November 11-20 2014 Current Affairs

Defence

India-Israel joint venture LRSAM missile

successfully tested

Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) codeveloped by India and Israel, was successfully testfired from a range in Israel. The test fire was carried
by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in the presence of
DRDO scientists and officials of the Indian Armed
Forces.
The successful test marked a milestone in bilateral
cooperation of the two countries in developing
advanced weapon systems.
Importance of Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile
(LRSAM)
LRSAM will be deployed on the newly commissioned
INS Kolkata, which had to be inducted without the
weapon system due to delays in testing.
It would also be deployed on other naval ships
including recently commissioned INS Kamorta.
About Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM)
LRSAM is called Barak 8 missile in Israel. Barak is the
Hebrew word for Lightning.

 It is designed to counter a wide variety of air-borne

threats such as anti-ship missiles, aircraft, UAVs and
drones as well as supersonic cruise missiles.
Barak 8 is an advanced, long-range missile defence
and air defence system with main features being:
Long Range
Active Radar Seeker Missile
Vertical Launch
Multiple Simultaneous Engagements.
Tag

LRSAM Indo-Israeli missile

Social
Security

Launch of Jeevan Pramaan: Digital life

certificate for pensioners

The Jeevan Pramaan scheme- an Aadhar based

Digital Life Certificate for pensioners was recently
launched. This digital life certificate scheme will
benefit over 1 crore pensioners who have to produce
Life Certificates each year to receive pension.
Earlier, pensioner either personally presented himself
before the Pension Disbursing Agency or used to
submit a Life Certificate issued by authorities
specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office
(CPAO).

 Through this certificate, a pensioner now can digitally

provide proof of his existence to authorities for
continuity of pension every year instead of requiring
presenting himself physically or through a Life
Certificate issued by specified authorities.
Key Facts about Jeevan Praman
The Department of Electronics and IT has developed a
software application which will enable the recording
of the pensioner`s Aadhar number and biometric
details from his mobile device or computer by
plugging in a biometric reading device.
Key details of the pensioner including date, time and
biometric information will be uploaded to a central
database on real-time basis.
It will enable the Pension Disbursing Agency to access
a Digital Life Certificate. This will conclusively
establish that the pensioner was alive at the time of
authentication.
This software application system will be made
available to pensioners and other stakeholders on a
large scale at no extra cost.
It can be operated on a personal computer or a
smartphone along with an inexpensive biometric
reading device.
Tag

Jeevan Pramaan Digital Life Certificate

Award

Jnanpith award 2013 conferred on Hindi poet

Kedarnath Singh

President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 49th

Jnanpith Award (for year 2013) to eminent Hindi poet
Kedarnath Singh for his outstanding contribution
towards Indian literature. He was conferred this
award at a function held at Balyogi Auditorium,
Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
Kedarnath Singh as a poet has offered a rare
assimilation of rhymes and lyrical prose, exploring
both the realms of reality and fantasy with equal
felicity. His poetry presents a collage of meaning,
colours and acceptance.
He is the 10th Hindi writer to receive the award.
About Kedarnath Singh
Kedarnath Singh was a celebrated teacher who had
taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
He was born in Balia of Uttar Pradesh and is known
for his work Abhi bilkul abhi and Yahan se dekho.
He is also an eminent critic and essayist. He was also
awarded Sahitya Akademi Award (1989) in Hindi for
his poetry collection, Akaal Mein Saras.

 He became famous with a book entitled Teesra

Saptak edited by Sachchidananda Hirananda
Vatsyayan whose pen name was Agyeya.
About Jnanpith Award
The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along
with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the
two most prestigious literary honours in the country.
The name of award is taken from Sanskrit words,
Jnana and Pitha (knowledge-seat).
The award includes 11 lakh rupees and a citation
plaque and a bronze replica of Saraswati.
The award was instituted in 1961. It is presented by
the Bharatiya Jnanpith trust founded by the Sahu Jain
family.
The award is given to any Indian citizen who writes in
any of the 22 official languages of India mentioned in
VIII Schedule of Constitution.
Prior to 1982, the awards were given for a single work
by a writer; since then, the award has been given for
a lifetime contribution to Indian literature.
Tag

