing integrated services,
• Adopting eGov standards to ensure interoperability amongst applications &
• Harmonizing various core ICT infrastructure components namely SWAN, NKN, NOFN and Meghraj (GI Cloud) for optimum, efficient and on-demand provision of infrastructure.

The fundamental building blocks of e-Kranti are:

• Core principles: ‘Transformation and not Translation’, ‘Integrated Services and not Individual Services’, ‘GPR to be mandatory in every MMP’, ‘Infrastructure on Demand’, ‘Cloud by Default’, ‘Mobile First’, ‘Fast Tracking Approvals’ and ‘Mandating Standards and Protocols’.
• Institutions & instruments: establishing a ‘National e-Governance Academy’, creating an ‘e-Governance Knowledge Portal’, creating an ‘e-Governance Impact Index’ and ‘effective use of social media’.
• Implementation & delivery models: ‘transforming the delivery channels’, ‘awareness and communication’, ‘introducing new business models’ and ‘emphasis on undertaking exports of eGov solutions / applications and international cooperation’.

National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJA)

National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJA) is a proposed body responsible for the appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary in India. The Commission is proposed to be established by amending the Constitution of India through the ninety-ninth constitution amendment vide the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty First Amendment Bill) 2014 passed by the Lok Sabha on 13 August 2014 and by the Rajya Sabha on 14 August 2014. The Bill, if ratified by half of the state legislatures in India and assented by the President of India, will replace the collegium system for the appointment of judges as mandated in the existing pre-amended constitution by a new system. Along with the Constitution Amendment Bill, the National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, was also passed by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to regulate the functions of the National Judicial Appointments Commission.

Constitution of the National Judicial Appointments Commission

A new article, Article 124A, (which provides for the composition of the NJAC) will be inserted into the Constitution if the amendment is ratified.

Composition

As per the amended provisions of the constitution, the Commission will consist of the following persons:

• Chief Justice of India (Chairperson, ex officio)
• Two other senior judges of the Supreme Court next to the Chief Justice of India - ex officio
• The Union Minister of Law and Justice, ex-officio
• Two eminent persons (to be nominated by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister of India and the Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha or where there is no such Leader of Opposition, then, the Leader of single largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha), provided that of the two eminent persons, one person would be from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or OBC or minority communities or a woman. The eminent persons shall be nominated for a period of three years and shall not be eligible for re-nomination.

Functions of the Commission

As per the amended constitution, the functions of the Commission include the following:

• Recommending persons for appointment as Chief Justice of India, Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of High Courts and other Judges of High Courts.
• Recommending transfer of Chief Justices and other Judges of High Courts from one High Court to any other High Court.
• Ensuring that the persons recommended are of ability and integrity.

Procedures to be followed by the Commission

The National Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, 2014, has laid down the following procedures for the selection of the Judges of the higher judiciary.

Procedure for Selection of Supreme Court judges

Chief Justice of India

The Commission shall recommend the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court for appointment as Chief Justice of India. This is provided he/she is considered fit to hold the office.

Supreme Court Judges

The Commission shall recommend names of persons on the basis of their ability, merit and other criteria specified in the regulations.

The Commission shall not recommend a person for appointment if any two of its members do not agree to such recommendation.

Procedure for Selection of High Courts judges

Chief Justices of High Courts

The Commission shall recommend a Judge of a High Court to be the Chief Justice of a High Court on the basis of seniority across High Court judges. The ability, merit and other criteria of suitability as specified in the regulations would also be considered.

Appointment of other High Court Judges

The Commission shall seek nominations from Chief Justice of the concerned High Court for appointments of High Court Judges and then forward such names to the Chief Justice of the concerned High Courts for his/her views. In both cases, the Chief Justice of the High Court shall consult two senior most judges of that High Court and any other judges and advocates as specified in the regulations. The Commission shall elicit the views of the Governor and Chief Minister of the state before making recommendations. The Commission shall not recommend a person for appointment if any two members of the Commission do not agree to such recommendation.

