What is Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication.

The case for net neutrality has slowly but firmly attained critical mass and entered the mainstream consciousness supported by politicians and celebrities like Digvijay Singh, Shahrukh Khan and Farhan Akhtar tweeting their support for a free internet. The debate caught public imagination especially after an AIB video explaining net neutrality went viral on the web to the extent that Facebook had to take it off after it’s algos decided the video was spam. But the video was restored shortly, say reports.

Continue reading..

Second India Water Forum 2013

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Second India Water Forum 2013 on October 28, 2013 at a function at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.  Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India’s agriculture is a big demand centre for water. Water management in this sector is therefore crucial for overall sustainability of our water resource. 

Continue reading..

India and China signed 9 MoUs

India and China signed 9 MoUs/agreements including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to maintain peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control, on 23 October 2013 during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to China.

Continue reading..

Bangalore topped the list of best Indian business destinations

India's silicon city, Bengaluru has been ranked as the country's top business destination, followed by Chennai, Mumbai and Pune in terms of human capital, infrastructure, city culture and basic quality of living, says a survey conducted by Global Initiative for Restructuring Environment and Management (GIREM) and real estate consultancy firm DTZ.

Continue reading..

Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration 2013

Eminent agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan will be conferred the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2013. The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration is a prestigious award accorded by the Indian National Congress in remembrance of , Indira Gandhi. 

Continue reading..

Indian Railway's Biggest Forged Wheel Plant in UP

The Indian Railways on 3rd October signed a pact with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd.(RINL) to set up the country’s biggest Forged Wheel plant at Raebarelli in Uttarpradesh. The Forged wheel plant to be set up at a cost of 1100 crore rupees at Lalganj will reduce India’s dependence on imports of high speed forged wheels for trains. 

Continue reading..

India ranks 78th on Human Capital Index

According to the list of total 122 countries released on October 1st by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, India has been ranked lower than three of its BRICS peers -- China with 43rd rank, Russia with 51st rank and Brazil with 57th, while South Africa is placed at 86th place.

Continue reading..

Indian Railways Produced World’s First Ever 5500 HP Locomotive

In continuing with its technological upgradation programme, Indian Railways has produced the prototype 5500 HP diesel locomotives (WDG5) which are already running as a pilot project in North Central Railway. This Loco is developed by Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi, a production unit of Indian Railways.

Continue reading..

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2012

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will present the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2012 to H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia on September 12, 2013 at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Continue reading..

Leander Paes won his eighth men’s doubles Grand Slam title

Indian Player Leander Paes won his eighth men’s doubles Grand Slam title as he combined with Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek to win the US Open with a dominating 6-1, 6-3 victory over Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares in the final on 8th September 2013.

Continue reading..

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill 2011

After a delay of nearly 10 years, Parliament on 06th September passed a key economic reforms legislation, the Pension Bill that aims to create a regulator for the sector and allows at least 26% Foreign Direct Investment.

Continue reading..

BRICS Moved Towards Creating Common Fund

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group on 5th September made progress in the creation of a $100-billion Currency Reserve Fund (CRF) by announcing individual contribution. 

Continue reading..

BRLF-Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation

Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation


The Union Cabinet on 3rd September, approved the proposal for setting up of the Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation (BRLF) as an independent charitable society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 to facilitate and upscale civil society action in partnership with Government for transforming livelihoods and lives of rural households, with an emphasis on women, particularly in the Central Indian Tribal Region.

Continue reading..

RBI opened Forex Swap Window for Oil Marketing Companies

RBI opened Forex Swap Window for Oil Marketing Companies


The Reserve Bank of India on 2th August opened a forex swap window for three public sector oil marketing companies to calm volatile forex markets. IOC, HPCL and BPCL are the three companies which are benefited by this facility. RBI will lend dollars to oil marketing companies for equivalent rupees which the marketing companies would return over a period of time.

Continue reading..

Indian Mujahideen - History and Recent News

History of Indian Mujahideen


The islamic terrorism in India has been scripted by Pakistan’s Interservices Intelligence (IsI) through its main strategic assets – the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (huJI). To cordinate their activities in India, they found Indian Mujahideen (IM) in early 2000 and after that this group is held responsible for various terrorost attacks across the country. On 4 June 2010, Indian Mujahideen was declared a terrorist organisation and banned by the Government of India.

Continue reading..

Food Security Programme Launched

Food Bill delayed, but scheme launched


Despite the delay in passage of the Food Security Bill in Parliament, the ambitious programme was launched in in Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand with the promise that it would reach two-thirds of the country’s 125-crore population and provide them with grain at subsidised rates. In Delhi the programme was launched by chairperson Sonia Gandhi on 20th August - on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi’s 69th birth anniversary.

Continue reading..

Indian Current Affairs - What is VVPAT

VVPAT System to be used at Bye-Election in Nagaland


The Government of India has amended the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, enabling the Commission to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail system (VVPAT) with the Electronic Voting Machines on 14th August, 2013. The Election Commission of India has decided to use the VVPAT system at the current Bye-election from 51-Noksen Assembly Constituency of Nagaland. The poll for this bye-election is to be held on 4th September 2013. Instructions are being issued to hold special meetings with the contesting candidates in this constituency to brief them about the use of VVPAT system. The Commission is organizing special training sessions for poll officers in the use of VVPAT and steps are being taken to educate the electors on the use of VVPAT system.

Continue reading..

Current Affairs India-Kerala government got nod for Islamic banking

Kerala government got nod for Islamic banking


The government of kerala has got a go-ahead from the RBI to launch a financial institution following the principles of Islamic finance. Cheraman Financial Services Limited (CFSL) will be floated by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation to function as a non-banking finance company.Industries minister PK Kunhalikutty and CFSL chairman P Mohamad Ali told reporters here that the firm would function as a non-banking finance company with an authorised capital of Rs 1,000 crore. CFSL has already received clearances from Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchanges Board of India and the wakf board, the chairman said. The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation will be the single largest shareholder in the company, holding 11 percent shares. The other individual shareholders can hold a maximum of 9 percent shares.

Continue reading..

Low Income Housing Finance Project with WB Assistance

Low Income Housing Finance Project


The Loan and Project Agreements for World Bank (IDA) assistance of US $100 million for Low Income Housing Finance Project were signed between Government of India/National Housing Bank and the World Bank on 14th August. The Objective of the Low Income Housing Finance Project is to provide access to sustainable housing finance for low income households/to purchase/build or upgrade their dwellings. The Low Income Housing Finance Project will have three components which are

Continue reading..

National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme

National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme


Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced the National Skill Certification and Monetary Reward Scheme that will be implemented all over India on 16th August. This is a first of its kind scheme to be launched in the country. This scheme was first proposed by the Finance Minister in the last Union Budget to allocate Rs 1,000 crore for a scheme that will motivate the youth of this country to acquire a vocational skill. The scheme is expected to benefit a million people in the first year of its implementation.

Continue reading..