Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan

Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan

Strengthening learning of maths and science in upper primary classes is also an area of focus for which Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA) was launched in July 2015. It is an initiative to motivate and encourage children of the age-group 6-18 years, in science, mathematics and technology. The programme framework is on a twin track approach: Systemic improvements in the School System and Initiatives to encourage Science, Mathematics through alternative strategies. The strategies of the programme targets teachers, students, effective classroom transaction, school facilities for science and maths, and community engagement. The key activities include mentoring of schools by Institutions of Higher Education; formation of Maths and Science Clubs; participation of children in Science Congress; formation of teacher circles and participation of teachers in Teachers Science Congress.

National Urban Livelihoods Mission

National Urban Livelihoods Mission

NULM, introduced in September, 2013 aims at organizing urban poor in self-help groups (SHGs), imparting skill training to urban poor for self and wage employment and helping them to setup self-employment ventures by providing credit on subsidized rate of interest. In addition, shelters for urban homeless and infrastructure for street vendors can also be taken up under this Mission. It has seven components viz. social mobilization & institution development, capacity building& training, employment through skill training & placement, self-employment programme, support to urban street vendors, shelter for urban homeless and innovative & special projects.
*Government Programme

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Surksha Yojana

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Surksha Yojana  

A scheme (MGPSY) launched by Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) for providing social security in the form (a) pension, (b) savings for return and resettlement and (c) life insurance to unskilled / semi-skilled overseas Indian workers (with below matriculation education).The Scheme commenced on a pilot basis in Kerala in 2012,for overseas workers in 17 countries where social security needs of foreign workers are less /not addressed.

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana 

In October , 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana. According to this yojana, each MP will take the responsibility of developing three villages by 2019. The idea is to make India’s villages to be fully developed with physical and institutional infrastructure. There are certain guidelines for this scheme, which has been formulated by the Department of Rural Development. The Prime Minister requested all MPs to develop one model village by year 2016 in their constituency and two more by 2019.

Sagar Mala

Sagar Mala 

The project is a strategic and customer-oriented initiative of the Government of India to modernize India's Ports so that port-led development can be augmented and coastlines can be developed to contribute in India's growth. In 2015 Cabinet gave approval for this project to develop 12 ports of India and also 1208 Islands. The project was launched by Ministry of Shipping (the nodal ministry for this initiative. A National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC), composed of the Minister in-charge of Shipping, with Cabinet Ministers from stakeholder Ministries and Chief Ministers / Ministers in-charge of ports of maritime states as members, will provide policy direction and guidance for the initiative’s implementation, shall approve the overall National Perspective Plan (NPP) and review the progress of implementation of these plans.The project includes modernization of ports and islands, setting up of coastal economic zones, new major ports and fish harbors. It also includes developing integrated transport infrastructure for connecting the coast to the hinterland.Total investment in the project would be to the tune of ₹70000 crore.

Part IV of the Constitution of India to seek to promote education

Part IV of the Constitution of India to seek to promote education

The directive principles of state policy are enumerated in part IV of the constitution from articles 36 to 51. The directive principles constitutes very comprehension economic, social, and political programme for a modern democratic state. They aim at realizing the high ideas of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity as outlined in the preamble to the constitution. They embody the concept of a ‘welfare state’ and not that of a ‘police state’, which existed during the colonial era.

In the article 41 right to work, to education and to public assistance in certain cases the state shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement, and in other cases of undeserved want.

Right to education

The jurisdiction of court to interfere with discretion exercised by expert’s body like medical council of India or Dental council of India is limited even though right to education is concomitant to the fundamental rights.

            At the time when the Commission released its Consultation Paper on the subject, Constitution (93rd Amendment) Bill was under consideration.  But the proposed Amendment covers the Right to Free and Compulsory Education only between the years 6 and 14 years. The Commission is of the view that the Right to Free and Compulsory Education should also be extended to the children up to the age of fourteen years and that the right to education beyond the age of 14 years may depend upon the economic capacity and the stage of development of the State.

