Current Affaris:
CURRENT NATIONAL AFFAIRS Third stimulus package:The Union government, on February 25, 2009, unveiled a Rs 30,000-crore stimulus package, the third in a row to boost demand in an economy that has been feeling the heat of the global meltdown. The package includes a cut in the median excise duty and service tax rates by 2%. All products that attracted an excise rate of 10% will now be subject to only 8% while service tax on all products is down to 10%. On the other hand, this means the fiscal deficit of the government in 2009-10 will increase to Rs 3,61,935 crore, from Rs 3,32,835 crore estimated in the interim budget announced on February 16, 2009, provided all other estimates remain the same. So, fiscal deficit will again cross 6% of GDP as in 2008-09.
Interim Budget: On February 16, 2009, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented the interim Budget to the Parliament. The largely insipid Interim Budget, however, ensured adequate, even heightened, budgetary allocation to its major flagship programmes affecting the “common man”. Enhanced allocations have, however, been made only to sectors that promise employment generation and infrastructure development and help, in turn, to maintain the fiscal tempo by addressing the economic slowdown. NREGA, JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission) and Bharat Nirmal programmes have emerged the biggest gainers in this category. Budget allocation for education has increased by about Rs 4,000 crore over 2008-09. The government has allocated Rs 1,41,703 crore for defence, which is 34 per cent rise over the previous fiscal and is one of the steepest hikes in recent years. The revised fiscal deficit for 2008-09 is now estimated at as high as 6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), against the budget estimate of 2.5 per cent. In money terms, the fiscal deficit is Rs 3,26,515 crore, against the intended Rs 1,33,287 crore or nearly 2.5 times the targeted amount.
Railway Budget 2009: On February 14, 2009, Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad presented the Railway Budget to the Parliament. The high point of this Budget was a 2% cut in most long distance fares. The railways were set to achieve a cumulative cash surplus of Rs 90,000 crore over the course of his tenure, he pointed out. Passenger traffic is expected to go up by 7 pc and gross traffic receipts are estimated at Rs 93,159 cr.
Steps to boost exports: During 2008-09, India did achieve an export growth of 30.9 per cent till September 2008, but since then there has been a setback due to the global recession. The following sops have been announced by the Union government to boost exports: Customs duty under export promotion capital goods scheme cut to 3 per cent from 5 per cent; Special incentive of Rs 325 crore for various sectors like handmade carpets, leather and technical textiles from April 1, 2009; Threshold limit for recognition as premier trading house reduced to Rs 7,500 crore; Benefit of 5 per cent under “focus product, focus market” scheme for export of handmade carpets; Authorised persons of gems and jewellery units can personally carry imported gold of up to 10 kg; Obligation under export promotion capital goods scheme extended till 2009-10 for sops availed during 2008-09; Opening of an independent office of DGFT at Srinagar.
Unique ID project: Marking the beginning of the Herculean task of providing every Indian citizen with a National Identity Card, the UPA government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for setting up the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIAI) in the annual plan of 2009-10. The project is aimed at establishing citizenship, addressing security-related issues and containing frauds, especially in government run schemes. The UIAI will be responsible for creating and maintaining the core database and laying down all necessary procedures for issuance and use of the unique ID card, including arrangements for collection, validation and authentication of information, proper security of data and rules for sharing and access of data. Initially, the UID number will be assigned to all voters by building on current electoral roll data. Progressively, other persons, including those below 18 years, will be added to the list.
S&P review lowers credit rating: India’s credit rating is now just one step away from junk status, as Standard and Poor’s ratings services (S&P) have lowered its outlook on the country’s long-term sovereign rating from stable to negative, because tax cuts and extra spending to win votes and fight the economic slowdown have pushed the fiscal deficit to a record high. Such a move can raise the cost for local firms borrowing abroad as well as weaken the rupee, though some analysts do not expect that to happen.
Number of female post graduates in urban India rises: According to the latest report of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), the number of post graduates in every 1,000 males surveyed has increased from 28 in 2001-02 to 35 in 2006-07 in urban India. The number of female post graduates has increased from 19 to 26 during the same period. The number of male and female graduates during the same period has increased from 97 and 67 to 111 and 82, respectively. The incidence of illiteracy in rural areas has declined from 39.5% in 2001-02 to 34.9% in 2006-07. In urban sector, the same has declined from 19.4% to 16.5% during the same period. What is significant is that in both urban and rural sectors, the illiteracy rate of female has declined at a higher rate than that of the male. Female illiteracy rate has declined by 4.6 percentage points in rural areas and 3.4 percentage points decline of the male illiteracy rate in rural and urban sector respectively, during 2001-02 to 2006-07.
