CURRENT AFFAIRS 2010

2G-BASICS

2G (or 2-G) is short for second-generation wireless telephone technology. Three primary benefits of 2G networks over their predecessors were that phone conversations were digitally encrypted; 2G systems were significantly more efficient on the spectrum allowing for far greater mobile phone penetration levels; and 2G introduced data services for mobile, starting with SMS text messages2G technologies can be divided into TDMA-based and CDMA-based standards depending on the type of multiplexing used

Capacity

Using digital signals between the handsets and the towers increases system capacity in two key ways:

1. Digital voice data can be compressed and multiplexed much more effectively than analog voice encodings through the use of various codecs, allowing more calls to be packed into the same amount of radio bandwidth.

2. The digital systems were designed to emit less radio power from the handsets. This meant that cells could be smaller; so more cells could be placed in the same amount of space. This was also made possible by cell towers and related equipment getting less expensive.

Advantages

1. The lower power emissions helped address health concerns.

2. Going all-digital allowed for the introduction of digital data services, such as SMS and email.

3. Greatly reduced fraud. With analog systems it was possible to have two or more "cloned" handsets that had the same phone number.

4. Enhanced privacy. A key digital advantage not often mentioned is that digital cellular calls are much harder to eavesdrop on by use of radio scanners. While the security algorithms used have proved not to be as secure as initially advertised, 2G phones are immensely more private than 1G phones, which have no protection against eavesdropping.

Disadvantages

1. In less populous areas, the weaker digital signal may not be sufficient to reach a cell tower. This tends to be a particular problem on 2G systems deployed on higher frequencies, but is mostly not a problem on 2G systems deployed on lower frequencies. National regulations differ greatly among countries which dictate where 2G can be deployed.

2. Analog has a smooth decay curve, digital a jagged steppy one. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. Under good conditions, digital will sound better. Under slightly worse conditions, analog will experience static, while digital has occasional dropouts. As conditions worsen, though, digital will start to completely fail, by dropping calls or being unintelligible, while analog slowly gets worse, generally holding a call longer and allowing at least a few words to get through.

3. While digital calls tend to be free of static and background noise, the lossy compression used by the codecs takes a toll; the range of sound that they convey is reduced. You'll hear less of the tonality of someone's voice talking on a digital cellphone, but you will hear it more clearly.

24 September 2010

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2010

IMD unveils high-tech weather forecasting system A state-of-the-art Integrated Forecasting and Communication System was unveiled at the India Meteorology Department (IMD) today that is expected to provide more accurate weather data. Dynamic weather prediction models using super computers and very highly sophisticated software will start giving us more and more accurate data. Agriculture, like so many sectors of Indian economy, is highly dependent on weather and climate and it was good that the IMD was moving away from he conventional forms of weather forecast to an advanced one. "Increasing socio-economic benefits of meteorology in all fields, saving lives and protecting goods in a changing climate is the permanent mission of the India Meteorological Department." The governments took it as one of its priorities and a Rs 1,000 crore programme was sanctioned by Planning Commission in 2007 and crucial components including setting up of automatic weather stations, Doppler Radars, connecting them with most high speed digital inter-connecting systems and network as well as buying super computers for numerical weather prediction were completed.