The Commission feels that the constitutional commitment for free and compulsory education for all children until the age of fourteen should under no circumstances be diluted and the State should fulfill this solemn obligation to the nation.  The responsibility for the universalisation of elementary education should be entrusted to Panchayats and local self government institutions.  It is recommended that the relevant provisions in the Constitution (93rd Amendment) Bill, 2001 making the right to education of children from six years till the completion of fourteen years as a Fundamental Right should be amended and enlarged to read as under:-

           “30-C Every child shall have the right to free education until he completes the age of fourteen years; and in the case of girls and members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, until they complete the age of eighteen years.”.

Curative petition, it become relevant in the case of LGBTs in India

Curative petition, it become relevant in the case of LGBTs in India

The concept of Curative petition was evolved by the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Rupa Ashok Hurra vs. Ashok Hurra and Anr. (2002) where the question was whether an aggrieved person is entitled to any relief against the final judgment/order of the Supreme Court, after dismissal of a review petition. The Supreme Court in the said case held that in order to prevent abuse of its process and to cure gross miscarriage of justice, it may reconsider its judgments in exercise of its inherent powers. For this purpose the Court has devised what has been termed as a "curative" petition. In the Curative petition, the petitioner is required to aver specifically that the grounds mentioned there in had been taken in the review petition filed earlier and that it was dismissed by circulation. The Curative petition is then circulated to the three senior most judges and the judges who delivered the impugned judgment, if available. No time limit is given for filing Curative petition.

Requirements:       

To entertain the curative petitions, the court has laid down certain specific conditions. Its laid down in order The requirements which are needed in order to accept the curative petitions are:

• The petitioner will have to establish that there was a genuine violation of principles of natural justice and fear of the bias of the judge and judgment that adversely affected him.
• The petition shall state specifically that the grounds mentioned had been taken in the review petition and that it was dismissed by circulation.
• The curative petition must accompany certification by a senior lawyer relating to the fulfillment of the above requirements.
• The petition is to be sent to the three senior most judges and judges of the bench who passed the judgment affecting the petition, if available.
• If the majority of the judges on the above bench agree that the matter needs hearing, then it would be sent to the same bench.
• The court could impose “exemplary costs” to the petitioner if his plea lacks merit.

The discourse on homosexuality and same-sex physical relations has been a hot topic in the last decade in India. From the controversial, often termed archaic, section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises 'unnatural offences' being read down by the Delhi High Court in historic judgment in 2009 to honour killings in remote corners of the country - activists are leaving no stone unturned to change both the legal and social obstacles that plague the Indian LGBT community. The LGBTQI groups have mobilised themselves, hundreds of gay men and women came out to their families, friends and to the world — because the personal is political. In light of the awaited verdict on the curative petition, the LGBTQI communities are conducting vigils across the nation, if you want to be a part of them and express your solidarity

The journey for 'emancipation' has been a long one for the LGBTQI community in India. In the 15 years that the case has caught the public's attention, there have been ups and downs. If there is one good thing that has come from this long drawn battle for basic equality and liberty, it is that homophobia is not celebrated in the Indian mainstream anymore. Actors, activists, politicians have come out in favour of striking down the law.

Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace

Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.  Albert Schweitzer.

            There are other ways to use compassion in your life. There are those whose greatest happiness comes from giving. Let’s say you love to help people and have decided to go into the medical or healing field, but needs the funds to help pay for your education.

When you are in the asking or desire mode, looking for the financing to come into your life, you can use that compassion within you for a fast “lift off.” Feel the bliss you would feel helping others. Tink about how you would change lives for the better. Don’t think about how ill your patients will be and how you would hate to see them die in your presence.

Go with the positive and the idea that you will have been the one to put them in a situation of wellness, which will be grafting. In this way, you are using your compassionate attitude to help you initially, and that, in turn, will enable you to eventually help others. It’s win-win situation.

The philosophy that we all have the ability to help ourselves, and that pity gets us nowhere fast. Accept help from others and feel the gratitude for their help; likewise, help others from a place of love. The positive energy you create with compassion will astound you!