India tops world hunger chart: India is failing its rural poor with 230 million people being undernourished the highest for any country in the world. Malnutrition accounts for nearly 50% of child deaths in India as every third adult (aged 15-49 years) is reported to be thin (BMI less than 18.5). According to the latest report on the state of food insecurity in rural India, brought out by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), more than 1.5 million children are at risk of becoming malnourished because of rising global food prices. The report said that while general inflation declined from a 13-year high exceeding 12% in July 2008 to less than 5% by the end of January 2009, the inflation for food articles doubled from 5% to over 11% during the same period. India ranks 94th in the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries, the report said. More than 27% of world’s undernourished population lives in India.
Government fiddle opens floodgates to FDI: The Union government has relaxed guidelines on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for companies owned and controlled by Indian citizens. This effectively means foreign investment in FDI-restricted sectors like telecom, defence production and single-brand retail can cross set limits. The new guidelines also say that an investment made by a non-resident entity into an Indian company would be counted as foreign investment. Under the existing norms, if a firm with, say, 40% foreign equity and 60% Indian equity had invested Rs 100 crore in another firm, Rs 40 crore of this amount would be treated as FDI. Under the revised norms it will now be treated as zero FDI. Relaxation in foreign direct investment (FDI) norms would not apply to sectors such as multi-brand retail, gambling, atomic energy and lottery where the government prohibits foreign investment.
Union government to infuse capital in three PSU banks: In order to strengthen the Public Sector Banks, the Union government has decided to infuse Rs 3,800 crore into three State-run banks—Central Bank of India will get Rs 1,400 crore, while UCO Bank and Vijaya Bank will get Rs 1,200 crore each. The capital infusion would be done in two tranches—the first tranche would be made available during 2008-09 and the remaining in 2009-10. The capital infusion will help these banks to raise capital adequacy over 12%, much above the Basel II norms of 9%. The government holding in Central Bank of India currently stands at 80.2% cent, in UCO bank 76%, while in Vijaya Bank it is 53%.
CEC’s recommendation rejected by the President:President Pratibha Patil has rejected the controversial recommendation by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) N. Gopalaswami for the removal of Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, who is now to head the Commission after Mr Gopalaswami’s term comes to end in April 2009. The decision came as no surprise since the government had said CEC was not empowered to seek removal of a fellow Commissioner except when a Presidential reference was made. Gopalaswami’s action had also attracted sharp criticism from legal luminaries, although main Opposition party, Bharatiya Janata Party, had strongly supported the move. The battle in the three-member Election Commission had taken a new turn on January 31, 2009 when Gopalaswami recommended the removal of Chawla on a petition by the BJP, which had accused him of partisan functioning, sparking a furore.
General Election dates announced: India, the world’s largest democracy with 714 million voters, will elect its representatives over five phases between April 16 and May 13, 2009. The EC will also hold simultaneous polls in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim. Incidentally, this is the first scheduled Parliamentary election after the Delimitation Commission redrew constituencies. Delimitation has also pushed up the number of scheduled caste seats in Parliament from 79 to 85 and scheduled tribe seats from 41 to 47. The 2009 polls will also be first photo-electoral rolls-based Parliamentary election, with 522 of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies using this type of rolls.
Standard drill during terror attack being readied:The Home Ministry is drawing up Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to deal with terror attacks as part of its 100-day action plan to be implemented by May 31, 2009. The guidelines, which will form part of the crisis management plan of MHA, will cover all aspects of a counter-terror response, including rushing central forces like NSG to the attack sites, evacuation of civilians and media from the site and its immediate surroundings, monitoring of communication lines and the command structure to be followed by various Central and State agencies as they confront terrorists. This is for the first time that SOPs would be prescribed for tackling terror crimes. As of now, SOPs are in place for Central forces and State police operating in Naxal-infested States.
Sukh Ram found guilty of corruption: After more than 12 years, the law has completed its first course for former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram when a City Court in Delhi convicted him for possessing assets disproportionate to his sources of income. Special CBI judge V.K. Maheshwari held Sukh Ram guilty under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and amassing the properties amounting to Rs 4.25 crore which were disproportionate to his known source of income, between 1991 to 1996, when he was Minister of State for Communications in the Narasimha Rao government. Sukh Ram has been handed down a three-year prison term.
Minorities Bill gets approval:The Lok Sabha has passed the National Commission for Minorities Education Amendment Bill that grants statutory power to the Commission, which will no longer need to consult States before according minority status to any educational institute. The bill further enhances the strength of members of the Commission, which has several disputes pending for redressal.