1. Jump up

Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)

The World Bank (WB) has launched the GIF to specifically cater to the infrastructure needs of the emerging economies and developing countries. The GIF will channel money towards bankable infrastructure project in such countries. GIF also places importance on sustainable development. Its key focus will be on climate friendly infrastructureinvestments and projects that will boost trade.

The GIF will collaborate with other international and multilateral agencies which provide loans and financial assistance to countries across the globe. It will also help these agencies with its expertise in financing, supervising and implementing projects. Another areas where GIF could provide assistance it ensuring that all regulatory, environmental and social safeguards are met with while investing in large scale infrastructure projects. GIF will also work with private entities like asset management companies, private equity firms, pensions and insurance funds and commercial banks to tap into multiple sources of funding.

CYCLONE NILOFAR

• A deep depression that has formed over the Arabian Sea is expected to turn into a tropical cyclone Nilofar. Nilofar has the potential to strengthen to the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane before its Arabian Peninsula landfall.
• In India, the North Gujarat coast is expected to bear the brunt of Nilofar. It is expected to land in Gujarat on October 31 with a wind speed of over 120 kmph
• District authorities in the coastal areas of Gujarat have been warned to be prepared for heavy rains and storm. The authorities are also monitoring the situation and the control rooms are operational. The authorities of the Kandla Port Trust, State Maritime Board and the Forest Department, besides local leaders in villages have been put on high alert.
• According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the coastal districts of Gujarat will isolated very heavy rainfall from October 30 which will intensify further into a severe cyclone storm within 24 hours
• Alerts will be issued to concerned local authorities on status of the storm every three hours
• Other than India, Nilofar is also expected to hit eastern Yemen or Oman with damaging winds, flooding rain and dangerously rough seas. It is also expected to bring potentially heavy rainfall to parts ofPakistan, especially Karachi.
• It is to be noted that tropical cyclones are unusual in this part of the world. Generally, only one or two tropical cyclones form every year in Arabian Sea.

About Naming of cyclones

In the West, hurricanes and tropical cyclones have been given their own names since 1953. This was done in accordance with a convention by Miami’s NationalHurricane Centre and is maintained and updated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). WMO is an agenct of the UN and based out of Geneva.

However, South Asia and the Middle East did not adhere to this practice of naming storms till much later. In an effort to name the cyclones without offending any of the countries in the region, all the countries came together in 2004 to evolve a mechanism to name the tropical cyclones. According to the agreed upon system, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Sri Lanka and Thailand meet every year and each country submits its list of names. Each country gets a turn to name the storm in alphabetical order. Till now, the countries have decided on 64 names. Hudhud was a suggestion of Oman, while Nilofar was Pakistan’s suggestion.

IRNSS 1C

IRNSS 1C, the next satellite in India’s IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System) series, was launched successfully on October 16 by ISRO. IRNSS 1C was launched on a PSLV C26 from Sriharikota. The satellite is similar to, and follows the IRNSS 1A and 1B which were launched in April 2013 and July 2014 respectively.

Details of launch

The rocket lifted off at 1.32 am. The satellite weighed 1, 425.4 kg and was successfully placed into a sub geosynchronous transfer orbit just 20 minutes after the launch. This was the 7th time that ISRO used an XL version of the PSLV rocket for its mission. The life of the satellite is estimated at 10 years.

IRNSS series

IRNSS is a navigation system that will cover India, and also extend 1,500 kms from its boundaries. It will provide accurate position information to users in India and will also be used for terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, fleet management and for vehicle tracking. Basically it will provide two kinds of services, Standard Positioning Services, which is available to all users, and an encrypted service that is provided only to authorized users. However, to be able to use the IRNSS satellites, ISRO will have to launch at least four of the seven planned IRNSS satellites. The complete IRNSS system will include three satellites in geostationary orbit and four satellites in geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 36,000 km above the Earth. The deployment of all the satellites was expected to be completed by 2015 at a cost of Rs. 1,420 cr.

