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| Current Event National, Jan 2010 |
| 9 Jan |
The Centre approves the proposal of the US-based soft drinks major PepsiCo to inject additional equity of $200 million (around Rs. 930 crore) into its Indian arm within three years. |
| 10 Jan |
The Planning Commission constitutes a 25-member expert panel to explore options before the country for a low-carbon economy. |
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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sanctions $150 million aid for the Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) |
| 11 Jan |
Two ballistic flight tests of Astra, the Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), are successfully carried out fom the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Balasore, Orissa. |
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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh launches the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission, or "Solar India" |
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India and Bangladesh Prime Minister Ms. Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh, the pacts are aimed at bolstering Bilateral ties. |
| 12 Jan |
Seeking to aggressively pursue export of products to China and Japan, the centre announces the inclusion of both the countries in the MarketLinked Focused Programme (MLFP) scheme; the Centre also unleashes incentive worth Rs. %00 crore for exporters, especially those in the labour intensive sectors. |
| 13 Jan |
The Centre announces a slew of new measures to curb the soaring price of essential commodities. |
| 14 Jan |
India and France exchange the instruments of ratification of the
agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation, bringing into force the historic
Indo-France N-deal |
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The Central Government allows ONGC Videsh to invest $39 million (Rs.1,651 crore) for oil exploration in two deep-sea blocks in Nigeria over the next five years. |
| 15 Jan |
The millennium's longest (11-Minute) annular solar eclipse covers a swathe of 1000 km in India; the spectacle enthrals millions. |
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The Central agrees to releas Rs. 12,000 crore in cash to loss-making state-run oil companies to cover for their losses in the 2009-10 fiscal. |
| 16 Jan |
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests decides to conduct a vulnerability line mapping along the country's coastline, to ensure the safety of those living close to the coast. |
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The Centre annoumces that the next assembling centre for the BrahMos missiles will be Rajasthan's Pilani. At present BrahMos missiles are assembled only in Hyderabad. |
| 17 Jan |
Jyoti Basu, the famous Leftist icon of India, passes away at the age of 95 in Kolkata, West Bengal. |
| 18 Jan |
The Suprime Court extends to June 30, 2010 the deadline for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to fix the tariff for the Direct-to-Home (DTH) platform. |
| 19 Jan |
At the joint Economic Group (JEG) dialogue held in Beiging (China), India and China agree to work together to bridge the widening trade gap between the two nations. |
| 20 Jan |
Malaysian Premier Md. Najib Tun Razak visit India; during this visit, India and Malaysia sign an extradition treaty and two two other accords on economic cooperation and higher education. |
| 21 Jan |
Former Foreign Secretary Mr. Shiv Shankar Menon is appointed as a new National Security Adviser (NSA); he succeeds Mr. M.K. Narayanan. |
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The Cabinate Committee on Infrastructure accords in-principle approval for the establishment of the National Knowledge Network (NKN) that will interconnect all knowledge institutions of the country. |
| 22 Jan |
Lt. Gen. Vijay Kumar Singh is appointed the new chief of the Army Staff; he succeeds Gen,Deepak Kapoor. |
| 23 Jan |
Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed attend and delivers the keynote address at the 16th edition of the India-maldivas Partnership Summit, organised by the Confederation of India Industry (CII) in chennai, Tamil nadu. |
| 24 Jan |
The second ministerial-level meeting of the BASIC group of nations-Comprising China, India,South Africa and Brazil-is held in New Delhi. |
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In a milestone, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) tests its biggest and most powerful rocked motor called the S-200, powered by 200 tonnes of solid propellant. The test is conducted at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. |
| 25 Jan |
The Civilian Awards for 2010 are announced on the eve of the nation's 61st Republic Daky; in all, the President approves the names of 130 persons for the awards -6 for Padma Vibhushan, 43 for Padma Bhushan and 81 for Padma Shri. The President also approves 442 gallantry awards. |
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India and South Korea sign four crucial agreement in various sectors; the agreements are signed in New Delhi during the state visit of South Korean Prime Minister Mr,Lee Myung -bak. |
| 26 Jan |
