Military Secretary : Lt Gen GM Nair
Lt Gen GM Nair, SM, VSM assumes charge of Military Secretary today at Army Headquarters in New Delhi.

Director General CRPF : Vikram Srivastava
Shri Vikram Srivastava has been appointed as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). He is an IPS officer of the 1973 batch and belongs to the UP cadre.

Director General Indo Tibetan Police Force : R.K.Bhatia
Shri R.K.Bhatia has been appointed as Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). He is an IPS officer of the 1974 batch and belongs to the UP cadre.

Events , Happenings & Observances:
Suraj Kund Mela: Haryana
The 24th annual Surajkund Crafts Mela inaugurated by Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. Suraj Kund mela is held every year from February 1-15. It was started in 1987. Traditional craftsman (artists, painters, weavers and sculptors) from all parts of the country participate in this annual celebration named as the “Surajkund Crafts Mela” or “Surajkund designer’s Village”.

This mela is now getting international fame and not only boosts Indian tourism but also enhances the status of the craftsmen. The theme state this year is Rajasthan and a traditional Shekhawati Gate has been adorned to give a white marble look.
First Annual Conference of Chief Secretaries – New Delhi

War Resisters International (WRI) Conference – New Delhi
War Resisters International (WRI) conference was held at Gujarat Vidyapeeth in Ahmedabad to investigate the links between militarism, war profiteering and the patterns of development pursued across the world today. Participants from Orissa presented a picture of the mining-led displacement of tribal communities in various parts of the state as well as the destruction of environment threatened by Vedanta/Sterlite in the Niyamgiri hills or due to Hindalco in Kashipur or two various steel plants in Kalinganagar. Non-violent activists from 32 countries took part in this.

2010 ‘Year of Forensic Science’
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram declares 2010 as ‘the Year of Forensic Science’. This also includes formation of a two-member panel of consultants to thoroughly examine the state of forensic science teaching and training. The panel comprises two consultants Gopalji Sharma and C Damodaram who will submit an interim report April 30 and a final report by July 31 2010.

This report will serve as a base to upgrade and strengthen forensic science institutions during the financial year 2010-11.

National Updates:
On INS Chakra
The K-152 Nerpa is Akula II type nuclear-powered attack submarine. The submarine will eventually be leased to the Indian Navy in 2010 as recommissioned INS Chakra. Indian Navy gets this missile now in July 2010. It was partly financed by India under a deal signed with Russia in January 2004. It is being built at Komsomolsk-on-Amur shipyard in Russia. It will be commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Chakra. Please note that India previously leased a Charlie-I class nuclear submarine from the erstwhile Soviet Union from 1988 to 1991.

Longest human chain for Telangana:
People of Telanganaform a 500 kilometers-long human chain all along the National Highway number 7 from Adilabad on the northern most tip of the region to Alampur on the borders of Kurnool district. This was to press their demand for a separate state.

World Updates:
Internet Nominated for 2010 Nobel Peace Prize:
The Internet has been nominated for the ‘2010 Nobel Peace Prize’. It was proposed by the Italian edition of the popular Wired magazine for promoting ‘dialogue, debate and consensus through communication’ as well as democracy. The premier endorsers of Internet for Nobel Peace Prize nomination include 2003 Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and famous Italian surgeon, known for his contributions to breast cancer treatments, Umberto Veronesi.

India delivers $5 million to the government of Haiti
India transfers $5 million to the government of Haiti for relief and rehabilitation. Indian Ambassador at UN Hardeep Singh Puri hands over the check for $5 million at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
On Jaipur Foot:
India also looks into the possibility of providing Jaipur Foot to huge number of amputees in Haiti. India is operating through the trilateral — India-Brazil-South Africa Initiative — and is also looking at increasing its investment and technical and cooperation in Haiti.

Business & Economy
Latest data on Foreign Trade:
India’s exports during December, 2009 were valued at US $14606 million (Rs. 68107 crore) which was 9.3 per cent higher in dollar terms (4.8 per cent in Rupee terms) than the level of US $ 13368 million (Rs. 65015 crore) during December, 2008. Cumulative value of exports for the period April- December, 2009 was US $ 117587 million (Rs 563304 crore) as against US $ 147569 million (Rs. 652919 crore) registering a negative growth of 20.3 per cent in Dollar terms and 13.7 per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year. (PIB)

Latest projection of World Bank about India’s Economy
India’s economy will grow at 7.5 percent in the 2010-11 fiscal beginning April 1 and will increase by 8 percent in the year after that. This is the latest projection of Hans Timmer, director of the World Bank’s Development Prospects Group.

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