Kedarnath Singh

Financial
Inclusion

Kerala became first state with bank accounts

for all families

 Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani announced that

Kerala has become the first state in the country to
have bank accounts for all families under Pradhan
Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY). This formal
declaration was by minister at the State-Level
Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting in
Thiruvananthapuram.
Under the PMJDY, Kerala has opened about 13 lakh
new accounts and has mobilised 326 crore rupees
through intensive financial literacy campaigns
launched under the support of the State Level
Bankers Committee (SLBC).
Kerala was able to achieve this target under PMJDY
ahead of schedule because of Financial Literacy
Centres which are active in all the 152 blocks of state.
Under this scheme, 5.25 lakh rupees debit cards have
been issued by all banks.
State government is also opening a second account
separately for the woman in each household under
PMJDY.
Tag

Bank accounts for all

Security

Government bans Kamatapur Liberation

Organisation

 Central Government has banned Kamatapur

Liberation Organisation (KLO), which operates in
West Bengal and Assam. An official gazette
notification of Union Home Ministry mentioned that
under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, it
has proposed to add KLO and all its formation and
front organisations as a terrorist organisation. With
this notification, KLO is listed in the First Schedule of
Act and has joined other 37 militant organizations.
About Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO)
KLO came into existence in 1993 to achieve the
objective of a separate sovereign Kamatapur state.
It has been consolidating its position in the 14 districts
in Assam and 6 districts in West Bengal both
organisationally and in terms of weapons and cadres.
Reasons for formation
It was formed to address problems of the Koch
Rajbongshi community and perceived neglect of
Kamtapuri language, large-scale unemployment, land
alienation, identity and grievances of economic
deprivation of the community.
Demand
The group has emerged as a major threat and is
demanding an independent county Sovereign
Kamatapur State of ten districts in West Bengal and

Assam. The 10 districts demanded by them includes

six districts of North Bengal namely Cooch Behar,
Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur,
Malda and four of lower Assam, Kokrajhar,
Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Goalpara.
It is alleged that the KLO is having links with other
North-east militant groups such ULFA and National
Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
Tag

Kamatpur Liberation Organisation

International Sri Lanka Supreme Court gives nod to

Mahinda Rajapaksa for third time contest
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has given nod to
President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest for third
term as President. Sri Lankan Presidents decision to
go for a third term was publicly questioned by former
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sarath Silva, on
the grounds that he was elected President for the
second term before the enactment of the 18th
constitutional amendment, which removed the cap
on the number of times an incumbent President could
contest.
Retired Justice Silvas contention was that Rajapaksa
had contested and won the election on January 27,
2010, prior to the enactment of the 18th

Amendment, at a time when there was a limit of two

terms. And a Presidents term begins on the day he
gets elected. Therefore, Rajapaksa could not bid for a
third term.
Sri Lanka Supreme Courts decision
The Court in its decision mentioned that there is no
legal barrier preventing the President to stand for a
third six-year term.
Tag

Sports

Sri Lanka elections

Lee Chong Wei provisionally suspended for

anti-doping regulation violation

Badminton World Federation (BWF) has provisionally

suspended Malaysian badminton player and World
No. 1 Lee Chong Wei due to an apparent anti-doping
regulation violation. BWF, world-governing body for
has Badminton has imposed this suspension due to an
adverse analytical finding of a sample taken at the
World Championships in August, 2014.
The provisional suspension means the athlete is
barred temporarily from participation in any
competition prior to the Doping Hearing Panels
decision. The BWF has referred this matter to its
Doping Hearing Panel and, in due course, the chair of
the panel will set the time, date and location of a

hearing. The panel will determine whether or not the

athlete has committed an anti-doping regulation
violation.
About Lee Chong Wei
Lee Chong Wei is a Malaysian Chinese professional
badminton player.
As a singles player, he was ranked first worldwide for
199 consecutive weeks from 21 August 2008 to 14
June 2012.
Achievements: He has won 55 career tittles and was
named the BWF player of the year four times. He has
won silver at 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics.
He is a four time Commonwealth Games gold Medalist,
2 each in singles and mens team events. He has won
three silver medals and a bronze at the World
Championships. He was part of the Silver medal winning
Malaysian team at the 2014 Thomas Cup.
Tag