Hon,ble President Ms. Pratibha Patel confers the gallantruy awards on the recipients on the occasion of the 61st Republic Day; Visiting South Korean Premier Mr.Lee Myung-bak takes part in the Repubic Day celebrations in New Delhi as the chief guest. |
| 27 Jan |
Seeking to enhance its presence in mineral and oil rich African counries. The agreement is signed in Luanda , Angola. |
| 28 Jan |
The 2010 Environmental performance Index,released worldwide, places India at the 123rd rank among 163 countries; the list is topped by Iceland. |
| 29 Jan |
In a move to contain rising inflation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hikes the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)-the portion that commercial banks are required to keep with the central bank-by 75 basis points from 5 percent to 5.75 percent. |
| 30 Jan |
The high-level task force, constitude toset a growth agenda for the development of the micro,small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, submits its recommemdation to prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh. |
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India submits its emission cut proposals to the UN; in its proposals, India says that it will endeavour to reduce its emission intensity by 20-25 percent by 2020 in comparison to the 2005 levels. |
| 31 Jan |
In a step that could creat a major socio-political impact in Punjab as well as other parts of the country, Dera Sachkhand Ballan announces a new religion, Ravidassia Dharm; it is also announced that the community will have its own separate religion book, Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass. |
| International |
| 9 Jan |
Afghan President Mr.Hamid KarZai submits a new list of Cabinet nominees to replace Ministers rejected
by the nation's parlaiment. |
| 10 Jan |
Reports reveal that after a 13-month slump, China's exports posted strong growth in December 2009, helping the country surpass germany to become the world's largest exporter.
Mr. Ivo Josipovic is elected the President of croatia. |
| 11 Jan |
Sri Lanka and India sign a commercial pact in colombo, with India Promising the island nation an assistance of $185 million for the construction of a Railway Line in the War-torn Northern Province of Sri Lanka. |
| 12 Jan |
Foreign Ministers of Afganistan , Pakistan and host United Arab Emirates (UAE) , along with the reoresentatives of 40 countries, the European Union (EU) and the UN Mision in Afghanistan, hold a crucial security meet in Abu Dhabi.
An earthquake of a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude devastates the Caribbean nation Haiti, killing Lakhs of People and rendering millions homeless. |
| 13 Jan |
Internet Giant Google threatens to close its operations in china, following a string of vicious cyber attacks
on its services. |
| 14 Jan |
Japan and Germany agree to work together on climate change, nuclear disarmament and rebuilding Afghanistan , during aTokyo visit by german Foreign minister Mr. guido Westerwelle. |
| 15 Jan |
Russia lifts its opposition to a long-delayed reform of the European Court if Human rights in a major gesture towards the west; the new move will also improve the Russian legal system. |
| 16 Jan |
The Government of hong Kong approves a controversial $8.6 bollion rail link to China's high-speed rail network. |
| 17 Jan |
Amnesty international accuses Israel of ''collectively punishing'' the population of the Gaza Strip with border closures. |
| 18 Jan |
Chilean billionaire Mr. Sebastian Pinera is elected as the nation's President; with his election, the latin American nation Witnesses a political shift to the right to the right after 20 years of leftist rule. |
| 19 Jan |
Cadbury, the flagbearer of the British Chocolate industry , is acquired by US giant Kraft Foods for $19 billion ; the amalgamation creates a world leader in food and confectionery. |
| 20 Jan |
In a major setback for US President Mr. Barack obama, Republican Mr.Scott Brown Captures the US Senate seat held by the legendary Democrat Edward Kennedy for neraly half a century. |
| 21 Jan |
A report released by the Chinese Government reveals that after suffering one of its worst declines in decades, China's econiomy has rebounded strongly, recording 8.7 percent growth in 2009. |
| 22 Jan |
In a Crucial Development, the Us Supreme Court that labour unions and corporations can spend unlimited amounts to influence federal elections, throwing out a ban that had been in effect for 63 years. |
| 23 Jan |
A year after the Gaza War, Israel pays the Un $10.5 million as compensation for danaging its offices during an attack by its defence forces. |
| 24 Jan |
Afghanistan postpones parliamentary elections for four months , saying it will not be safe to hold elections amid a spiralling Taliban Insurgency. |
| 25 Jan |
Dalai Lama's envoys arrive in Beijing for the resumption of talks with china, Which have been suspended since November 2008 over disagreements on the question of Tibet's autonomy. |
| 26 Jan |
In a Significant development, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) says that the Copenhagen Accord, finalised at the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009, is not a legally binding document but merely a political one. |
| 27 Jan |
Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa is re-elected for a second term; in the presidential elections, he beats former army chief Gen. (Retd.) Sarath Fonseka by a comfortable margin.