• Compassion as it relates to the law of attraction does not involve having pity for anyone else.
• Compassion involves helping others to see the positive side of life, which in turn helps them to create their own positive vibes.
• It’s alright to help someone in a financial manner as long as you’re mixing love and compassion in with your monetary gift.
• Having compassion for yourself helps you to help others.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. -Aristotle

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. -Aristotle. 

For education, the sense of heart which we have been considering primarily implies the importance of a holistic approach. We have seen that heart encompasses feeling, knowing, loving, and is our access to one another. It is also the deep well of our full human meaning -- of whoever we may be at last. An educated heart would be educated in the practice of self-knowledge. An educated heart would be educated about affections, and the ways of interaction. It would also have to understand the requirements of participation and the necessity, for that possibility to be realized, of democratic association. It would understand the anatomy of courage and be responsive to its call. The heart of education is the well-being of community. For the educated heart, the need of a functioning community is the concrete impetus for using and evaluating the ways of knowing and creating we have inherited, as well as the challenge to invent new intellectual and aesthetic vehicles of its justice. An educated heart, as the place in ourselves and in others where we must especially allow hearing room, would respect transcendence at the horizon of our own self-meaning

A guide to educational practice generated by sensitivity to the education of the heart might include aims like these:

* To encourage habits of critical self-awareness

* To valorize openness to interiority

* To accept the equal right of all individuals to the autonomy of their emotional lives

* To encourage the development of individual voice; and, as the practical condition of its possibility, develop the capacity for hearing the voice of the other

* To learn what and how the other wants (the real justification of multi-culturalism is equality of access to one's own emotional life; simple empathy for each other is not enough)

* To accept mutuality as the form of the learning environment

* To acknowledge the educability of emotional life and develop its practice

* To acknowledge the limits of conceptualizable vision

* To encourage openness to the unknown, and humility and courage in its presence

* To develop appropriate tolerance for ambiguity to fully integrate expressive creation into the educational mainstream to study the requirements of democratic responsibility

* To promote habits and techniques of collaboration

* To focus assessments of educational quality on citizens' capacities to function within the requirements of democratic responsibility

Top Languages in the world by the number of speakers.

Top Languages in the world by the number of speakers.

Language is a primary parameter of human existence as it helps in effective communication between human beings. The world has more than 6800 languages spoken throughout it, some of which are spoken by a large proportion of world population, while others are spoken by only a minority.

1. MANDARIN

Mandarin, the language of the most populated country of the world, China is the most spoken language, with more than 1030 million speakers. This language is tough to learn as it constitutes of complex tones, which bear a close resemblance to each other and sometimes, it is hard to distinguish one tone from the other.

This list is widely influenced by the populations of the countries of origin of the languages. For instance, India and China are highly populated countries, which is perhaps the reason f a large number of speakers of Hindi and Mandarin.

2. ENGLISH

Next among the most spoken languages in the world is English, which is spoken in almost every country around the world and has nearly 890 million speakers. USA, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada, South Africa and Hong Kong are some of the countries where this language is immensely popular.

3. ARABIC

Arabic is another widely spoken language, which has an estimated 560 million speakers around the globe. It is one of the oldest languages in the world and is spoken widely in countries of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria. It was also declared as the sixth official UN language in 1974.

4. SPANISH

With nearly 420 million speakers around the world, Spanish becomes the fourth most spoken language in the world. Besides being the language of Spain, it is spoken in nearly all Central American and South American countries. This language also furnished many words to the English language.

5. HINDI

Since India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, its language Hindi becomes the third most spoken language around the globe, with as many as 380 million speakers. Despite English becoming a popular language in the country, the prominence of its official language is still unsurpassed. The success of the Hindi film industry on a global level is another reason of popularity of this language.