Anti-doping regulation

Space
Science

Rosetta missions Philae probe landed on

Comet 67P

 Rosetta mission of European Space Agency (ESA) has

landed its Philae probe on the surface of Comet 67P/
ChuryumovGerasimenko. Philae probe landing on
Comet 67P made a Space history, as for the first time
probe has landed on a comet.
The landing site of Philae probe has been named as
Agilkia and is located on the head of the bizarre
double-lobed object of Comet. Name Agilkia was
chosen by ESA in honour of Agilkia Island, in a public
contest.
Philaes mission:
Philaes mission is to transmit data about
composition of the comet after landing on its
surface. It will provide elemental, isotopic, molecular
and mineralogical composition of the comet material.
The lander is named after Philae Island in the Nile
River, Egypt where an obelisk (a tall, four-sided,
narrow tapering monument) was found and used,
along with the Rosetta stone, to decipher Egyptian
hieroglyphics.
About Spacecraft Rosetta and Comet 67P
67P was first discovered in 1969 by Soviet
astronomers Ivanovych Churyumov and Svetlana
Ivanova Gerasimenko. It is also known as Comet
ChuryumovGerasimenko.

 The spacecraft has been named after the Rosetta

Stone, the discovery of which in 1799 provided the
key to translating Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and
Demotic script into Ancient Greek (and thus any other
language).
Mission
The 1 billion pound (1.58 billion US dollars) Rosetta
mission blasted off from Europes spaceport in
Kourou, French Guiana, in March 2004, for a long
journey involving loops around the Sun as it aimed to
get onto the same orbit as 67P.
Rosetta has traversed over 6 billion n km, passing by
Earth three times, Mars once, and flew by two
asteroids, using the gravitational pull of those bodies
to change velocity and catch up with 67P.It had
travelled through the Solar System before reaching at
orbit of Comet 67P on 6th August 2014. The mission
aims to know mysteries of comets made from ancient
material that predates the origin of the solar system.
Tag

Comet landing

Sports

Rohit Sharma breaks record for highest oneday international score ever

 Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma has made history by

scoring the highest ODI score of 264 runs. He
achieved this distinction during the 4th ODI between
India and Sri Lanka played at Kolkata. Rohit
surpassed several records including Virender
Sehwags 219 and his own 209 scored against
Australia in Bangalore in November 2013.
He made this record score in 173 which included 33
fours and 9 sixes. He got to his 50 off 72, 100 off 100,
150 off 125, 200 off 151 and 250 off 166.
He also became only the fifth Indian batsman after
Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly
and Sachin Tendulkar to post two or more scores in
excess of 150 in ODIs.
Indian cricketers to reach Double century milestone:
Sachin Tendulkar was the first Indian cricketer to
reach double century landmark against South Africa in
2010. The second one to do so was Virendra Sehwag
who scored 219 against West Indies in the year 2011.
Third one was Rohit Sharma to score 209 runs against
Australia in 2013.
Tag

Rohit Sharma

Defence

India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable

Prithvi-II missile

India has successfully test-fired its indigenously

developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-tosurface missile, from Chandipur test range in Odisha.
It was fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode
from launch complex-3 of Integrated Test Range. In
the test, missiles trajectory was tracked by DRDO
radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry
stations located along the coast of Odisha.
This test was part of a regular training exercise of
Strategic Force Command of Defence (SFC) and
monitored by Defence Research & Development
Organisation (DRDO).
The purpose of the test was clearly to indicate Indias
operational readiness to meet any eventuality and
also establishes the reliability of this deterrent
component of Indias Strategic arsenal.
Facts about Prithvi-II Missile
Prithvi-II is indigenously developed nuclear-capable
missile. It has a strike range of 350 km. It is capable
of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads. It is
powered by liquid propulsion twin engines. It uses
advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring
trajectory. It was the first missile to be developed by
DRDO under Indias prestigious Integrated Guided

Missile Development Program (IGMDP). Prithvi II was

inducted into the SFC in 2003.
The last user trials of Prithvi-II were successfully
carried out from the same base on 7th January, 2014
and 28th March, 2014.
Tag

