March Final Issue.pmd - CHANGE 'Gateway to All Competitive Exams'

MARCH 2012 Get Previous Issues Free of Cost on Our Website: www.changetabloid.com
BOOKS | AUTHORS
Bhutan Queen launched Diplomat
Pavan K Varma’s First Novel
Writer/diplomat Pavan K. Varma’s new book, When Loss
is Gain, set in contemporary India and in the Himalayan
kingdom of Bhutan, was launched in the New Delhi by
Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the Queen Mother of
Bhutan in January 2012. After the launch, passages from
the book were read by columnist Suhel Seth and theatre
personality Lushin Dubey. The book also marked the
launch of Rupa Publications’ new premium hardcover
imprint, Rain Tree.
ABOUT THE BOOK
When Loss Is Gain, is a powerful story dealing with life
and death, loss and gain, happiness and fulfilment, the
physical and the spiritual, the rational and the
inexplicable. The book stresses on perennial dialogue
between dukkha or sorrow, the key word in Buddhism,
and ananda or joy, which animates most of Hindu
philosophy. It is set in contemporary India and in the
Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.
OTHER BOOKS
Varma’s other books include- Ghalib: The Man, The
Times, Krishna: The Playful Divine,The Great Indian
Middle Class. He has also translated into English the
poetry of Gulzar, Kaifi Azmi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
TiE Chennai Launched a book-
Dream to Destiny to Motivate
Entrepreneurs
TiE Chennai (The Indus Entrepreneurs) a non-profit
organisation, dedicated to promote entrepreneurship in
January 2012 launched a book Dream to destiny — the
driving spirit of Chennai’s entrepreneurs in January
2012 in Chennai. The book showcased 35 entrepreneurs
of Chennai such as Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala-Rural
Technology Business Incubator, IIT Madras, Saundarya
Rajesh-Avatar, Ranjini Manian-Global Adjustments,
Raghupathy BG-BGR Energy Systems, etc. The foreword
of the book is written by Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman &
Managing Director, TVS Capital Funds Ltd.
The coffee table book was launched by G. Srinivasan,
Chairman and Managing Director of United India
Insurance. The first copy of the book was presented to
V. T. Bharadwaj, Managing Director, Sequoia Capital.
The success stories of these entrepreneurs are an
inspiration. The stories published in here will motivate
entrepreneurs and professionals to embrace a positive
attitude and entrepreneurial mindset to build a better
nation.
TiE Chennai is a global non-profit organization that
helps budding entrepreneurs by enabling advice,
guidance and assistance from successful and
experienced entrepreneurs and professionals. Founded
in Silicon Valley in 1992 by successful entrepreneurs
and professionals with roots in the Indus region, TiE
has 57 Chapters across 14 countries, spread across 5
continents. The TiE ecosystem comprises 13000
members and over 2500 charter members, who are top
entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, lawyers and
management professionals who have excelled in their
chosen field.
DISCOVERY|INVENTION
World’s First Hybrid Sharks
Found in Australia
Researchers discovered world’s first hybrid sharks in
Australian waters. It suggests that the species is adapting
to climate change for survival. The hybrid sharks were
found along a 2000 km stretch from Queensland to New
South Wales. The hybrid sharks are the result of crossbreeding
between the common black-tip shark and
Australian black-tip shark. It was unusual for sharks to
breed in such a manner.
New Maze Gene called Meg1
Discovered by the UK Scientists
Lost World of Unknown Species
Found
British scientists discovered a lost world of unknown
species 8000 feet deep on sea floor off the coast of
Antarctica. The lost world includes crabs, an octopus,
starfish and colonies of marine life. These species were
in fact found on top of undersea volcanoes called
hydrothermal vents. The temperature in this region rises
to 380 degree Celsius. There is complete absence of light
in this region.
The creatures break down highly toxic chemicals found
in the smoke to get energy. The crab which is found
here is known as yeti crab. It is around 16 centimeter
long. It has plenty of hair on its chest unlike other crabs.
Besides these animals, the scientists also discovered a
seven-armed starfish, clusters of snails, sea anemones
and barnacles.
Scientists developed a New
Wireless Device to Detect the
Presence of Termites
Scientists developed a new wireless device to detect
the presence of termites by hearing them chew through
timber. Once the new device detects the presence of
termites, it will immediately send an SMS or email to a
pest control firm. This device is made of a tiny sensor,
smaller than a fingernail. The tiny sensor is attached to
a piece of wood and kept around the house to detect
termite stations.
PLAN | PROGRAMME
Katra-Quazigund Railway Line
Project in Jammu and Kashmir was
Approved
The Union government of India on 4 January 2012
approved an additional fund of 19 thousand crore rupees
for completion of Katra - Quazigund Railway line project
in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was taken by the
Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure in New Delhi. The
railway line is to be completed by 2017.