Model for financing road projects under the Public Private Partnership

Model for financing road projects under the Public Private Partnership

Traditionally, financing for development of National Highways in India was from the budgetary resources of the Government of India. In order to augment the available resources, loans have also been raised from multilateral  agencies  like  World  Bank,  Asian Development  Bank  (ADB)  and  Japan  Bank  of International Cooperation (JBIC). NHAI has earlier received loans directly from multilateral agencies (highway project). These loans are expected to be repaid through the toll income from the project.  The interest rate for the project is determined according to ADB's pool based variable lending rate system for US dollar loans. Around 80 per cent of the external assistance is provided to NHAI as a grant by the Central government. The balance is made available as long-term loans to NHAI, with the Centre bearing the foreign exchange risk. Such loans are usually provided for 15-25 years with a moratorium of 5 years.

Presently, the development and maintenance of National Highways is financed by following modes:

•   Government's general budgetary sources
•  Dedicated accruals under the Central Road Fund (by levy of cess on fuel)
• Lending by international institutions:

·         World Bank

·         ADB

·         JBIC

Private financing under PPP frameworks

• Build  Operate  and  Transfer/Design  Build Finance  Operate  and  Transfer   (DBFOT) Investment by private firm and return through levy and retention of user fee
• Build Operate    and Transfer  (Annuity)  - BOT (Annuity  )  -  Investment  by  private  firm  and return  through  semi-annual  payments  from NHAI as per bid.
• Special  Purpose Vehicle  –  SPV  (with  equity participation by  NHAI)
• Market Borrowings

NHAI also has a provision for providing grant up to 40% of  the  project  cost  to make  projects  commercially viable. However, the quantum of grant is decided on a case to case basis and typically constitutes the bid parameter in BOT projects generally not viable based on toll  revenues  alone. The disbursement of such grant is subject to provisions of the project concession agreements  (please  refer  CD  for provisions  in  the Model Concession Agreement).

Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are going to be the main mode of delivery for future phases of NHDP. While there are a number of forms of PPP, the common forms that are popular in India and have been used for development of National Highways are:

• ·         Build, Operate and Transfer (Toll)  Model Private developers/ operators, who  invest  in  toll able highway projects, are entitled to collect and retain toll revenues  for  the  tenure  of  the  project  concession period.
• ·         Build, Operate and Transfer (Annuity) Model The concessionaire bids  for annuity payments  from NHAI  that  would  cover  his  cost  (construction, operations and maintenance) and an expected return on  the  investment.
• ·         Special  Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  for  Port Connectivity Projects
• ·         Model Concession Agreement (MCA) has been developed to facilitate speedy award of contracts. This framework has been successfully used for award of BOT concessions.
• ·         Operate, Maintain and Transfer (OMT) Concession. Under the concession private operators would be eligible to collect tolls on these stretches for maintaining highways and providing essential services.
• ·         Special Purpose Vehicles   (SPVs) wherein NHAI contributes up to 30% of the project cost as equity. The SPVs also raise loans for financing the projects. SPVs are authorized to collect user fee  on  the  developed  stretches  to  cover repayment  of  debts  and  for  meeting  the  costs  of operations and maintenance.

General procedure  for  selection  of  concessionaires adopted  by  NHAI  is  a  two-stage  bidding  process. Projects are awarded as per the model documents- Request for Qualification (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP) and Concession Agreement - provided by the Ministry of  Finance. 

The opportunity for private players in the road sector can be broadly categorised in two segments of Infrastructure Development  Logistics and Services and Opportunities for Private Investors/ Developers

NHAI Risk/Obligations are Land Acquisition  Risk in NHAI  is  responsible  for acquiring the requisite land for the project highway and Approvals of NHAI  will  provide  all  reasonable support and assistance  to  the concessionaire  in procuring  applicable  permits  required  from  any Government Instrumentality.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and relevant to India

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and relevant to India

International Monetary fund, which is briefly called IMF, is one of the twin institutions which were established as a result of discussion among the monetary and financial delegations of the member countries of the United Nations held at Bretton Woods Z(U.S.A) in 1944. Its establishment on 1^st march, 1947, is a great land mark in the history of international economic relations, particularly in the monetary field.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an association of 186 nations, working towards strengthening the international fiscal system, protecting monetary stability, assisting international trade, endorsing greater employment, maintaining fiscal growth, and diminishing poverty rate across the globe.