31 July 2010

INDIA &US -2010

Politically and economically, India and the United States (US) play a significant role in the global arena. The US is India's largest export destination and also one of the leading foreign investors in India. Further, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study released in 2008, the Indian economy is estimated to grow to 90 per cent of the US economy by 2050. In November 2009, as part of the India-US Green partnership, the US agreed to help India set up the National Environment Protection Authority (NEPA). The move is part of efforts to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the two countries on environment and climate-related issues. Moreover, US fund houses are showing great confidence in the Indian economy. In August 2009, they launched five more India-specific exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to tap India's growth potential. On other fronts too, India and the US continue to enter into agreements. In July 2009, they concluded three agreements including the creation of a science and technology endowment fund and a technical safeguard agreement for the launch of civilian satellites incorporating US components. On Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's US visit in November 2009, the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative was set up to strengthen linkages between American and Indian universities. Other key outcomes as a result of the visit include partnership for global peace and security and cooperation in energy security, food security and climate change. India and the US signed the India-US Trade Policy Forum Framework for Cooperation on Trade and Investment in March 2010, which seeks to facilitate trade and investment flows between the two countries. An initiative "Integrating US and Indian small businesses into the global supply chain", which aims to expand trade and job-creating opportunities for US and Indian small and medium-sized companies, was also announced. Trade According to the Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade between India and US amounted to US$ 39.71 billion in 2008-09. Imports from US form 6.11 per cent of India's total imports. India imports fertilisers, nuclear reactors, gems and jewellery, aircraft, electrical machinery and equipment from the US. Indian imports from the US dropped by 11.89 per cent to US$ 18.56 billion in 2008-09 as against US$ 21.02 billion in 2007-08. Exports to the US form 11.41 per cent of India's total exports. India mostly exports gems and jewellery, articles of iron or steel, electrical machinery and equipment, apparel and clothing accessories to the US. During 2008-09, merchandise exports from India to the US went up by 2.02 per cent to reach US$ 21.14 billion against US$ 20.73 billion in 2007-08. Between April and September 2009-10, India has exported goods worth US$ 8.94 billion to the US, while it has imported goods worth US$ 7.43 billion during the same period. According to a study released by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in November 2009 titled 'India and the United States: Trade and Investment Analysis' the Indo-US services trade is likely to grow to US$ 150 billion by 2015.

US Investments in India India's rapidly expanding economy along with a booming consumer market and easy availability of skilled personnel has been instrumental in attracting several American companies to invest in India. The US is the third largest contributor of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India. The overall FDI flow into India from the US during April 2000-February 2010, according to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion was US$ 8.21 billion. During 2008-09, FDI inflow from the US was US$ 1.80 billion. FDI inflow between April to February 2009-10 was US$ 1.88 billion. After companies like Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Dell, Citigroup, J P Morgan and Morgan Stanley, many other US companies are also planning to enter the Indian market with big investments. In May 2010, US-based Abbott Laboratories bought Piramal Healthcare's formulation business for US$ 3.63 billion. USA's biggest independent tower firm American Tower Corp (ATC) in February 2010, agreed to acquire 4,450 towers of Essar Telecom Infrastructure (ETIPL). The purchase estimates an enterprise value of US$ 431.4 million for ETIPL. BorgWarner Inc, a US based auto component and systems manufacturing company with presence in 18 countries, has established its Indian manufacturing facility at Sipcot Industrial Park at Sriperambadur near Chennai. Set up on a 6.3 acre campus at a cost of US$ 6.6 million, the plant will have an annual capacity of 300,000 assemblies. US-based Hospira has bought Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals' injectables business for around US$ 400 million Indian Investments in the US India has emerged as the second fastest growing investor in the United States after the UAE between 2004 and 2008, according to Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert D Hormats. Between 2004 and 2008, India accounted for 64 per cent of the foreign direct investment in the US. According to data released by the US Treasury Department, India's holdings amounted to US$ 29.6 billion in December 2009. The holdings were higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year by US$ 400 million. Besides the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), institutions that invest in US Treasuries include the General Insurance Corporation of India, foreign branches/subsidiaries of domestic banks and domestic mutual funds that are permitted to invest in foreign securities. Some recent investments include: In April 2010, information technology company Rolta acquired US-based IT consulting firm OneGIS for an undisclosed amount. Inox Group's venture, Inox India, has acquired US-based Cryogenic Vessel Alternatives (CVA), the world's largest cryogenic transportation equipment maker. Road Ahead There are several areas where there is abundant scope to further improve economic cooperation between India and the US. Opportunities for progress exists especially in areas like communication infrastructure, IT, telecom, IT-enabled services, data centres, software development, and other knowledge industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. According to a CII report titled 'India-US Economic Relations: The Next Decade' released in June 2009, bilateral trade between India and the US could increase eight fold to US$ 320 billion in 2018 from US$ 42 billion in 2007-08.