Prithvi-II Test

Sports

Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth Win China

Open Titles

Indian shuttlers Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth

have won womens and mens singles title of China
Open Super Series Premier of Badminton in Fuzhou,
China.
Kidambi Srikanth of India defeated two-time
Olympic champion and five time world champion Lin
Dan of China in straight game 21-19, 21-17 in the
mens singles final. This was maiden Super Series title
for Srikanth.
This is the first time that any Indian male shuttler has
won a Super Series Premier event since the Super
Series and Premier tournaments were introduced.
Indian Olympic bronze-medalist Saina Nehwal
defeated Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in the womens
singles final. In her sixth appearance in the
prestigious tournament, World No. 5 Saina prevailed

over the Akane 21-12, 22-20 in the womens singles

final.
Tag

China Open badminton title

Polity

Rajya Sabha question hour shifted from 11am

to 12 noon

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has decided to

shift Question Hour in Rajya Sabha from 11 a.m. to
12 noon for the upcoming Winter Session. Thus,
Question Hour in Rajya Sabha will be between 12 PM
and 1 PM instead of 11 am. As per new rules, the
proceeding of the Rajya Sabha will start with Zero
Hour which will be between 11am to 12 noon. The
move aimed to ensure disruption-free proceedings
during this segment.
Rules Committee of Parliament had given final nod to
the change these timings. Rajya Sabha Secretariat has
issued the notification to this effect and it has been
communicated to all Ministries.
Reason for shift in timing of Question Hour
Question Hour, which marks the beginning of a days
proceedings of a House of Parliament, is often witness
to disruptions by members who want to raise issues.

 Normally, no issues can be raised during the Question

Hour except those related to the questions listed for
the day. Other issues can be raised during the Zero
Hour.
Earlier in 2011, the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha was
shifted for a few days to 2-3 pm so that the House
could function normally in the first half. But, it was
subsequently discontinued and the Question Hour
switched back to its usual timing of 11 am.
Question Hour: During this time, the members of
Parliament ask questions and the ministers usually
give answers. There are three kinds of question which
can be asked during Question Hour. They are starred,
unstarred and short notice. Question Hour is
mentioned in the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
Zero Hour: It is a period during which Member of
Parliament (MPs) get chance to raise matters of
public importance that need immediate attention of
the government without any prior notice. It is not
mentioned in the Rules of Procedure of Parliament
and Indian innovation in the field of parliamentary
procedure since 1962.
Tag

Question hour timings

Committee Nanavati Commission submits final report

 Justice Nanavati Commission has submitted its final

report on the 2002 Gujarat riots to state chief
minister Anandiben Patel. The final report of the
commission on the 2002 riots, in which more than
1,000 people, mostly of minority community, were
killed, comes after extensive investigation which ran
over a period of more than 12 years and has more
than 2,000 pages.
The commission members:
Retired Supreme Court justice G T Nanavati and
Retired High Court Justice Akshay Mehta.
In 2008, the inquiry panel had submitted one part of
its finding with regard to the Godhra train burning
incident.
In the part one report, the commission had concluded
that the burning of S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express
near Godhra railway station was a planned
conspiracy.
Initially, the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the
commission were to inquire into the facts,
circumstances and course of events that led to the
burning of the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express.
About Nanavati Commission
On 3rd March 2002, Gujarat government under the
Commission of Inquiry Act had constituted

commission comprising of Justice K G Shah in the

wake of the Godhra train carnage on February 27,
2002, and the subsequent communal riots across the
state.
In May 2002, the state government appointed retired
Supreme Court justice G T Nanavati as the chairman
of the commission and the TOR were further
amended in June 2002, as per which the panel was
also asked to inquire the incidents of violence that
took place after the Godhra incident.
In 2008, after the death of justice K G Shah, retd high
court Justice Akshay Mehta was appointed to the
panel. The commission was given 24 extensions of
around six months each to complete its
investigations.
The commission investigated roles of then Chief
Minister Narendra Modi, as per the TOR, his Cabinet
colleagues of that time, senior government and police
officers along with functionaries of some right wing
organisations during the period of 2002 riots.
Tag

Award

Nanavati commission report

Neha Gupta wins International Childrens

Peace Prize

 Indian American Neha Gupta, 18 has been awarded

with the prestigious International Childrens Peace
Prize 2014. Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu the
patron of the Dutch childrens rights organization
presented her with the award in The Hague,
Netherlands.
She was awarded this award for her exceptional work
to raise money for underprivileged children around
the world. Her work has helped orphans in India and
other vulnerable children.
She is the first American to be awarded with this
prize.
About Neha Gupta
Neha is a citizen of the United States of America, born
in New Zealand to Indian parents
She was inspired to the work for underprivileged
children during a visit to India with her grandparents.
After this visit she founded Empower Orphans, an
organization designed to support orphaned and
abandoned children in India and the US.
Through her own organization, she has helped more
than 25000 vulnerable children by raising over 1.3
million US dollar. She started working for
underprivileged children of the world at the age of
nine.