The World Economic Forum summit is convened in Davos, Switzerland. |
| 28 Jan |
Spelling bad news for outsourcing hubs including India, US President Mr. Barack Obama says in his 2010 state of the Union Address that his government will cut tax breaks of companies that outsource jobs to offshore destinations. |
| 29 Jan |
Microsoft Founder Mr. Bill Gates announces that his foundation will commit $10 billion over the next decade to research and deliver vaccines to the poorest nations of the world. |
| 30 Jan |
Russia seals a multi- billion dollar package of seals to supply weapons to Lybia, Signalling a return to the strategically important region of North Africa.` |
| 31 Jan |
Faced with growing discontent over land seizures by the government and real estate developers , china's
State Council announces a major overhaul of land laws that will slowthe process of home demolitions and give home owners greater compensations for their land. |
| FEBRUARY 2010 (National) |
| 1 Feb |
A report released by the centre shows that continuing with a rising trend for the second consecutive month
India's exports registered a 9.3 percent growth in December 2009, while imports also turned positive after
posting negative growth for the last 11 months. |
| 2 Feb |
German President Dr. horst Koehler arrivesin India on a statet visit; during his meeting with Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh, India and Germany decide to setup security and economic cooperation by finalising
host of cricial pacts. |
| 3 Feb |
The Centre Constitutes a high-level committee, headed by justice B.N. SriKrishna, on the Telangana
issue, '' to hold wide-ranging consultations with all sections of the people and political parties and groups in Andhra pradesh.
The government- appointed kirit ParikhCommitte recommends complete decontrol of petrol and diesel prices; a hike of Rs.100 per LPG cylinder and an increase of Rs. 6 a litre of Kerosene. |
| 4 Feb |
India and the UK agree on a text of a civil nuclearcooperation deal that is likely to be signed soon on a convenient date; the agreement is reached in London, UK, in a meeting between British Business Secretary Mr. Peter Mandelson and Visiting Indian Commerce and Industry Minister mr. Anand Sharma. |
| 5 Feb |
The Ministers of Health and family Welfare and Railways sign an Mou for developing healthcare infrastructutre along the railway network across the country.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaguurates the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) in New Delhi. |
| 6 Feb |
The Chief Ministers' Conference on Price Rise is Convened in New Delhi; at the Conference, the government decides to setup a high-profile standing Core Group to suggest measures to tackle price rise. |
| 7 Feb |
The Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal security is held in New Delhi; Various crucial issues are discussed in the meeting.