Main functions of IMF are:

• Regulating rate of exchange changes the internal policies of the member-countries to restore equilibrium are not to be interfered with by the IMF.
• Assistance for meeting balance of payments deficit, There is, however, a limit to the amount which it can thus obtain.
• Rationing out scarce currencies, the IMF has increase the supply of such ‘scarce’ currencies by borrowing or by purchasing them against gold. The member-countries are permitted to impose exchange restrictions in cash of such ‘scarce’ currencies.
• Elimination of exchange restrictions, IMF allowed a period of transition extending over 3 years during which the members could remain such restrictions.
• Policy guidance to administrations and nationalized financial institutions on the basis of the assessment of fiscal trends cross national know-how;
• Providing study data, statistics, predictions and assessments based on the survey of international, local and respective financial systems and markets.
• Providing loans to assist nations to surmount financial difficulties;
• Providing provisional finances to help evade poverty in progressing nations and
• Providing technological support and training to aid nations enhance the administration of their financial systems.

Programs of IMF are Stand-by arrangements, Extended fund facility (EFF), Poverty reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF), Supplement reserve facility (SRF), Contingent credit line (CCL), Special oil facility.

Role of IMF in shaping India’s development:

India joined the IMF on December 27, 1945, as one of the IMF's original members. India accepted the obligations of Article VIII in the IMF Articles of Agreement on current account convertibility on August 20, 1994. India borrowed both financial and other assistance from the IMF quite a number of times under several lending provisions of the fund.

The relationship between India and the IMF dates back to the time when India needed economic reform packages to strengthen its international reputation and fiscal policy. IMF provided major loans to India to structure its finances and maintain average economic growth rate.

India is among one of the developing economies that effectively employed the various Fund programmes to fortify its fiscal structure. Through productive engagement with the IMF, India formulated a consistent approach to expand domestic and global assistance for economic reforms. Whenever India underwent balance of payments crises, it sought the help of IMF and in turn the internationally recognized reserve willingly helped India to overcome the difficulties.

Net neutrality is the debate in India today

Net neutrality is the debate in India today

In net neutrality, differentiation is fine, discrimination is not we can differentiate based on what kind of content it is but if you discriminated based on who the content is for that is not fine.

Amid the ongoing debate over net neutrality, the major issue is that everyone has their own definitions of it. “The big problem is the term net neutrality is very confusing everyone seems to have their own definition. People talks to telecom companies who say we are for net neutrality. But what they implement may not be what others people call net neutrality. There is whole activist movement in India who have their version of Net neutrality.” Facebook may have two definition of net neutrality, one which applies for whatsapping into the issue. The committees has already in previous meeting taken note of the operators and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI).

Unfortunately, the definition of net neutrality is not very crisp and precise. And people conflate issues when they talk about network neutrality. People often say the principle of network neutrality is that all packets should be treated equally. The internet has never been neutral in the sense. Packets are not treated equally and that is fine. A packet is the unit of data that is routed between origin and destination on the internet.

Internet service providers or telecom firms should not provide competitive advantage to certain individual apps or services based on either quality of service or pricing. That is what Net Neutrality is. In Net neutrality, differentiation is fine, discrimination is not. You can differentiate based on what kind of content it is, but if you discrimination based on who the content is for that is not fine. The TRAI had received over 1 million comments on its paper over net neutrality with majority demanding implementation of ideal net neutrality.

Net neutrality calls for equal treatment to all internet traffic without any priority treatment to an entity or company on the basis of payment for content or service providers such as telecom companies, which is seems as discriminatory.

Danger from Zika virus to the world

Danger from Zika virus to the world

Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon. In the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. The outbreak in Brazil led to reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome and pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes.

The Zika virus, an alarming and disturbing infection that may be linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains, is spreading through the Americas. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue fever and chikungunya. The illness is similar to dengue fever and is generally mild and self-limiting, lasting four to seven days. Zika is commanding worldwide attention because of an alarming connection between the virus and microcephaly, a neurological disorder that results in babies being born with abnormally small heads. This causes severe developmental issues and sometimes death.