REPORT | SURVEY
Dharmadhikari Panel Submits
Report on Air India Merger to Govt
Four-member committee on integration of thousands of
employees after the merger of two State-owned carriers
— Air India and Indian Airlines submitted his report to
the Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh on 31 January
2012. The committee was headed by former Supreme
Court judge Justice D. M. Dharmadhikari.
The Committee tried to bring the wage structure of the
merged organisation strictly under legal parameters, so
that it conformed with the guidelines of the Department
of Public Enterprises, which caters to other public sector
undertakings. The panel prepared the report after
interacting with all stakeholders, including various
unions and associations of both former companies and
their management.
THE REPORT
The report presented covered all the views of the pilots,
cabin crew and engineers on integration of about 29000
employees of Indian Airlines and Air India which merged
following the Government of India’s approval on the
merger received on 1 May 2007. The Dharmadhikari
Committee made several recommendations on critical
issues such as career progression, integration across
various cadres, rationalisation of their pay scale,
allowances and incentives and overall restructuring of
the entire staff of the erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air
India.
ISSUES THAT ROSE AFTER THE MERGER
As on 31 December 2011, the total staff strength of Air
India, which was merged in March 2007, stood at 28500.
Cash-strapped Air India which has 14 unions
representing all sections of its employees suffered three
strikes since its merger, including two by its pilots. The
employees ever since the merger in 2007 have
been agitating over disparities in their pay scales,
promotional avenues and areas of responsibilities. The
thorny issues rose during these agitations included pay
parity and career progression between the staffers of
the two erstwhile carriers. Delayed payments of salaries
and allowances were also critical issues which created
unrest among the employees.
India was Ranked Sixth most
Innovative Country in GE’s Second
Annual Global Innovation
Barometer
India was ranked the sixth most innovative country in
the world in multinational conglomerate GE’s second
Annual Global Innovation Barometer published on 18
January 2012. The report is based on a survey of 2800
senior business executives in 22 countries including
Algeria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France,
Germany, India, Israel, Japan. US topped the list.
The survey identified the top enablers for innovation in
the country as talent (creative talent and people with
technical expertise), financial support from public
authorities and long-term support from investors.
When asked to identify the three countries they consider
innovation champions, 65 per cent of the global
respondents identified the US, followed by Germany (48
per cent), Japan (45 per cent), China (38 per cent), Korea
(13 per cent) and India (12 per cent).
Only 12 per cent of the global respondents identified
India as one of the top three innovation champions,
compared to 23 per cent of Indian respondents.
As per the survey, in terms of sectors, energy, followed
by healthcare, telecommunication and FMCG, were the
areas with the most innovation-driven growth potential.
The report indicated a balanced’ perception of the
environment for innovation in the country. The
respondents were observed to be more satisfied with
private investment and government support for
innovation.
However, intellectual property protection and research
and development partnerships with academic
universities were cited as the key challenges to creating
an innovation-friendly environment in the country.
INNOVATION IN DIFFERENT SECTORS
36 per cent of the Indian respondents in the survey
expected large business to drive most of the innovation
over the next decade compared to 27 per cent in an earlier
survey. 35 per cent of the Indian respondents believed
small and medium enterprises would be the most
innovative. A resounding 83 per cent of the Indian
respondents believed that innovation must meet local
market requirements.
WHAT INDIA THINKS
India respondents to the survey shared their global peers’
view that great innovation would address human needs
- rather than reaping profits. However only 78 per cent
of them mentioned that great innovation brings value to
society as a whole, compared to 84 per cent globally.
Furthermore, only 17 per cent of the Indian respondents
agreed that a combination of players partnering together
would drive innovation in the next decade, against the
global average of 38 per cent.
Coca Cola Placed at No.1 in
Interbrand’s List of the Top 100
Global Brands in 2011
US beverage maker Coca Cola retained its top position
in Interbrand’s list of the top 100 global brands in 2011.
Coca Cola was followed by another US based company,
IBM. Software Company Microsoft was placed third.
The company held on to the position it stood at in the
previous year despite a three per cent drop in brand
value. The top ten spots were held by US based
companies, including Google, GE, McDonald’s and Intel
at 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th places, respectively. Disney and
HP ended 9th and 10th, respectively, on the list.
The only change in the list of the top brands occurred at
the 8th position, which saw tech giant and makers of
popular iPad and iPhone devices, Apple, replace German
automobile manufacturer BMW. The highest ranked
company from outside US was Japanese Toyota, which
stayed unchanged at number 11.
A new gene, called Meg-1 was discovered in maize plants
by the UK scientists on 16 January 2012. The gene could
The companies were assessed by Interbrand on the basis
increase the crop yields by regulating the transfer of
of three key aspects- financial strength, role of the brand
nutrients from the plant to the seed. The Scientists from
in the purchase decision process and the strength of
the University of Warwick and Oxford University
the brand, or the ability of the brand to secure the delivery
identified the gene.
of expected future earnings.
CHANGE THE ONLY CONSTANT THING : We Bring You More Informative and Detailed Coverage Every Month 8