IRNSS is similar to other satellite navigation service providers like USA’s GPS (Global Positioning System), Russia’s Glonass, Europe’s Galileo, Japan’s Quasi Zenith and China’s Beidou.

Applications of IRNSS

• Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation
• Disaster Management
• Vehicle tracking and fleet management
• Integration with mobile phones
• Precise Timing
• Mapping and Geodetic data capture
• Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers
• Visual and voice navigation for drivers

GSLV MK III

About Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mark-III)

• ISRO has developed the geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-Mark I-III) with indigenous cryogenic engine
• The main function of GSLV Mark-III is for Mid-Heavy Lift Launch System.
• Objective: To launch heavy satellites weighing more than two tonnes into geostationary orbit 36,000 km above Earth.
• It will allow India to become less dependent on foreign rockets for heavy lifting.
• GSLV Mark-III comprises of three stage vehicle with a first stage consisting of two identical large solid boosters strapped onto the second liquid stage. The third stage is a cryogenic stage.

ISRO’s flight development plans

• First development flight (GSLV MK III D1) with an operational cryogenic stage is planned in between 2016 to 2017.
• Second development flight (GSLV Mk-III D2) is planned after one year of GSLV Mk-III D1 flight in 2017 to 2018.
• Successful flight development will help in India’s manned mission to space.
• The 630-tonne GSLV-MK III will carry a crew module of 3.65-tonne. ISRO plans to send astronauts into space eventually.

PRADHAN MANTRI JAN-DHAN YOJANA (PMJDY)

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana(Hindi: प्रधानमंत्री जन धन योजना, English: Prime Minister's People Funding Scheme) is an ambitious scheme for comprehensive financial inclusion launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 28 August 2014 He had announced this scheme on his first Independence Day speech on 15 August 2014.

Run by Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, on the inauguration day, 1.5 Crore (15 million) bank accounts were opened under this scheme. By September 2014, 3.02 crore accounts were opened, with around 1500 crore (US$240 million) were deposited under the scheme, which also has an option for opening new bank accounts with zero balance.

SBI, India's largest bank had opened 11,300 camps for Jan Dhan Yojana over 30 lakhs accounts were opened so far, which include 21.16 lakh accounts in rural areas and 8.8 lakh accounts in urban areas. On the contrast, even taking together all the major private sector banks, have opened just 5.8 lakh accounts.

Purpose

In a run up to the formal launch of this scheme, the Prime Minister personally mailed to CEOs of all PSU banks to gear up for the gigantic task of enrolling over 7.0 crore (75 million) households and to open their accounts. In this email he categorically declared that a bank account for each household was a "national priority".

The scheme has been started with a target to provide 'universal access to banking facilities' starting with "Basic Banking Accounts" with overdraft facility of Rs.5000 after six months and RuPay Debit card with inbuilt accident insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh and RuPay Kisan Card. In next phase, micro insurance & pension etc. will also be added.^[1]

Under the scheme:

1. Account holders will be provided zero-balance bank account with RuPay debit card, in addition to accidental insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh.

2. Those who open accounts by January 20, 2015 over and above the 1 lakh ₹ accident, they will be given life insurance cover of Rs 30,000.

3. After Six months of opening of the bank account, holders can avail 5,000 ₹ loan from the bank.

4. With the introduction of new technology introduced by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a person can transfer funds, check balance through a normal phone which was earlier limited only to smart phones so far.

5. Mobile banking for the poor would be available through National Unified USSD Platform (NUUP) for which all banks and mobile companies have come together

Performance

Due to the preparations done in the run-up, as mentioned above, on the inauguration day, 1.5 Crore (15 million) bank accounts were opened.The Prime Minister said on this occasion- "Let us celebrate today as the day of financial freedom." By September 2014, 3.02 crore accounts were opened under the scheme, amongst Public sector banks, SBI had opened 30 lakh accounts, followed by Punjab National Bank with 20.24 lakh accounts, Canara Bank 16.21 lakh accounts, Central Bank of India 15.98 lakh accounts and Bank of Baroda with 14.22 lakh accounts.  It was reported that total of 7 Crore (70 million) bank accounts have been opened with deposits totaling more than 5000 crore Rupees (approx 1 billion USD) as of November 6, 2014. 