Dhaka proposes taskforce for terror: With the atmosphere between India and Bangladesh clearing up under the Sheikh Hasina government, India has got a pledge from Bangladesh that it would not allow terror groups to launch attacks against India from its soil. Security issues, along with trade, were on top of the agenda during External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s one-day visit to Dhaka on February 9, 2009. Mr Mukherjee also discussed the viability of setting up a regional taskforce to fight terror. The only two deals that were signed by Mr Mukherjee and his Bangladeshi counterpart were on bilateral trade and investment. Mr Mukherjee said that the deals would cut down the trade gap which has been an issue for Bangladesh.
IPL results in foreign players raking in the moolah: India, the cricketing nation, seemed to laugh at the global meltdown at an auction in February 2009, where crores were spent buying the services of 17 overseas players. Former England skippes Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen went for about Rs 7.5 crore apiece ($ 1.55 million), making them jointly the highest valued players in the Indian Premier League (IPL), more than M.S. Dhoni, bought for Rs six crore in 2008. Bangladesh’s paceman Mashrafe Mortaza would not know how to react to the Rs 2.93 crore the Kolkata Knight Riders have paid for his commercial value. After all, he was valued at a relatively low Rs 24.4 lakh. And then there was South African J.P. Duminy who was sold for Rs 4.64 crore. Whatever happened to the recession? Quipped actor Preity Zinta co-owner of Kings XI Punjab: Recession or no recession, cricket and entertainment always sell. And the IPL is about both.
CURRENT INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Terror bouncer hits Lanka cricket team in Pakistan: On March 3, 2009, six Pakistani policemen were killed and six Sri Lankan cricketers were injured when gunmen armed with automatic weapons attacked the visiting team’s convoy as it headed for Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium. A military helicopter later evacuated the cricketers as Sri Lanka cancelled its Pakistan tour. Police said 12 terrorists were involved in the attack. India voiced its strong condemnation of the dastardly attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, warning that such incidents would continue to occur until Pakistan dismantled the terrorist infrastructure on its territory.
Pakistan acknowledges part of Mumbai attack was planned there: Pakistan has accepted for the first time that the Mumbai terrorist attacks were launched from its shores and at least partly plotted on its soil. Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik also said Pakistan had arrested most of the main suspects and had started criminal proceedings against them. India termed the development as positive and expressed willingness to share what-ever it can after examining the issues raised by Islamabad. The revelations appear to suggest that Pakistan is serious about punishing those behind the November attacks, which killed 183 people and stirred fear that the nuclear-armed neighbours could slide towards war.
Pakistan—Election ban for Sharif brothers: Triggering a fresh round of political instability in Pakistan, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of the Punjab province, have been barred from contesting elections and holding office. Within hours of the Supreme Court ruling on February 26, 2009, upholding the ban on the Sharif brothers, Governor’s rule was imposed on the Punjab province. As people hit the streets in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif accused President Asif Ali Zardari of being behind the move to disqualify him from contesting elections and asked people to come out on the streets to protest the move. The PML-N chief said that the bone of contention between his party and President Zardari was the NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) under which criminal cases against Zardari and other politicians were dropped by the Musharraf administration. The former PM said the reason why the Chief Justice and other deposed judges were not being reinstated was because these judges would question the validity of the NRO.
Taliban seal truce in Pakistan’s Swat: Taliban fighters and Pakistani officials agreed on February 21, 2009, to a permanent ceasefire in the north-western Swat valley. The outlawed Tahreek-i-Taliban Swat (TTS) formally accepted the Swat accord. It also promised to release all security personnel in its custody, unconditionally. The Swat peace accord appeared progressing substantially with life returning rapidly to normalcy in Swat’s main cities. Having been freed from its engagement in Swat and Bajour, Pakistan army is likely to refocus full attention on tribal militants along the Afghanistan border.
Bangladesh—BDR mutiny: The 33-hour mutiny by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers ended February 26, 2009, as the rebels laid down their arms in the face of an imminent attack by the army, which had moved tanks into position for an assault on the BDR headquarters in Dhaka. The mutiny by troopers of the Bangladesh rifles, the country’s border guards, had spread to several towns despite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s warning of stern action to quell the unrest. Political observers said the government’s dilemma was that it was banking on the army to stop the rebellion, while the troopers’ grievances are largely centred on poor wages and discrimination as compared to the army.
India and China may hold the key to world’s economic survival: In a survey of the global outlook for 2009, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) makes some stark and dire observations. EIU believes that the economic crisis could last at least a couple of years. While the EIU survey says that China may hold the key to the world’s economic survival, many economists in India believe that it could be both India and China. These are the only two countries that could account for growth rates of at least 4.5%.
Time blames Bush, Clinton, Jiabao for financial crisis: Former US Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao are on the list of 25 people to blame for the financial crisis, compiled by Time magazine. The list also features former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, past Securities and Exchange Commission Chief Chris Cox, former Treasury secretary Hank Paulson and American Consumers, among others. Pointing out that Bush embraced a governing philosophy of de-regulation, the magazine said it trickled down to federal oversight agencies, which in turn eased off on banks, and mortgage brokers.