INDIA & THE WORLD 2010

India & ASEAN

Since its start about a decade ago, the partnership between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam has been developing at quite a fast pace. India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992. Mutual interest led ASEAN to invite India to become its full dialogue partner during the fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in 1995. India also became a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996. India and ASEAN have been holding summit-level meetings on an annual basis since 2002. In August 2009, India signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the ASEAN members in Thailand. Under the ASEAN-India FTA, ASEAN member countries and India will lift import tariffs on more than 80 per cent of traded products between 2013 and 2016, according to a release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In January 2010, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand accepted the FTA on goods. The other seven ASEAN countries are expected to operationalise the FTA by August 2010. India and ASEAN are currently negotiating agreements on trade in services and investment. The services negotiations are taking place on a request-offer basis, wherein both sides make requests for the openings they seek and offers are made by the receiving country based on the requests. India has made requests in a number of areas including teaching, nursing, architecture, chartered accountancy and medicine as it has a large number of English speaking professionals in these areas who can gain from job opportunities in the ASEAN region. India is also keen on expanding its telecom, IT, tourism and banking network in ASEAN countries. Trade The deepening of ties between India and ASEAN is reflected in the continued buoyancy in trade figures. India’s trade with ASEAN countries has increased from US$ 30.7 billion in 2006-07 to US$ 39.08 billion in 2007-08 and to US$ 45.34 billion in 2008-09. During April – September 2009-10, India’s trade with ASEAN was US$ 20.19 billion, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In 2008-09, India's exports to ASEAN totalled US$ 19.14 billion. During April-December 2009-10, India exported goods worth US$ 12.8 billion to ASEAN, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. India imported goods worth US$ 26.3 billion in 2008-09 from ASEAN. During the period April-December 2009-10, India's imports from ASEAN totalled US$ 18.09 billion, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Singapore The growing bilateral economic relationship is reflected in the rapidly rising bilateral trade between Singapore and India. Singapore continues to be the single largest investor in India amongst the ASEAN countries and the second largest amongst all countries with foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into India, totalling US$ 2.4 billion in 2009-10. The cumulative FDI inflows from Singapore during April 2000 and March 2010 were US$ 10.2 billion, according to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). The total bilateral trade during 2008-09 was US$ 16.1 billion, an increase of 3.86 per cent over US$ 15.5 billion in 2007-08, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During 2008-09, India exported goods worth US$ 8.45 billion to Singapore. During April-December 2009-10, Indian merchandise exports to Singapore totalled US$ 5.12 billion, comprising mainly of mineral fuels and oils, ships, boats and floating structures and natural pearls, gems and jewellery, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in May 2010, Mr Anand Sharma, the Union Minister of Commerce and Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, agreed on a bilateral economic roadmap to take the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) forward in the coming five years. As per the roadmap the two countries will work towards doubling the annual bilateral trade by 2015. Moreover, they will promote greater business and investment flows by identifying ways in which Indian businesses can leverage on Singapore as a business hub in the Asia Pacific to support their international expansion. The two countries will also explore and develop co-operation, in science and technology, intellectual property rights, and media. India-Singapore Bilateral Economic Roadmap includes: • Increase two-way flow of tourists, businessmen and professionals • Expedite conclusion of mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) for dentistry, medical, nursing, architecture, accountancy and company secretary professionals on priority • Explore expansion of the provisions of CECA to liberalise and facilitate movement of Indian professionals to Singapore. • Develop closer co-operation in tourism Moreover, according to Standard Chartered Bank, the business between India and Singapore is set to double in the next five years. The number of Singapore-based companies setting up operations in India, 350 at present, is expected to double in the next five years. Similarly, India-based business community in Singapore is likely to increase to 5,500 companies from the present 4,000 in the next two and a half years. Malaysia The bilateral economic relationship between India and Malaysia has been steadily moving ahead. Malaysia has been a huge source of FDI for India. In fact, Malaysia is the 25th largest overall investor