Agni-III, the longest- range(3,500km) N-Capable missile in India's arsenal. is successfully test-fired from the Wheeler Island off Orrisa. |
| 8 Feb |
The second India-Arab Investment Projects Conclave is held in New Delhi. India
announces that it intends to double bilateral trade with the Arab world from the
present $114 billion by 2014. |
| 9 Feb |
The Union Environment Ministry announces its decision to impose a moratorium on
release of Bt. brinjal, the transgenic brinjal hybrid. |
| 10 Feb |
Mr. S. C. Sinha is appointed the Director General of the National Investigation
Agency (NIA). |
| 11 Feb |
India and the UK sign a joint declaration for civil nuclear cooperation to
facilitate the entry of British companies into the India atomic power sector. |
| 12 Feb |
Human Resource Development Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal takes the decision to notify
the Right to Education Act, 2009. |
| 14 Feb |
A Government report says that Palakkad district in Kerala has become the first
fully electrified district in the country. |
| 16 Feb |
Nepalese President Mr. Ram Baran Yadav visits India. |
| 17 Feb |
A Group of Ministers(GoM) clears the "Prohibition of Unfair Practices in
Technical, Medical Educational Institutions and University Bill", drafted by the
HRD Ministry, to provide for a Central Law to curb malpractices. |
| 20 Feb |
India and Bangladesh sign a pact to set up a joint vrnture 1,320 MW power plant
as a mark of cooperation. The two sides also agree to set up a cross border
power grid. |
| 21 Feb |
Mr. L. K. Advani is unanimously elected Working Chairman of the National
Democrative Alliance(NDA). |
| 23 Feb |
The Union Government secures Cabinet approval for a new agreement with the US
that aims, inter alia, at promoting privatisation of agricultureal extension
services and facilitating collaborations between American agribusiness and the
Indian farm sector. |
| 25 Feb |
India submits three dossiers to Pakistan at a meeting between Foreign Secretary
Ms. Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Mr. Salman Bashir in New Delhi. |
| 28 Feb |
India and Soudi arabia sign an extradition treaty during high level talks in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. |
| International |
| 1 Feb |
US President Mr. Barack Obama unveils a $3.83 trillion budget in the cingress; the new budget will pour more money into the fight against unemployment, boost taxes on the wealthy , and freeze spending on a numbers of government programmes. |
| 2 Feb |
Amnesty International appoints Mr. Salil Shetty , an Indian who headed the UN Millennium Mission, as its enxt Secretary General.
The US Government Proposes $3.2 billion in assistance to pakistan in fiscal 2011 , a substantial jump in American aid to that country. |
| 3 Feb |
Iran announces its readiness to send abroad the bulk of its low-enriched uranium stocks in return for its Tehran research reactor. |
| 4 Feb |
Russia offers to send narcotics police to Afghanistan to shore up the global fight against drug porduction and trafficking in that country. |
| 5 Feb |
A Landmark dael batween Northern Ireland's two major political parties,the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein, Removes the last hurdle to granting full autonomy to the province envisaged inthe 1998 Good Friday Agreement thet brought decades of sectarian violence to an end. |
| 6 Feb |
Resourcehouse , an Australian mining firm, signs a record $60 billion deal to supply coal to energy-hungry China for the next 20 years. it is the biggest ever xeport contract in Australia's history. |
| 7 Feb |
Iran president Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad orders the cheif of the nuclear progremme to begin higher uranium enrichment , days after the country seemed to have accepted a UN-drafted nuclear deal. |
8 Feb
|
Mr. Laura Chinchilla becomes Costa Rica's first Women President after a
convincing election triumph.
Marin Cilic of Croatia wins the Zagreb Indoors tennis tournament title, beating
Michael Berrer of Germany in the final in Zagreb, Croatia. |
| 9 Feb |
Iran sets in motion the process of further refining its stocks of lightly
enriched uranium at its atomic facility in Natanz.
The 11the South Asian Games concludes in Dhaka, Bangladesh; India emerge on top
with a haul of 175 medals including 90 Gold, 55 Silver and 30 Bronze, followed
by Pakistan (19-25-36) and Bangladesh (18-23-56). |
| 11 Feb |
Iranian President Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declares Iran a "Nuclear State",
saying that the country has produced its first stock of 20 percent enriched
uranium for its nuclear programme.