 Almost our entire counrty is in the Red zone and given the frequent endemics of Dengue which we run into every year, we really can't rule Zika out! For now all we have to say is that stay safe, keep your surrounding free from garbage and mosquitoes. No Zika case has been reported in the country so far and the government’s strategy is meant to prevent the virus being carried from abroad as was done to counter Ebola earlier. The transmission of the virus mostly takes place when the infected person has a fever. India needs to focus on stopping the entry of the virus in the country because of its enormous childbirth rate as Zika affects foetuses the most.

Benefits in UDAY scheme approved by GOI recently

Benefits in UDAY scheme approved by GOI recently

UDAY is a path breaking reform for realizing the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of affordable and accessible 24x7 Power for All. It is another decisive step furthering the landmark strides made in the Power sector over the past one and a half years, with the sector witnessing a series of historic improvements across the entire value chain, from fuel supply, to generation, transmission and consumption. Financially stressed DISCOMs are not able to supply adequate power at affordable rates, which hampers quality of life and overall economic growth and development. Efforts towards 100% village electrification, 24X7 power supply and clean energy cannot be achieved without performing DISCOMs. Power outages also adversely affect national priorities like “Make in India” and “Digital India”. In addition, default on bank loans by financially stressed DISCOMs has the potential to seriously impact the banking sector and the economy at large.

UDAY assures the rise of vibrant and efficient DISCOMs through a permanent resolution of past as well as potential future issues of the sector. It empowers DISCOMs with the opportunity to break even in the next 2-3 years. This is through four initiatives (i) Improving operational efficiencies of DISCOMs; (ii) Reduction of cost of power; (iii) Reduction in interest cost of DISCOMs; (iv) Enforcing financial discipline on DISCOMs through alignment with State finances. Operational efficiency improvements like compulsory smart metering, up-gradation of transformers, meters etc., energy efficiency measures like efficient LED bulbs, agricultural pumps, fans & air-conditioners etc. will reduce the average AT&C loss from around 22% to 15% and eliminate the gap between Average Revenue Realized (ARR) & Average Cost of Supply (ACS) by 2018-19.

Reduction in cost of power would be achieved through measures such as increased supply of cheaper domestic coal, coal linkage rationalization, liberal coal swaps from inefficient to efficient plants, coal price rationalization based on GCV (Gross Calorific Value), supply of washed and crushed coal, and faster completion of transmission lines. NTPC alone is expected to save Rs. 0.35 / unit through higher supply of domestic coal and rationalization / swapping of coal which will be passed on to DISCOMs / consumers.

UDAY is optional for all States. However, States are encouraged to take the benefit at the earliest as benefits are dependent on the performance.

We use helium in balloons

We use helium in balloons

Helium is a chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2.Helium is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas. Helium is the second most common element in the Universe (after hydrogen), making up around 24% of its mass. Helium is part of a group of chemical elements called noble gases, the other five that occur naturally are neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon. Under normal conditions they share similar properties, including being less likely to participate in chemical reactions due to their outer shell of electrons being full. Helium is the second least reactive element after neon. French and English astronomers Pierre Janssen and Norman Lockyer are jointly credited with discovering helium after spectral analysis of sunlight following a solar eclipse in 1868. The word helium comes from the Greek word meaning sun (helios). It was named by Lockyer and English chemist Edward Frankland. The USA is the world’s largest supplier of helium, with many reserves found in large natural gas fields.

The rate at which helium is currently being used by humans is much faster than the rate at which the reserves are being replenished. New technologies for obtaining or recycling helium are one way for gas companies to help slow this problem. Because helium is lighter than air it is commonly used to fill airships, blimps and balloons. While hydrogen is 7% more buoyant than helium it has a much higher fire risk. You might notice the helium balloon you got from the amusement park slowly falling to the ground after a few days, this happens as the helium gradually leaks from the balloon.