 The list of projects of her includes opening libraries,

developing paths to health care, and promoting
education.
She has also won numerous awards including the
2011 World of Children Award, the Presidents
Volunteer Service Award, the Congressional Award,
and also the national Prudential Spirit of Community
award.
About International Childrens Peace Prize
The International Childrens Peace Prize is awarded
annually to a child who has made a significant
contribution to advocating childrens rights and
improving the situation of vulnerable children such as
orphans, child labourers and children with HIV/AIDS.
The prize is an initiative of Marc Dullaert, Chairman
and Founder of the Amsterdam-based childrens
rights organization, KidsRights.
The first Childrens Peace Prize was launched in
November 2005 during the World Summit of Nobel
Peace Laureates in Rome, an annual meeting of Nobel
Peace Prize winners and international organisations
such as UNICEF and Amnesty International.
Since then, the prize has been presented every year
by a Nobel Peace Laureate.
In 2006, Om Prakash Gurjar from India was conferred
with this award for setting up network of child

friendly villages which aims to give all children a birth

certificate as a way of helping to protect them from
exploitation.
In 2013, the award was conferred on Malala
Yousufzai, who went on to win this Nobel Peace Prize
2014.
Tag

Neha Gupta

International In a historic move, Church of England

allows women to become bishops
Church of England has broken the centuries-old
tradition by paving the way for the appointment of
female bishops. It is considered as a historic move
towards widening female participation in the Church.
Final seal of approval to this legislation which was
passed by UK Parliament in October 2014 was given
by the vote at the general synod meeting held at
Westminster Church House in central London.
The general synod is the law-making body of the
Church of England. As per this new legislation, the
first female bishop is expected to take her seat in
2015.
The amendment to Canon 33 of the Church of
England, now clearly mentions that a man or a
woman may be consecrated to the office of bishop.

The legislation comes 20 years after the women were

ordained as priests.
The new legislation also includes some safeguards to
manage dissent, such as the introduction of an
independent reviewer who will oversee arrangements
for parishes who want oversight from a male bishop.
There are women bishops in countries like Australia,
Canada, Cuba, India, New Zealand, Swaziland, South
Africa and the USA.
Background
Women priests were ordained in 1994 but to date
they have not been able to take on the Churchs most
senior roles. Divisions remain between Anglicans who
feel it is consistent with their faith and traditionalists
who disagree.
Earlier in 2012, a prior move to allow women to stand
as bishops was defeated in 2012 by six votes cast by
lay members of the general synod.
In 2014, General Synod was asked for the second time
to give final approval to legislation introducing
women bishops.
Tag

Scheme

Women bishops

Government re-launches Kisan Vikas Patra

 Union Government re-launched Kisan Vikas Patra

scheme (KVP) in New Delhi to encourage the habit of
small savings among the citizens. The scheme will
soon be made available through designated branches
of nationalized banks across the country.
The previous KVP was discontinued in 2011. The
scheme was very popular among the investors and
the percentage share of gross collections secured in
KVP after its launch in 1988 was in the range of 9-29
per cent against the total collections received under
all National Savings Schemes in the country.
Key facts of the relaunced Kisan Vikas Patra scheme
(KVP)
Investment: The KVP will be available to the investors
in the denomination of 1000, 5000, 10000 and 50000
rupees with no upper ceiling on investment. The
scheme will provide facility of unlimited investment
by way of purchase of certificate from post office in
various denominations.
Liquidity feature: Kisan Vikas Patra scheme has
unique liquidity feature, where an investor can
encash his certificates after the lock-in period of 2
years and 6 months and thereafter in any block of six
months on pre-determined maturity value.
KVP certificates: The certificates can also be issued in
single or joint names and can be transferred from one