A report published in the New Scientist says that scientists at the National
Institute of Standards adn Technology, USA, have created the world's most
precise clock based on a single aluminium atom. The new clock would neither gain
nor lose one second in about 307 billion years. |
| 12 Feb |
Cricket is formally endorsed as a recognised sports by International Olympic
Committee(IOC). |
| 13 Feb |
A high powered laser destroys a target missile in flight off the Central
California Coast, USA, in a milestone test of a futuristic missile defence
system conducted by US. |
| 14 Feb |
Andrew Dodt of Australia wins the title of the 1.5 million Avantha Masters golf
championship in Gurganon, Haryana.
Physicists at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory
create the hottest temperature ever in the laboratory---4 trillion degrees
Celsius---hot enough to break matter down to the kind of soup that existed
microseconds-after the birth of the universe. |
| 15 Feb |
Indian origin lawyer Mr. Rashid Hussain is appointed USA's new special envoy to
the Organization of Islamic Conference(OIC),a post vital to America's bid to
repair strained relations with the Muslim world.
Australian all-rounder shane Watson wins the prestigious Allan Border Medal,
besides being named Australia's ODI Player of the Year.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and an observation deck
to the space outpost. The new deck, named Tranquility, will give the resident
astronauts of the orbital station a panoramic view of the station and the Earth
below. |
| 16 Feb |
The 2009 Sangeet Natak Akademi (Akademi Ratna) Fellowships are awarded to the
winners at a ceremony held in New Delhi; the winners are: Pandit Jasraj,
Shreeram Lagoo, Yamini Krishnamurti, Lalgudi Jayaraman, Kamlesh Dutt Tripathi
and Kishori Amonkar. |
| 19 Feb |
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is honoured with the prestigious Democracy
Service Medal by the Government of USA in function in Washington, USA. |
| 21 Feb |
Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova wins the title of the WTA Tour's Memphis
tournament, beating Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden in the final in Memphis, USA. |
| 22 Feb |
Ian Poulter UK beats compatriot Paul Casey to win the Accenture Match Play golf
championship in Marana, USA.
Iraq war movie The Hurt Locker sweeps the board at the BAFTA Awards in London,
the UK, winning the Best Film and Best Director Award for Kathryan Bigelow;
other awards won by the film include Original Screenplay, Cinematography,
Editing and Sound. |
| 23 Feb |
Eminent journalist Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika is awarded the Dr. Jean Mayer Award for
Global Citizenship by the US based Tufts University for his contributions to the
north-east of India. |
| 24 Feb |
A report released by the World Trade Organization (WTO) says that world trade
fell by 12 % in 2009, the biggest fall since the end of the World War II in
1945.
Sachin Tendulkar becomes the first cricketer in history to score a double
century in an ODI; he achieves this feat in the second ODI of the series against
South Africa in Gwalior. Riding on his unbeaten 200 (off 147 balls), India beat
the visitors by 153 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The Sasakawa Prize of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is conferred on Mr.
Sameer Hajee, an NRI scientist, who invented a portable light that can be
recharged by pedalling for 20 minutes. The device, called the Nuru Light, was
developed for use in areas without electricity. |
| 25 Feb |
Mr. Viktor Yanukovych is sworn in as Ukraine's President at a majestic ceremony
in Kiev, Ukraine.
The National Weightlifting championship concludes in Udaipur, Rajasthan;
Services bag the men's team title, while All India Police claim the women's
crown.
Famous social worker Ms. Ela Phatt is chosen for the prestigious Niwano Peace
Prize of Japan for 2010 for her contribution to the upliftment of poor women in
India.