Because helium is less dense than normal air, when inhaled from a source such as a helium balloon it briefly changes the sound of a person’s voice, making it much sound much higher. However, breathing in too much helium can be very dangerous, potentially choking people due to a lack of oxygen. Helium can be in a liquid and even solid state but they can only occur at temperatures near absolute zero. Liquid helium is used to cool metals for superconductivity use. The European Organization for Nuclear Research’s (CERN) Large Hadron Collider uses liquid helium to maintain an extremely low temperature. Helium is often used in space programs, displacing fuel in storage tanks and having other rocket fuel applications.

other scientists have warned that helium is becoming so scarce that research that makes use of its cooling power may have to be limited or stopped. Although it is the second most abundant element in the universe, helium cannot be manufactured, and once released into the atmosphere is lost for ever. Most of our supplies are extracted from the earth's crust.

Terrorism anywhere is terrorism everywhere

Terrorism anywhere is terrorism everywhere.

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  The violent attacks against Israelis are no different, no less unjust than the shootings of innocent civilians in France or anywhere else.

Currently terrorism has been most commonly and systematically employed as a tactic in conflicts. Terrorism is the form of violence against civilians and asymmetric confrontation against a stronger opponent. Terrorism occurs when ideological motivation meets with operational capability. The way in which a terrorist group shapes its radical worldview and disseminates it to audiences worldwide plays an important role in the public interface between the group and its target audience. Using terrorist propaganda, a group can successfully radicalize and indoctrinate public into terrorist sympathizers, mobilize terrorist supporters, and recruit terrorist members.  

Terrorist organizations target the disaffected members of a population by attempting to convince them that there is an alternative way of thinking that will make their lives more meaningful and simpler. If the population has a large number of disaffected individuals susceptible to the ideology, enough of them can be recruited. Once recruited, they soon take part in terrorist actions that validate and strengthen the ideology they share. Thus, the war on terror ought to be called ‘the ideological battle against radical extremists who happen to use terror as a weapon to disrupt the conscience of the free and peaceful world. Terrorist actions conducted on the territory of more than one state or involving citizens of more than one state as victims or perpetrators bring an international element.

An effective and multipronged approach for an ideological response to fight with terrorism should conceptualize counterterrorism, not only as a military or law enforcement problem but as a war of ideas as well. Governments which develop foreign policies that strengthen this network will find themselves with improved security at home. Who have come to the point where terrorism anywhere is terrorism everywhere. If terrorists maintain a network of networks, then governments must do the same. Once equally common, piracy, slavery, and genocide have been systematically diminished through collective efforts overtime. Most importantly, such efforts destroyed the ideologies that legitimated these behaviors. Governments must go after ideologically motivated terrorists with the same kind of collective approach.

Good delivery of public services is essential to escape the dependence on bad public services

Good delivery of public services is essential to escape the dependence on bad public services.

Our founding fathers wanted political freedom for the people of India – freedom to determine who we would be governed by, as well as freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship. They wanted justice and equality, of status and opportunity. And they wanted us to be free from poverty. One widely held hypothesis is that our country suffers from want of a “few good men” in politics. This view is unfair to the many upstanding people in politics.

One improves the quality of public services to increase the resources devoted to the service, and to change.  A number of worthwhile efforts are underway to improve the quality of public education and healthcare. But if resources leak or public servants are not motivated, which is likely in the worst governed states, these interventions are not very effective.

Some have argued that making a public service a right can change delivery. It is hard to imagine that simply legislating rights and creating a public expectation of delivery will, in fact, ensure delivery. After all, is there not an expectation that a ration card holder will get decent grain from the fair price shop, yet all too frequently grain is not available or is of poor quality.

Information decentralization can help. Knowing how many medicines the local public dispensary received, or how much money the local school is getting for mid-day meals, can help the public monitor delivery and alert higher-ups when the benefits are not delivered. But the public delivery system is usually most apathetic where the public is poorly educated, of low social status, and disorganized, so monitoring by the poor is also unlikely to be effective.