US economy drop biggest since 1982: The US economy suffered its deepest contraction since early 1982 in the fourth quarter, shrinking at a much worse-than-expected at a much worse-than-expected 6.2% annual rate as exports plunged and consumers slashed spending. A separate report showed mounting job losses had turned consumers gloomier in February, evidence that the US recession continues to deepen. The final Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for February fell to 56.3 from January’s 61.2. The commerce department said consumer spending which accounts for more than two-thirds of domestic economic activity, dropped at a 4.3 per cent rate in the fourth quarter, the biggest decline since the second quarter of 180. The spending decline dropped more than 3 percentage points off GDP.
Success of US stimulus tough to measure: Deciding whether the US government’s $ 1.5 trillion economic bailout is a success or a failure may end up being more an exercise of politics and perception than exact science. Markers for determining the outcome of the treasury’s $700 billion in rescue funding for the financial sector and the $87 billion economic stimulus package are not all clear-cut and can end up relying on eye-of-the-beholder judgements. There are “the what if” scenarios and the possibility that the government’s best intentions will have unintended consequences. But experts tend to agree that doing nothing was not an option and, regardless of political affiliation. Some economists say the bailout of big banks was not helpful because it took away their incentive to restructure by providing a taxpayer-funded cushion.
Additional American troops to Afghanistan: In an attempt to stabilize a deteriorating situation, President Barack Obama has approved sending 17,000 more US troops to Afghanistan over the next few months. It was Obama’s first major military decision. “There is no more solemn duty as President than the decision to deploy our armed forces into harm’s way”, he said. The United States already has 38,000 troops in Afghanistan, apart from 30,000 military personnel from allied nations. But the violence is expected to rise further in the spring and afterwards in the run-up to Presidential elections set for August 20, 2009. The new troops are expected to be deployed in the south, which has been worst hit. The situation in Afghanistan, Obama said, had not received the strategic attention, direction and resources it urgently required.
Pakistan signs FTA with China: China and Pakistan signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the four-day visit of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to Hubei and Shanghai, China. Zardari’s mission was largely focused on economy and investment issues because the Pakistani President did not get to meet the top echelons of Chinese leadership who were busy hosting the first official visit of Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State. Meanwhile, China has signed an agreement with Pakistan’s main Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami despite the fact that official credo of China is atheism. A China observer said as part of the agreement with Beijing’s Communist leaders, Jamaat-e-Islami has promised not to encourage Islamic Uighur separatists in the Xinjiang region, which is a hotbed of the East Turkmenistan movement.
Bailed out US companies can’t hire people on H1-B: In what could be seen as a major blow to Indian IT professionals, the US Congress has prohibited banks and firms receiving federal bailout money from hiring people on H-1B visas in place of Americans laid off by them due to the economic meltdown. The measure forms part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, popularly known as the Stimulus Bill. The Act makes a provision of USD 787 billion for reviving the battered US economy. The measure as finally approved by the Congress, would require the bailed-out banks to hire only Americans for two years unless they could prove they were not replacing laid-off Americans with guest workers.
P.S:
One of the Army’s oldest armoured regiments, 7 Cavalry, observed its 225th Raising Day in 2009. Raised in 1784, 7 Cavalry is the Army’s second oldest and the most highly decorated armoured unit, having earned 21 battle and theatre honours of which nine are from post-independence operations.
P.S:
HAL, India’s military plane maker, and Bharat Electronics Ltd have jointly bid to build the Rustom-branded UAV of India’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, or ADE, which is designing the medium-altitude long-endurance Drone.
In an effort to improve the capital adequacy of the public sector banks—UCO Bank, Central Bank of India and the Vijaya Bank—the Union government has decided to infuse Rs 3,800 crore into the three banks.
Khmer Rouge was a Maoist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975-1979. It was founded and led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998. It abolished religion, school and currency in a bid to create agrarian utopia.
Providing legal space for green concerns, the Karnataka High Court has announced the setting up of the Bench to exclusively deal with environmental issues. This is a first in the legal history of the country.
Mega Food Parks program is modelled on the lines of creation of a three-tier structure for value adding enabling infrastructure in food producing clusters in the country. The scheme aims to provide expenditure- linked financial assistance of 50% (75% in difficult and ITDP areas), limited to 50 crore per Mega Food Park, to leverage an equivalent investment in enabling infrastructure and Rs 200-250 crore in value adding activities. Locations of the mega food parks will be: Shirwal (Maharashtra), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Chikmanglur (Karnataka), Dharmapuri (Tamilnadu), Jalandhar (Punjab), Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Jagdishpur-Raibareily (UP), Jangipur (West Bengal), Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh), Nalbari—Assam (Northeast)
India ranks 94th in the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries.