A much-awaited energy venture, known as "power plant in a box", is unveiled by
its Indian-American inventor, K.R. Sridhar, in Washington, USA. The
groundbreaking invention promises clean electricity to homes, office buildings
and even whole villages in the developing world. The device, called Bloom Box,
can generate electricity from multiple fuels while producing relatively less
greenhouse gas emissions. |
| 26 Feb |
The Indian women's cricket team beat the visiting English side by five wickets
in the fourth match of the ODI series, thus sealing the series 3-1, in
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. |
| 27 Feb |
The Commonwealth Shooting Championship ends in New Delhi. India clinch the top
position with 35 Gold, 25 Silver and 14 Bronze, followed by England (4-15-12)
and Wales (4-2-7). |
| 28 Feb |
The 21st Winter Olympic Games, held in Vancouver, Canada, ends. Hosts Canada
clinch the top position with 14 Gold, 7 Silver and 5 Bronze, followed by Germany
(10-13-7) and USA (9-15-13). |
| March |
National |
| 6 March |
Actress Jaya Bachchan is honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a
ceremony held at the British Academy of Film & Television Arts in London,
England, for her "inspiring contribution to Indian cinema. |
| March |
International |
| 2 March |
In yet another milestone for Chandrayaan-1, the Houston (US)-based Lunar and
Planetary Institute says that the Indian Moon mission had found not only water
molecules and new type of rocks, but also ice on the Moon. |
| 8 March |
The 82nd Academy Awards, better known as the Oscar Awards, are presented in a
grand ceremony in Los Angeles, USA. The Hurt Locker, a smallbudget film on the
Iraq war, wins six awards, while Avatar, a global blockbuster, wins three. The
prominent winners are: Sandra Bullock (Best Actress for The Blind Side), Jeff
Bridges Locker (Best Film), Kathryn Bigelow (Best Director for The Hurt Locker),
Christoph Waltz (Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Inglourious Basterds),
Mo'Nique (Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Precious), etc.
A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA,
devise a way to produce 30 KWh of electricity enough to power an entire
household using one bottle of drinking water and four hours of sunlight. The
key to these claims is a new, affordable catalyst that uses solar electricity to
split water and generate hydrogen. |
| April |
National |
| 8 April |
The Union Cabinet approves the big ticket disinvestment in Steel
Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) to mop up about Rs. 16,000 crore by selling its
equity and issuing fresh shares to the public. |
| 10 April |
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announces that it
will launch the first in a constellation of seven satellites envisaged for the
ambitious Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) by the end of
2011. |
| 13 April |
The Indian Army agrees to acquire the indigenous two-stage ramjet
Akash missile. |
| 17 April |
ISRO's Cartosat 2B high-resolution satellite is flagged off from
Bengaluru to Sriharikota, wherefrom it will be launched. |
| 18 April |
The government launches the second edition of the Triton series
of exercises designed to test the security of the Kerala coast. |
| 20 April |
Mr. Mukul Sangma is sworn in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya;
he replaces Mr. D.D. Lapang. |
| 22 April |
The Centre announces that the sea along the Indian coasts will be
brought under the ambit of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines. |
| 23 April |
Navies of India and the US begin annual war exercises, the 14th
edition of MALABAR, involving anti-submarine warfare surface firing, visit
board, search and seizure and submarine operations, in the Arabian Sea. |
| 27 April |
To extend the social security benefits to more workers under the
ESI scheme, the Centre raises the maximum wage limit for the facility from Rs.
10,000 to Rs. 15,000 a month. |
| 30 April |
Mr. Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia is appointed the 38th Chief
Justice of India; he succeeds Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.
Pilot production of the air-launched version of the India-Russia BrahMos missile
starts in Russia, in line with plans to fit it in the Indian Air Force's
Su-30MKI fighter aircraft by 2012. |
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| April |
International |
| 8 April |
Mr. R.P. Goenka, Chairman Emeritus of RPG Enterprises, receives
the Lifetime Achievement Award from All India Management Association (AIMA) in
New Delhi.