Q.  What is RuPay Debit Card?

Ans. Rupay Debit Card is an indigenous domestic debit card introduced by National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI). This card is accepted at all ATMs (for cash withdrawal) and at most of the PoS machines (for making cas

Q.  What is special advantage of RuPay Debit Card?

Ans. It provides accidental insurance cover upto Rs.1.00 lac without any charge to the customer.hless payment for purchases) in the country.

Q. How to keep your RuPay Card safe?

Ans. Beneficiary of RuPay Card is required to keep the Card in safe custody. PIN should be changed at frequent intervals and should never be shared with anyone. While using the card at ATM Machine or PoS, PIN should be entered in machine very secretly so that nobody could even guess about the PIN Number. As far as possible, Card should be used at authorized places / centres only. Besides, PIN number should never be written on the Card.Q. 11. Whether illiterate customers can be issued RuPay Card?

Ans. Yes. However, Branch Manager will have to advise all the related risks to the illiterate account-holder at the time of issuance of RuPay Card.

MAKE IN INDIA

Seeking to make the country a global manufacturing hub, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ambitious 'Make in India' campaign in the presence of global and domestic CEOs .
The 'Make in India' campaign is aimed at making India a manufacturing hub, and the government is pulling out all the stops for ensuring a smooth sailing for investors, by setting up a dedicated cell to answer queries of business entities within 72 hours. It will also closely monitor all regulatory processes to make them simple and reduce the burden of compliance.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his flagship 'Make in India' campaign to put the country prominently on the global manufacturing map and, in turn, facilitate the inflow of new technology and capital, while creating millions of jobs.
The ambitious scheme, that also puts in place the logistics and systems to address, in a timely manner, queries of potential investors, was unveiled along with a logo, a portal and brochures on 25 identified growth sectors before bigshots from the corporate world from India and abroad at the Vigyan Bhavan conference complex in the national capital.
The event was watched live in several cities in the country and overseas via video conferencing.
Laying out the red carpet before investors,

Objective

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches Make in India

The major objective behind this initiative is to focus upon the heavy industries and public enterprises while generating employment in India.
The highlights and purpose of Come, Make in India are-

• The campaign, 'Make in India' is aimed at making India a manufacturing hub and economic transformation in India while eliminating the unnecessary laws and regulations, making bureaucratic processes easier and shorter, and make government more transparent, responsive and accountable.

• The government emphasized upon the framework which include the time-bound project clearances through a single online portal which will be further aided by the eight-members team dedicated to answering investor queries within 48 hours and addressing key issues including labor laws, skill development and infrastructure.

• This campaign basically gives hope to the unemployed to find a decent job if not big jobs as manufacturing leads to creation of lot of service sector activity. But India will have to make sure to focus on quality education rather than just skill development. It is also hoped that this is a precursor to change some labor laws that would make investing in manufacturing more attractive to Indians as well as other nations.

Investment and development in these sectors is important for improvement of manufacturing sector in India.

Five challenges that the 'Make in India' could face.

. Creating healthy business environment will be possible only when the administrative machinery is efficient. India has been very stringent when it comes to procedural and regulatory clearances. A business-friendly environment will only be created if India can signal easier approval of projects and set up hasstle-free clearance mechanism.

2. India should also be ready to tackle elements that adversely affect competitiveness of manufacturing. To make the country a manufacturing hub the unfavorable factors must be removed. India should also be ready to give tax concessions to companies who come and set up unit in the country.