Samrupa was the world’s first cloned buffalo calf. It was to be India’s answer to Dolly the sheep. But unlike Dolly, the first mammal cloned 13 years ago, who lived for seven years, Samrupa succumbed to a lung infection five days after it was born.
The Planning Commission had recommended Maha-navratna status to BHEL, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Aeronautics, Hindustan Petroleum, Indian Oil, NMDC, Power Grid Corporation, REC and SAIL. Maha-navratna status would give these companies freedom to make investments up to 50% of their net worth, while the investment cap on a single project would go up to 25% of their net worth. The tag will also have given them greater functional autonomy for forming joint ventures.
Delhi Metro has become the first rail network in the world to get a UN certificate for preventing over 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.
Oscar is the name given to the annual award given by the US-based Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Science for achievement in film industry. The awards are given in 24 annual categories and 6 special categories. First Oscar award was given in 1929.
India’s first dedicated Small and Medium Pharmaceutical Industry Centre (SMPIC) has been inaugurated in Mohali. The centre is located on the premises of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER).
India has slipped three notches in the UNIDO’s industrial competitiveness index to feature at the 54th position, even as the government expressed optimism that the country would move up the ladder once the list is updated.
ONGC and the newly-incorporated National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) are placed on the extremes in a recent survey of central PSUs, with the oil firm making the highest profits and the aviation giant incurring the biggest losses. ONGC earned a profit of Rs 16,702 crore in 2007-08, almost thrice its nearest rival Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). On the other extreme was NACIL, formed as a holding company after the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines in 2007, which incurred a loss of Rs 2,226 crore during the year.
The contribution to the exchequer by 242 PSUs, which includes excise duty, customs duty, corporate tax and dividend, increased by more than 11% during 2007-08, according to the 48th Public enterprises Survey. However, PSU’s dividend and interest paid to the government totalled Rs 20,172.5 crore in 2007-08, marginally down from Rs 20,942 crore in the previous year.
Current General Knowledge:
ABBREVIATIONS
MSME: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
CAMPA: Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Agency.
API: Application Programming Interface.
MSME: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.
CAMPA: Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Agency.
API: Application Programming Interface.
AWARDS
Saraswati Samman, 2008: Lakshmi Nandan Bora, Assamese writer, has been honoured with the award for his masterpiece novel, Kayakalpa. The novel covers a wide range of canvas, ranging from modern technology and science to ancient thoughts and philosophy of great saints of India. A scientist by education and profession, Bora has turned out to be one of the foremost literary figures in Assam. He has as many as 56 books to his credit.
Saraswati Samman, 2008: Lakshmi Nandan Bora, Assamese writer, has been honoured with the award for his masterpiece novel, Kayakalpa. The novel covers a wide range of canvas, ranging from modern technology and science to ancient thoughts and philosophy of great saints of India. A scientist by education and profession, Bora has turned out to be one of the foremost literary figures in Assam. He has as many as 56 books to his credit.
BCCI Cricket Awards: C.K. Nayudu lifetime achievement award: G.R. Viswanath. Polly Umrigar award for Best Cricketer on International Stage: Virender Sehwag. Madhavrao Scindia award: Cheteshwar Pujara (batsman); Sudeep
Tyagi (bowler). M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Ankit Bawane, Maharashtra (Under-15); Mandeep Singh, Punjab (Under-17); Bhuv-neshwar Kumar, UP (Under 19); Rahul Dewan, Delhi(Under-11). Best woman cricketer: Mithali Raj. Best Junior Woman Cricketer: M.D. Thirushkamini. Special awards: Maharashtra, for best overall
performance in the 2007-08 season.
Tyagi (bowler). M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Ankit Bawane, Maharashtra (Under-15); Mandeep Singh, Punjab (Under-17); Bhuv-neshwar Kumar, UP (Under 19); Rahul Dewan, Delhi(Under-11). Best woman cricketer: Mithali Raj. Best Junior Woman Cricketer: M.D. Thirushkamini. Special awards: Maharashtra, for best overall
performance in the 2007-08 season.
Grammy Awards, 2009: Album of the Year: Raising Sand. Record of the Year: Please Read the Letter. Best new artist: Adele. Best female pop vocal performance: Chasing Pavements, Adele. Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Say, John Mayer. Best R and B Album: Jennifer Hudson, Best Pop vocal album: Rockferry Duffy. Best Contemporary World Music Album: Global Drum Project, Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussein, Sikiru Adepoju and Gio-vanni Hidalgo.
This was not the first Grammy for the 57-year-old tabla maestro Zakir Hussein. He had pocketed in 1992, Planet Drum, an album co-created and produced with Mickey Hart, that was awarded the first-ever Grammy for the best world music album.