Prasun Chatterjee, an Indian environmetal engineering student whose research has
contributed to a new way of detecting toxic and copper in water, wins one of the
highest US research honours, the 2010 Ellen Gonter Environmental Chemistry
Award, from the American Chemical Society. |
| 10 April |
Polish President Lech Kaczynski and a high-profile delegation are killed when a
plane carrying 97 people crashes near the Russian city of Smolensk. |
| 12 April |
British-Indian author Mr. Rana Dasgupta wins the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for
2010 for his epic tale Solo set in Communist and post-Communist Bulgaria,
Australian author Ms. Glenda Guest's Siddon Rock is adjudged the Best First
Book. |
| 13 April |
The two-day, 47-nation Nuclear Security Summit concludes in Washington, USA,
with the adoption of a short final communique and seven-page work plan aimed at
prompting the effective securty of nuclear material worldwide. |
| 15 April |
The BRIC nations---Brazil, Russia, India and China---hold a summit in Brasilia;
at the same venue, India, Brazil and South Africa also hold the IBSA summit.
Both the summits underscore a shared quest for greater collective influence
within the changing geometry of the international system.
The Eyjafjallajokull volcano of Iceland, that erupted a day before, takes a
heavy toll on the European aviation industry, makin it impossible to operate
flights anywhere in Europe. |
| 17 April |
In a significant development, Ira calls for the suspension of the US from the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and proposes a five-point plan to
democratise the global security architecture. |
| 19 April |
A new page in Pakistan's history is turned with President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari
signing the 18th Amendment Bill that transfers the power of the presidency to
the Parliament and brings back the 1973 Constitution drafted during the regime
of former President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. |
| 20 April |
Noted Hindi writer Hrishikesh Sulabh is chosen for the International Indu Sharma
Katha Samman for 2010 for his story collection Vasant Ke Hatyare. |
| 21 April |
Mr. D. M. Jayaratne is appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka by the nation's
President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa. |
| 25 April |
Mr. P. Kamalanathan, an ethnic Indian, wins a prestigious parliamentary
by-election in Malaysis, giving a boost to the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)
that claims to speak for the 1.7 million community. |
| 26 April |
The two-day annual spring meting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
the World Bank concludes in Washington, USA; at the meeting, the member nations
endorse voice reform to increase the voting power of developing and transition
countries (DTC) in the World Bank by 3.13 percentage points, bringing their
proportional voice to 47.19 percent. |
| 27 April |
A South Korean mountaineer, named Ms. Oh Eun-sun, becomes the first woman in the
world to scale the world's 14 highest mountains, by conquering the Annapurna in
the Himalayas. |
| 28. April |
The 16th South asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) convenes in
Thimphu, Bhutan; at the meeting, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh leads the
SAARC leaders in introspecting on the progress made by the eight-member regional
forum in its 25 years of existence. |
| 30 April |
The World Expo 2010 opens amid much fanfare in Shanghai, China; Chinese
President Mr. Hu Jintao inaugurates the opening ceremony attended by more than
20 heads of states and governments, apart from a large number of
high-level dignitaries from across the world.
Belgium becomes the first nation in Europe to ban the burqa in public places.
The Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2010 is held in Mumbai. Ms. Manasvi Mamgai of
Mumbai is adjudged Miss India World, Bengaluru girl Ms. Nicole Faria is named
Miss India Earth; Ms. Neha Hinge of Pune wins the Miss India International
crown. |
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| April |
Sports |
| 12 April |
India win the inaugural Pearls World Cup Kabaddi Punjab 2010 title, beating
Pakistan in the final in Ludhiana, Punjab. |
| 15 April |
Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani defends his Asian billiards title with a win
over Peter Gilchrist of Singapore in the final in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. |
| 17 April |
Dipika Pallikal of India wins the WISPA (women's) title, beating Emma Beddoes of
England in the final of the Indian Challenger squash tournament in Kolkata;
Mohamed El Shorgagy of Egypt wins the men's title. |
| May |
National |
| 1 May |
Mr. Atul Khare, an Indian, is appointed by UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon
as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. |
| 3 May |
The Lok Sabha passes a bill to raise the ceiling on gratuity for employees in
the private sector to Rs. 10 lakh from Rs. 3.5 lakh. |
| 7 May |
In a ignificant development, the Supreme Court holds that candidates in the
"Meritorious Reserved Category (MRC)" selected on merit and placed in the
"General/Unreserved Category" in the Central Civil Services Examination (CSE)
can be given a choice to opt for a service of higher preference in terms of Rule
16(2) of the CSE Rules.