person to any other person. The investment made in

the certificate will double in 100 months. The facility
of transfer from one post office to another anywhere
in India and of nomination will also be available under
the scheme.
Maturity period: With a maturity period of 8 years 4
months, the collections under the scheme will be
available with the Union Government for a fairly long
period to be utilized in financing developmental plans
of the Centre and State Governments.
Earlier Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) Scheme
Earlier Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) - a certificate savings
scheme was launched by the Union Government on
1st April 1988. This scheme provided facility of
unlimited investment by way of purchase of
certificates from post offices in various
denominations.
The maturity period of the earlier scheme when it was
launched, was 5 years and six months and the money
invested doubled on maturity.
The gross collections under the scheme in the year
2010-11 were 21631.16 crore rupees which was 9 per
cent of the total gross collections during the year.
In the year of its closure, the scheme secured gross
collections of 7575.95 crores rupees (April 2011 to
November 2011).

Implications of new KVP

KVP would serve two purposes: Firstly, it would help
poor gullible investors to channelise their savings
towards trusted government scheme instead of some
ponzi schemes. Secondly, it would help to meet the
urgent need to raise savings in the country. These
savings then would be used for nation building. Thus
such saving instrument will not only earn interest but
also help in development of the country.
Encourage people to save more: In the last 2-3 years,
savings rate in country has declined from a record
high of 36.8 per cent to below 30 per cent due to
slowdown in the economy. So it will encourage
people to save more.
Tag

Kisan Vikas Patra scheme

Defence

India, China Hand-in-Hand joint exercise

begins in Pune

On 17th November 2014, Fourth edition of IndiaChina Joint Training Exercise Hand-in-Hand 2014
began at Aundh Military Station in Pune,
Maharashtra. This exercise will continue till 25th
November 2014.

 The Chinese contingent for the exercise comes from

13th Group Army of Peoples Liberation Army i.e.
Chengdu Military Region and comprises an infantry
company along with supporting staff. The opening
ceremony was followed by both contingents
displaying their weapons which included assault rifles,
grenade launchers and other sophisticated
equipment.
The aim of the 12 day Indo-China joint exercise is to
Share the drills and practices learnt while tackling
insurgency and terrorism.
Promote healthy military to military relations
between the two armies.
Develop joint strategies of conducting operations in a
counter terrorism environment.
Implications of this joint exercise
It will enhance confidence and trust between the two
armies that may be called upon to grapple with antiterrorism operations even under the UN regulations
and mandate.
It will uphold the values of Peace, Prosperity and
Stability in the region by jointly eradicating terrorism
with helping each other.
It will develop mutual understanding and respect for
each others military.

Previous editions of military Hand-in-Hand Joint

Training exercises between Indian and Chinese Army
1st edition was held in 2007 in China.
2nd edition was held in 2008 in Belgaum, Karnataka.
3rd edition was held in 2013 in China.
Tag

Hand-in-Hand defence exercise

Economy

Queensland clears Adani Groups coal mining

project

Australias Queensland state has cleared Adani

groups proposed plan to build a 7 billion dollar
Carmichael coal mine. Queensland State has also
announced a major investment in rail infrastructure
to support the Indian conglomerates mega project.
This announcement comes after State Bank of India
(SBI) approved US $ 1 billion loan for Adani Mining to
develop Carmichael coal mine project near Clermont
in Central Queensland, Australia. Adani Group has
signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
SBI in the third week of November 2014 for clearing
this loan.
About Adani Groups Project
Adani groups Carmichael coal, railway and port
project includes building Australias largest thermal

coal mine in the north Galilee Basin. It is

approximately 160km north-west of Clermont in
Central Queensland and will be linked by a new 388
km standard gauge rail line to a new terminal at
Abbot Point Port near Bowen.
This project will be implemented by Adani Mining subsidiary of the Adani Group in Australia. The CEO
and Australia head is Jeyakumar Janakaraj. The
company aims to build the project by end of the year
2017 and the produced coal from the region will be
sent 400 km by rail to Australias east coast. This
project, which is evincing interest from private and
public financiers in India and abroad, will deliver
10,000 jobs and 22 billion dollars in taxes and
royalties to Queensland. In addition it will help Adani
group to deliver cost-efficient power in the Indian
market.
Tag

Adani mining project