Filmfare Awards, 54th: Best Actor: Hrithik Roshan, Jodha Akbar. Best Actress: Priyanka Chopra, ‘Fashion’. Best Actor in Supporting Role (Male): Arjun Rampal, Rock On!. Best Actor in Supporting Role (Female): Kangana Ranaut, ‘Fashion’. Best Dialogue: Mano Rishi, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!. Best Screenplay: Yogendra Joshi and Bhupendra, Mumbai Meri Jaan. Best Story: Abhishek Kapoor, Rock On!. Best Music Director: A.R. Rahman, Jaane tu…. Best Lyrics: Javed Akhtar for Jashn-e-Bahara (Jodha Akbar). Best Playback Singer (Male): Sukhwinder Singh for Haule Haule (Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi). Best Playback Singer (Female): Shreya Ghoshal for Teri ore… (Singh is King). Best Sensational Debut (Male): Farhan Akhtar and Imraan Khan. Best Sensational Debut (Female): Asin Thottumkal, Ghajini. R.D. Burman Upcoming Talent: Benny Dayal, Ghajini. Lifetime Achievement award: Bhanu Athaiya and Om Puri.
Pinki wakes up a village: When American filmmaker Megan Mylan profusely thanked her heroine Pinki Kumari after winning the best documentary award at the star-studded Oscar award ceremony at Los Angles, a non-descriptive Rampur Dabohi village in the Naxal-affected Mirzapur district of the State suddenly came into the limelight.
Smile Pinki is a 39-minute poignant documentary based on the life of a nine-year-old resident of this village cleft lipped Pinki whose life undergoes a change for the better after she undergoes corrective surgery.
The village, about 300 km from the State capital, has none of the frills associated with glamour. Having a population of just 2,343 lacks in even basic facilities like electricity and water.
Oscar awards, 2009: Best Actor: Sean Penn for Milk. Best actress: Kate Winslet for ‘The
Reader’. Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.
Best Supporting Actress; Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Best picture: Slumdog Millionaire. Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Original Score: A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Original Song: A.R. Rahman and Sampooran Singh Gulzar for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire). Best screenplay based on material previously produced or published: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Editing: Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Sound: Resul Pookutty, Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke (Slumdog Millionaire). Best
foreign film: Departures, Japan. Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk. Best documentary feature: Man or Wire. Best Animated Feature Film: Wall-E. Best short documentary: Smile Pinki by Megan Mylan.
Reader’. Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.
Best Supporting Actress; Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Best picture: Slumdog Millionaire. Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Original Score: A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Original Song: A.R. Rahman and Sampooran Singh Gulzar for Jai Ho (Slumdog Millionaire). Best screenplay based on material previously produced or published: Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Editing: Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire). Best Sound: Resul Pookutty, Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke (Slumdog Millionaire). Best
foreign film: Departures, Japan. Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, Milk. Best documentary feature: Man or Wire. Best Animated Feature Film: Wall-E. Best short documentary: Smile Pinki by Megan Mylan.
Tyler award, 2009: US Indian scientist, Veerbhadran (Ram) Ramanathan, professor of atmospheric and climate sciences in the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the university of California, San Diego, shares the award for environmental achievement with Prof Richard Alley, professor of geosciences at Penn State University, for finding warning signs of climate change in the upper atmosphere and in the deepest ice sheets.
BOOKS
Kayakalp: This novel has been written by Lakshmi Nandan Bora, winner of the Saraswati Samman, 2008. Published in 2002, the novel covers a wide range of canvas, ranging from modern technology and science to ancient thoughts and philo-sophy of great saints of India.
CONFERENCEKayakalp: This novel has been written by Lakshmi Nandan Bora, winner of the Saraswati Samman, 2008. Published in 2002, the novel covers a wide range of canvas, ranging from modern technology and science to ancient thoughts and philo-sophy of great saints of India.
Indian Labour Conference: The 42nd session of the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) was held in New Delhi in February 2009 and focused on unemployment as the country gets pummeled by an economic slowdown in an election year.
DISCOVERY
Oldest human footprints found in Kenya: Anthropologists have uncovered ancient fossil footprints in Kenya dating back 1.5 million years, the oldest evidence yet that our ancestors walked like present day humans. The footprints were discovered in two sedimentary layers near Ileret in northern Kenya and revealed an essentially modern human-like foot anatomy.
Oldest human footprints found in Kenya: Anthropologists have uncovered ancient fossil footprints in Kenya dating back 1.5 million years, the oldest evidence yet that our ancestors walked like present day humans. The footprints were discovered in two sedimentary layers near Ileret in northern Kenya and revealed an essentially modern human-like foot anatomy.
The impressions came from the Homo ergaster, or early Homo erectus, the first hominid whose longer legs and shorter arms corresponded to the body proportions of the modern homo sapiens, the study’s authors said. The footprints provided information on the soft tissue form and structure that are not usually available in fossilized bones.