and third largest investor among ASEAN countries with a total inflow of US$ 252.97 million during the April 2000-March 2010 period, according to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Bilateral trade among the two countries amounted to US$ 10,604.75 million during 2008-09, an increase of 23.48 per cent over 2007-08, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. India exported goods worth US$ 3.42 billion to Malaysia in 2008-09. During April-December 2009-10, India’s exports to Malaysia totalled US$ 2.14 billion, comprising ships, boats and floating structures, mineral oils and fuels, and organic chemicals, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Indians play an important role in promoting tourism in Malaysia. Following a 7.1 per cent growth in revenues from Indian tourists in 2009, Malaysia expects 650,000 visitors from India in 2010, according to the Director General of Malaysia Tourism. Moreover, Indian biotech companies are increasingly looking at making investments in Malaysia. Malaysia is positioning itself as a cost-competitive country and a regional hub for global biotech companies. It is attracting Indian companies with a large number of sops including a 10-year tax holiday, duty exemptions, customised incentives for large investments, access to ASEAN markets through free trade agreements and no restrictions on equity. Thailand Bilateral trade between the two countries touched US$ 4.6 billion in 2008-09, as compared to US$ 4.12 billion in 2007-08, registering a growth of 12.9 per cent, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. India exported goods worth US$ 1.94 billion in 2008-09 and worth US$ 1.25 billion during April-December 2009-10, to Thailand which included natural pearls, gems and jewellery, residue and waste from food industries and organic chemicals, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Total FDI inflow during the period April 2000-March 2010 from Thailand was US$ 77.97 million, according to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. India and Thailand are targetting bilateral trade worth US$ 12 billion by 2012. In May 2010, the Thai Deputy Minister of Commerce, Alongkorn Ponlabhoot said, "We are hoping that the increase in trade would be generated through cooperation under various agreements like the BIMSTEC, the Asean-India FTA and the proposed Thailand-India FTA." Indonesia Bilateral trade between India and Indonesia totalled US$ 9.3 billion in 2008-09, an increase of 32.08 per cent over US$ 6.99 billion in 2007-08, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During the period 2008-09, India exported goods worth US$ 2.56 billion to Indonesia. During April-December 2009-10, India exported goods worth US$ 2.3 billion to Indonesia comprising mainly of organic chemicals, mineral fuels and ships and boats, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. India and Indonesia are targetting bilateral trade worth US$ 20 billion by 2020 according to Indonesian ambassador to India, Andi M Ghalib. Indonesia is an important source of FDI for India. It is the 16th largest FDI investor amongst all countries and the second largest amongst the ASEAN countries. FDI inflows from Indonesia into India totalled US$ 604.28 million during April 2000-March 2010, according to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Myanmar During 2008-09, India exported goods worth US$ 221.64 million to Myanmar comprising mainly of pharmaceuticals and iron and steel. Bilateral trade stood at US$ 1.15 billion during 2008-09, an increase of 15.7 per cent over US$ 994.45 million in 2007-08, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. During April-December 2009-10, India’s exports to Myanmar totalled US$ 159.77 million, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. FDI inflows from Myanmar into India totalled US$ 8.96 million in the period April 2000-March 2010, according to data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Vietnam Bilateral trade between India and Vietnam grew to US$ 2.15 billion in 2008-09 from US$ 1.78 billion in 2007-08, registering a growth of 20.38 per cent, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Indian exports to Vietnam in 2008-09 totalled US$ 1.7 billion, while India exported goods worth US$ 1.25 billion from Vietnam during April-December 2009-10 comprising mainly of residues and wastes from food industries, animal fodder, meat and cereals, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Philippines Bilateral trade between India and Philippines was worth US$ 998.54 million in 2008-09 as compared to US$ 824.87 million in 2007-08, an increase of 21.05 per cent, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Indian exports to Philippines during 2008-09 totalled US$ 743.77 million. During April-December 2009-10, India exported goods worth US$ 534.38 million to Philippines, comprising chiefly of meat, iron and steel and vehicles other than railways, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Cambodia During 2008-09, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at US$ 49.61 million. India exported goods worth US$ 46.90 million to Cambodia in 2008-09. During April-December 2009-10, India exported goods worth US$ 30.53 million, chiefly comprising pharmaceuticals, cotton and tobacco, according to the latest data by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.