The Election Commission (E.C.) has directed the Political Parties and candidates not to use birds and animals in their campaigns. The E.C. has also directed that in case the use of animal is inescapable then the party/candidate will have to ascertain that no harm is caused to the animal including violation of any law as well as cruelty towards the creature. In order to rationalize its decision, the commission pointed towards Article 51(g) of the Indian Constitution that states compassion for all living creature as well as Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960. E.C. also indicated towards the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 that forbids overloading and excruciating of the animals.

Why this decision made by E.C.?

• The decision was made subsequent to the representations received by the E.C. by some organizations and individuals submitting the mercilessness that animals tolerated during the election campaign of the political parties.

India slipped to 7^th position in the world Coffee production in 2011-12 from 6^th in the previous year with a share of 4%. Brazil produced 33% of the world's coffee, followed by Vietnam (15.2%), Indonesia (6.3%) and Colombia (5.9 %). The Coffee Board has estimated 3,14,000 tons for the season in 2011-12, this includes 1,01,500 tons of Arabica and 2,12,500 tons of Robusta.

The first National Security Advisor of India, Brajesh Mishra passed away. Mishra (84) was instrumental in making of the foreign policies during the NDA regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Brajesh Mishra

• Mishra was son of the former congress Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, late Dwarka Prasad Mishra and one of the heavyweights among the Indian diplomats. He kept many credits to his name:
• He was Indian permanent representative to Geneva
  Served Indian ambassador to Indonesia
• He was Indian permanent representative to United Nation
• He later became member of Bhartiya Janata Party from April 1991 to March 1998. Later he worked as principal secretary to former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• He played a significant role in guiding foreign policies and the security exercises that motivated the NDA government to hold Pokharan-2.

Justice Altamas Kabir was sworn-in as the new chief justice of India by President Pranab Mukherjee. He took the position of Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia, who retired after serving the Supreme Court.

Country’s space based GPS augmentation system GAGAN will start serving air navigation by mid 2013.

What is GAGAN?

It is GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) meant for the advancement of air navigation. The system was launched as a payload with GSAT-8 in 2011. It was also launched with recently launched GSAT-10.

Advantages of GAGAN:

· It will modernize air traffic management and communication-navigation-surveillance system.

· Aircrafts will get more accurate figures while landing, take-off and in-flight.

· India would join the club of U.S., Europe and Japan who have the same level of space-based augmentation.