Current Affairs [March 2010]

Govt launched National Mission for Empowerment of Women aimed at inter-sectoral convergence of all pro- women programmes.

Constitution 108th Amendment Bill 2008 commonly known as women’s reservation bill was passed by Rajya Sabha by 186 in favour 1 against 39 abstained (Current strength of Rajya Sabha is 233). The bill seeks to reserve a third of the seats on the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for 15 years on a rotational basis. It was first introduced in 1996. Sharad Joshi, an independent MP is the only MP which cast vote against the bill. In the present Lok Sabha, there are 59 women MPs out of 543 MPs. Total MLAs in 29 state assemblies in India are 4093.

Yamunanagar (Haryana) and Vishakhapatnam (AP) are choosen for a pilot project on saving household energy by replacing incandescent lamps with CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps).

Earth Hour 2010 has been celebrated on 27 March organized by World Wide Fund for Nature, India. Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru are official Earth Hour Cities among 15 Indian cities.

Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia visit India in March 2010.
Supreme Court allowed religion based 4 % reservations in Govt jobs & educational institutes in Andhra Pradesh. It extended the benefit to 14 OBC in muslims in the state. The matter is further referred to Constitutional bench of Supreme Court.

’Bold Kurushetra’ a joint armour exercise between India and Singapore was held at Jhansi(UP).

Prohibition of unfair practices in technical, medical educational institutions & universities Bill is passed by Govt. It provided for 3 year imprisonment and a fine of upto Rs 50 lakh for higher education providers guilty of misleading students.

Govt approved Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry & Operation) Bill 2010. It provides foreign universities to set up campuses in India.

Govt amends Anti Hijacking Act 1982. It now provides for death sentence to the hijackers.
Govt starts the scheme for creation of the National Population Register (NPR) of Indian residents. The project will cover an estimated 1.2 billion people and total cost of the project will be Rs. 3539.24 crore.

India became 1st country in the world to have a ‘manoeuvrable’ supersonic cruise missile, when it successfully test fired 290 km range Brahmos missile.

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu visit India in March 2010.

Learn the word

Here are the words that praise but with the difference,

COMEDY : high or glowing praiseATION mean
a formal Expression of praise

ENCOMIUM : implies enthusiasm and warmth in
praising a person or thing;

EULOGY applies to a prepared speech or
writing extolling the virtues and
services of a person;

PANEGYRIC suggests an elaborate often poetic
compliment;

TRIBUTE implies deeply felt praise conveyed
either through words or through a
significant act;

CITATION applies to the formal praise
accompanying the mention of a person
in a military dispatch or in awarding an
honorary degree