The contentious Nuclear Liability Bill is introduced in the Lik Sabha amid
protests and walkout by the NDA and the Left parties. |
| 9 May |
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announces that Russia will develop
a lander that will ferry a rover to explore the Moon's surface as part of the
Chandrayaan-II mission, slated for launch in 2013. |
| 13 May |
In a big-ticket investment aimed at giving a boost to its holding of oil and gas
assets abroad, the ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL), along with its partners, enters into
an agreement with the Venezuelan governement to develop a $20 billion oil
project in that country.
The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, crosses a
milestone, with the thermal baffle, a crucial piece of cooling equipment,
successfully lowered into it. |
| 15 May |
Former Vice-President and three-time Chief Minister of Rajasthan in the past,
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat of BJP passes away in Jaipur, Rajasthan. |
| 16 May |
Seeking to expand cooperation with the Indian Space Research Oraganisation
(ISRO) on its Chandrayaan-II missin, the US offers assistance through Boeing,
which partners with NASA on its space exploration programmes.
Mr. ratan Kumar Sinha is appointed Director, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC), Trombay. |
| 17 May |
After two successive setbacks, Agni-II surface-to-surface ballistic missile is
successfully test-fired from theWheeler island off the Orissa coast. The
intermediate-rangemissile can carry nuclear weapons and hs a range of 2,000 km. |
| 18 May |
Leading private sector lender ICICI Bank agrees to take over the Bank of
Rajasthan. |
| 20 May |
Pakistan sends a note verbale to India on the disputed Kishanganga project,
clearly indicating its intention to set up a Court of Arbitration as provided in
the despurte settlement mechanism under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). |
| 21 May |
The Central Government grants the Maharatna status to four public sector
giants---National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Oil and Natural Gas
Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), and Steel Authority of India
Ltd. (SAIL). |
| 22 May |
Arjun Vajpai, a 16-year-old boy from Noida, becomes the youngest Indian to scale
Mount Evrest. |
| 23 May |
The first indigenously-built Light Combat Helicopter, developed by the Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), successfully makes its inaugural test-flight in
Bengaluru. |
| 24 May |
The Uniion Ministry of Commerce and Industry through a notification brings
cotton and cotton waste under the restricted list for exports. |
| 25 May |
Turkmenistan President Mr. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visits India; during his
meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, the two
sidesdiscuss energy cooperation and sign several agreements signalling the
desire of both countries to strengthen bilateral ties. |
| 28 May |
Addressing a joint session of the Bhutanese Parliament in Thimphu, Bhutan, Lok
Sabha Speaker Ms. Meira Kumar announces the setting up of a Parliamentary
Friendship Group to help reinforce and renew the bonds of friendship between
India and Bhutan. |
| 29 May |
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry rejects a proposal to bring medical
education under the purview of teh proposed National Commission for Higher
Education and Research (NCHER). |
| 30 May |
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grants a corpus of $5 million to the Public
Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to strengthen the National Tobacco Control
Programe in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, over a three-year period up to 2010. |
| May |
International |
| 6 May |
Mr. Goodluck Jonathan is sworn in as the President of Nigeria, hours after the
death of incumbent President Umaru Yar'Adua. |
| 7 May |
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il ends his four-day visit to China; he tells the
Chinese government that he is willing to help revive stalled negotiations over
his country's controversial unclear programme. |
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