Some argue that this is why the middle class should enjoy public benefits along with the poor, so that the former can protest against poor delivery, which will ensure high quality for all. But making benefits universal is costly, and may still lead to indifferent delivery for the poor. The middle class may live in different areas from the poor. Indeed, even when located in the same area, the poor may not even patronize facilities frequented by the middle class because they feel out of place. And even when all patronize the same facility, providers may be able to discriminate between the voluble middle class and the uncomplaining poor.

Iran will open up possibilities for India and also will have challenges.

 "Lifting of sanctions on Iran will open up possibilities for India and also will have challenges."

The strategic map of Iran’s immediate neighborhood will change dramatically following the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1. Given the tremendous geostrategic stakes involved, Iran has already begun to explore greater opportunities for economic and security cooperation in the region. This has implications for both India and Pakistan, which are tied to Iran strategically but bitterly opposed to each other.

India-Iran Interactions 

India and Iran have always shared deep social, cultural, economic and political connections and relations that have enriched both civilizations. The use of the Persian language at the Mughal courts is just one example of Iranian cultural influence in north India. With the creation of Pakistan in 1947, India and Iran lost the geographical contiguity they had enjoyed for centuries. Bilateral relations also remained extremely cordial during Iran’s years of global chastisement for its nuclear program, with the exception of a short period during which India was unable to deal with the dynamic of Iran-U.S. divergence.

India’s diplomacy with Iran has been rooted in economic interests and buttressed by civilization links. India and Iran also share many similarities: Extra-regional ambitions and a strong sense that they pursuing an independent foreign policy are common traits in the diplomatic behavior of both countries.

For India, energy pipelines have always been an attractive prospect whose advantages are seemingly tangible but always just out of reach.”Lifting of western sanctions on Iran throws up a great opportunity for India to transport natural gas from Iran to Porbandar port in Gujarat, bypassing Pakistan – the main sticking point for other multilateral projects of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) and Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI).” India needs to remind Iran that Pakistan has become a country where political stability remains very fragile. Even though Pakistan is being ruled by a democratically elected government, security and foreign policy is utterly dominated by the military. Where rival Taliban factions are fighting for supremacy and regional support for the reconciliation process is moving onto the back burner. The Taliban still represents a grave threat to regional stability and security. 

The Amendment of Nepal Constitution. satisfy the demands of Madhesis.

The Amendment of Nepal Constitution. satisfy the demands of Madhesis.

Nepal is governed according to the Constitution of Nepal, which came into effect on Sept 20, 2015, replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007. The Constitution was drafted by the Second Constituent Assembly following the failure of the First Constituent Assembly to produce a constitution in its mandated period.[1] The constitution was endorsed by 90% of the total lawmakers. Out of 598 CA members, 507 voted in favor of the constitution while 25 voted against and 66 others did not take part in the election process.

The promulgation of the new constitution was immediately followed by virtual blockade of all checkpoints at Nepal-India border. Various Human Rights Activists and some ethnic groups in lowland Nepal have accused the Constitution of being gender discriminatory especially in regards to citizenship provisions. They allege new constitution makes it difficult for woman to pass on citizenship to their children as compared to men. Similarly, Madhesi and indigenous population view that the new constitution fails to address demands of marginalized communities and support status-quo of the ruling groups.

The amendments were passed with two-third majority, four months after the new constitution was promulgated. Three articles—42, 84 and 286—were amended. The amendments aim to resolve the ongoing agitation by the Madhesis. It includes provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities, including the Madhesis, in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in Parliament on the basis of population.

Madhesis, who share strong cultural and family bonds with India, have been demanding demarcation of provinces, fixing of electoral constituencies on the basis of population and proportional representation. Fifty-five people have been killed in violent protests by the Madhesis since last year. The protests of the Madhesis had sparked tensions between India and Nepal with Nepal’s government viewing India as supportive of the Madhesi stance, which they felt was fuelling the agitation and encouraging the sit-down demonstrations that led to blockage of supply routes between the two countries.

The lawmakers of the agitating parties had boycotted the voting, saying the amendment was “incomplete”, as it fell short of addressing their concerns, including redrawing of federal boundaries.