In all specimens the big toe was parallel to the other toes unlike apes, whose big toes are separated to help grasping tree branches. The Ileret footprints also show a pronounced arch and short toes that are human-like and are usually associated with the ability to walk on two feet.
2000-year-old Shiva shrine found: Believed to be among the oldest brick shrines in India, Lucknow University’s department of ancient Indian history and archaeology has unearthed a 2000-year-old Shiva temple as part of its excavation project in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district.
It’s actually a complex comprising five temples. While four temples belong to the Kushana period (1st-3rd century AD or 2,000 years ago), it appears that the primary temple was constructed during the Sunga period (2nd century BC to 1st century AD or 2,200 years ago). The temple site is a mound in Sanchankot in Unnao.
EXPEDITION
Around the world in nine months: Come August, 2009, and India will have its first solo navigator, cruising across the world aboard an indigenously-built yacht Forty one-year-old Commodore Dilip Donde of the Indian Navy, will soon be the first Indian attempting to sail alone across the world in a span of nine months.
Around the world in nine months: Come August, 2009, and India will have its first solo navigator, cruising across the world aboard an indigenously-built yacht Forty one-year-old Commodore Dilip Donde of the Indian Navy, will soon be the first Indian attempting to sail alone across the world in a span of nine months.
The sleek blue and white Yacht, Mhadei, is named after the ancient name of Goa’s famed river Mondovi, where it was built. At 17 m in length with a 21 m long mast and six sails, Mhadei is made of Redfeder wood core fibre glass.
Cmdr. Dilip has already given three years to preparing for this expedition, training under Sir Robin Knox Johnston, the first person to complete a solo circumnavigation in 1968-69.
To complete the world tour, Mhadei will have to pass continents of Australia, Africa and America while at the same time avoiding any canals. Enroute, the expedition will make four stops at Fremantle in Australia, Christchurch in New Zealand, Cape Town, Africa and Port Stanley in Canada.
Aptly titled Project Sagar Parikrama, the entire assignment has cost Indian Navy nearly rupees seven crore and has taken nearly three years for the project to take shape, right from conceptualization to allocating and now the final execution.
For the navy, apart from putting Indian on the world map, this expedition is about attracting more youth to join the uniform.
OIL
Oil India makes deepest hydrocarbon discovery: State-run Oil India Ltd (OIL) has made a signi-
ficant oil discovery in upper Assam, the deepest commercial hydrocarbon strike in the country. The discovery was made at the depth of at least 5,610 m.
Oil India makes deepest hydrocarbon discovery: State-run Oil India Ltd (OIL) has made a signi-
ficant oil discovery in upper Assam, the deepest commercial hydrocarbon strike in the country. The discovery was made at the depth of at least 5,610 m.
A number of prospective oil and gas bearing sands, with a total net hydrocarbon pay of about 50 m, were encountered in the discovery well Mechaki-2. The well was tested to have a production potential of at least 1,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. This significant discovery has opened up adjoining neighbourhood for further exploration of deep- seated by hydrocarbon prospects by Oil.
PERSONS
Rahman, Allah Rakha: He has become the first Indian music director to win an Oscar award. He won the award for his music in the film Slumdog Millionaire.
Rahman, Allah Rakha: He has become the first Indian music director to win an Oscar award. He won the award for his music in the film Slumdog Millionaire.
He was born on January 6, 1967, and was named Dilip Kumar. His father R.K. Sekhar was a music director and mother Kasturi (later Kareema Begum), a homemaker. His father died when he was nine and family had to hire out his instruments to make ends meet. Later, the entire family converted to Islam.
Drawn to music from an early age, Rahman could play many instruments and had many gurus. He started composing advertisement jingles in 1986, the memorable ones being for Titan and Leo Coffee. A tune he composed for a leading telecom company has become the world’s most downloaded piece of music, clocking 60 million hits.
Roja’s release in 1992 made him a star. Mani Ratnam gave him this break, and Rahman became famous overnight. Soon enough, the rest of the world took note. Ram Gopal Varma invited him to score for Rangeela, Subhash Ghai for Taal, Ashutosh Gowarikar for Lagaan, Shekhar Kapur for Elizabeth II and Andrew Lloyd Webber for Bombay Dreams.
Whether it’s the album Vande Mataram or the musical Bombay Dreams or his work with the stage adaptation of Lord of the Rings, his brand of world music has reached out across cultures.