3. India's small and medium-sized industries can play a big role in making the country take the next big leap in manufacturing. India should be more focused towards novelty and innovation for these sectors. The government has to chart out plans to give special sops and privileges to these sectors.

4.India's make in India campaign will be constantly compared with China's 'Made in China' campaign. The dragon launched the campaign at the same day as India seeking to retain its manufacturing prowess. India should constantly keep up its strength so as to outpace China's supremacy in the manufacturing sector.

5. India must also encourage high-tech imports, research and development (R&D) to upgrade 'Make in India' give edge-to-edge competition to the Chinese counterpart's campaign. To do so, India has to be better prepared and motivated to do world class R&D. The government must ensure that it provides platform for such research and development.

Sectors included

Following sectors have been included by the Government in this campaign-
Automobiles,Automobile Components,Aviation,Biotechnology,Chemical,Construction,Defence Manufacturing,Electrical Machinery,Electronic Systems,Food Processing,IT and BPM,Leather,Media and Entertainment,MiningOil and Gas,Pharmaceuticals,Ports,Railways,Renewable Energy ,Roads and Highways,Textile Garments,Thermal Power,Tourism and HospitalityWellness

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) is a rural development programme launched by the Central government in India in the financial year 2009–10 for the development of villages having a higher ratio (over 50%) of people belonging to the scheduled castes through convergence of central and state schemes and allocating financial funding on a per village basis
The plan is considered ambitious as it aimed to bring a number of development programs to the villages. Some of these programs are Bharat Nirman, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) for rural roads, water supply, housing, electrification and other big-ticket schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, ICDS, sanitation. This program would be applicable to around 44,000 villages which had a scheduled castes population above 50% and so qualified for PMAGY.

Political background

This Program was brought by the UPA coalition government supported by the left parties. The project was aimed at getting a larger political role in scheduled caste (dalit) politics and was thought of strengthening the votebank of UPA leaders in regions having a high dalit population. The program was considered beneficial by the Congress party as the scheme gave a direct role to Centre to develop dalits at the grassroots. Congress hoped to improve its election results in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and Haryana which will have a large number of beneficiary villages.

The plan

The Plan aims to build an "Adarsh Gram" (Model village} which has adequate physical and institutional infrastructure, in which minimum needs of all sections of the society are fully met. The village which is progressive and dynamic and its residents live in harmony. All the facilities necessary for dignified living should be available and the residents are enabled to utilise their potential to the fullest.



How is funding for the programme done?
 
In the launching phase the Centre had allocated a sum of 555.4 million (US$9.0 million) to Assam, Bihar and Rajasthan. As a pilot project the program was implemented in 1,000 villages in Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu with an allocation of 1 billion (US$16 million) with each village to get 1 million (US$16,000) per year.
In September 2011 the annual funding on the project was raised to 2 million (US$32,000) per village and 1.94 billion (US$31 million) had been spent in these villages till then. In the 12 Five Year Plan the government plans to cover 44,000 villages during with an allocation of 5 million (US$81,000) to each villages.

Implementation

The aim of the scheme is to integrated development of the selected villages so that they have all required physical and social infrastructure for an all round socio-economic development. Another objectives of the plan is elimination of disparity between SCs and other communities in terms of common socio-economic indicators such as literacy rate, completion rate of elementary education, infant mortality rate/maternal mortality rate and ownership of productive assets.To ensure the implementation two committees an advisory committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister and a steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary have been formed.

EBOLA

The Ebola virus has claimed more than 4,800 lives during the current epidemic in West Africa, the largest outbreak since the virus was discovered nearly 40 years ago.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 13,000 people have been infected

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a serious infectious illness which often proves fatal.The virus, which is thought to have originated in fruit bats, was first detected in 1976 in an outbreak near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
How is the disease caught and spread?
 People are infected when they have direct contact through broken skin, or the mouth and nose, with the blood, vomit, faeces or bodily fluids of someone with Ebola.
The virus can be present in urine and semen too.Infection may also occur through direct contact with contaminated bedding, clothing and surfaces - but only through broken skin.
It is still unclear how long the virus exists on surfaces but there is some evidence to suggest it can last up to six days. Bleach and



chlorine can kill Ebola.

The disease is not airborne, like flu. Very close direct contact with an infected person is required for the virus to be passed to another person.

It can take up anything from two to 21 days for humans with the virus to show symptoms.
People are not infectious until the symptoms develop.
People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus - in some cases, up to seven weeks after they recover.
World Health Organization guidance on Ebola

What are the symptoms?

The Ebola virus causes a range of painful and debilitating symptoms

The early symptoms are a sudden fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache and sore throat.
This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and bleeding - both internal and external - which can be seen in the gums, eyes, nose and in the stools.
Patients tend to die from dehydration and multiple organ failure.

How is it treated?

Ebola vaccines are being tested on humans in trials in the US and the UK

There is no proven cure for Ebola.
Severely ill patients need to be rehydrated quickly using intravenous fluids. They should be isolated from other people and given intensive care by medical experts.
Potential vaccines are being tested. If the trials are successful they would be used to protect healthcare workers first.
Experimental drugs such as ZMapp have also been used, but their effectiveness has not been proved.
Blood products from survivors are also being tried as a potential therapy.
The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says this outbreak comes from the deadliest and most aggressive strain of the virus.
It is not known which factors allow some people to recover while most succumb but experts say early treatment is key.
Experimental treatments
Ethics: Resolving the Ebola dilemma
I caught Ebola in Guinea and survived

Who is at risk?

Doctors wearing protective equipment outside an Ebola treatment unit in Nigeria

Anyone in close contact with Ebola patients is at risk.
Healthcare workers are using protective clothing such as full-body suits and goggles, but hundreds have still died.
Family members of patients are also at risk. In West African funerals, it is traditional for mourners to have direct contact with the body of the dead person, washing and embracing them before burial.
But the Ebola virus is still dangerous and present in the body after death. Prompt and safe burials are now being urged.
MSF has been trying to make people aware of how their treatment of dead relatives might pose a risk to themselves. However, it is a very difficult message to get across.

What precautions can be taken?

Washing hands and improving hygiene is one of the best ways to fight the virus

Avoid contact with Ebola patients and their bodily fluids, the WHO advises. Do not touch anything - such as shared towels - which could have become contaminated in a public place.
Carers should wear gloves and protective equipment, such as masks, and wash their hands regularly.
The WHO also warns against consuming raw bushmeat and any contact with infected bats or monkeys and apes. Fruit bats in particular are considered a delicacy in the area of Guinea where the outbreak started.
In March, Liberia's health minister advised people to stop having sex, in addition to existing advice not to shake hands or kiss. The WHO says men can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to seven weeks after recovering from Ebola.
How not to catch Ebola
Profile: Dr Sheik Umar Khan
Saving lives on the Ebola front line
No handshakes, no sex

Where is Ebola a problem?

A woman suspected of having Ebola virus cries outside a hospital in Sierra Leone.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in West Africa are the countries worst affected by this outbreak, which was identified as Ebola in March 2014.
It started in Guinea, which has never before been affected, and quickly spread to urban areas.
From Nzerekore, a remote area of south-eastern Guinea, the virus spread to the capital, Conakry, and neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Nigeria and Senegal have confirmed a small number of cases, and the US has had three confirmed cases.
In October, a nurse in Spain became the first person to contract the virus outside of West Africa.
Ebola deaths since 1976

Why is this outbreak particularly bad?

Health workers have been brought into affected countries to help treat patients with Ebola

The virus has taken hold in major urban areas this time, allowing it to spread more easily.
The countries most severely affected by the disease have weak health systems. They are short of qualified doctors and nurses, and lack the appropriate equipment and resources to combat the virus.
As a result, this is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus was discovered.
There have been more cases and deaths in this one than all other outbreaks combined.