PLACES
Rupnagar: The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is being set-up in this town of Punjab. Another IIT in north India is being set up in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
Rupnagar: The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is being set-up in this town of Punjab. Another IIT in north India is being set up in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
Swat Valley: Swat is a valley and an administrative district in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan, located 160 km from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The capital of Swat is Saidu Sharif, but the main town in the Swat valley is Mingora. It was a princely State in the NWFP until it was dissolved in 1969. With high mountains, green meadows, and clear lakes, it is a place of great natural beauty that used to be popular with tourists as “the Switzerland of Pakistan”. In December 2008 most of the area was captured by the Taliban insurgency. Islamist militant leader Maulana Fazlullah and his group Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi have banned education for girls and have bombed or torched “more than 170 schools along with other government-owned buildings. In February 2009, Pakistani government went into an agreement with the Taliban to agree on imposing Sharia law in the area in return for militants agreeing to maintain peace in the area.
The takeover of Pakistan’s Swat Valley is a reminder to India and the rest of the world of the strength of the jihadis. It also demonstrates to India that Pakistan is unwilling or unable to deal with the Taliban operating in Swat and many parts of the north-west frontier.
Phuket: South East Asian leaders will meet with their counterparts from six other Asian nations in this city of Thailand, on April 10-12, 2009, to battle fallout from the global financial crisis.
PROJECTS
Rajpura Thermal Plant: The Punjab government has cleared the setting up of the 1,320 mw Rajpura thermal power project. The project will be built by Lanco Infratech. At present, the total power generation capacity in the State is 6,609 MW, against the peak demand of 7,428 MW. The project is expected to meet the shortfall in three years time.
Rajpura Thermal Plant: The Punjab government has cleared the setting up of the 1,320 mw Rajpura thermal power project. The project will be built by Lanco Infratech. At present, the total power generation capacity in the State is 6,609 MW, against the peak demand of 7,428 MW. The project is expected to meet the shortfall in three years time.
Tata JV, JSPL bag coal-to-liquid projects: The Union government is understood to have awarded a coal block each to Tata Sons-Sasol joint venture, and another one to Jindal Steel and Power for converting coal to liquid petroleum, entailing an investment of $18 billion. The two projects would result in production of 1,60,000 barrels of crude oil a day.
JSPL said the project will need 30 million tones of washed coal to produce 80,000 barrels of crude a day and the wastes produce from the project would be used for generating 1,350 MW of electricity.
SPACE RESEARCH
Satellites collide over Siberia: In February 209, two big communications satellites collided in the first-ever crash of two intact spacecraft in orbit, shooting out a pair of massive debris clouds and posing a slight risk to the international space station. The collision involved an Iridium commercial satellite, which was launched in 1997, and a Russian satellite launched in 1993 and believed to be non-functioning. The Russian satellite had gone out of control.
Satellites collide over Siberia: In February 209, two big communications satellites collided in the first-ever crash of two intact spacecraft in orbit, shooting out a pair of massive debris clouds and posing a slight risk to the international space station. The collision involved an Iridium commercial satellite, which was launched in 1997, and a Russian satellite launched in 1993 and believed to be non-functioning. The Russian satellite had gone out of control.
There have been four other cases in which space objects have collided accidentally in orbit, NASA said. But those were considered minor and involved parts of spent rockets or small satellites.
Before the accident there were 9,831 pieces of manmade debris orbiting Earth. The items, at least 4 inches (10 centimeters) in size, are being tracked by the US Space Surveillance Network, which is operated by the military. Litter in orbit has increased in recent years, in part because of the deliberate breakups of old satellites. It’s gotten so bad that orbital debris is now the biggest threat to a space shuttle in flight, surpassing the dangers of liftoff and return to earth.
China’s lunar probe lands on moon: On March 1, 2009, China’s lunar mission, Chang’e-1, landed its first satellite on the moon. It represented the first step in the Chinese ambition to land robotic explorers on the moon before 2020. With the landing, the satellite ended its 16-month mission. Chang’e-1 was launched into space on October 24, 2007, and sent the first full map of the moon’s surface back to China one month later.
MISCELLANEOUS
Bhuvan—ISRO’s answer to Google earth: There will soon be a local variant of Google Earth, the iconic and controversial service from internet search company Google Inc., that allows ordinary people to take a close look at most parts of the world on their computer screens, using satellite images and maps.
Bhuvan—ISRO’s answer to Google earth: There will soon be a local variant of Google Earth, the iconic and controversial service from internet search company Google Inc., that allows ordinary people to take a close look at most parts of the world on their computer screens, using satellite images and maps.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch a similar Web-based service that will allow users to check everything from the exact location of the new restaurant where they have booked a table for the evening to the state of flood-ravaged villages in Bihar. The new mapping service will be called Bhuvan, which is the
Sanskrit word for earth.
Sanskrit word for earth.
The Indian space agency will use images taken at least a year ago by its seven remote-sensing satellites in orbit around the earth, including Cartosat-1 and Cartosat-2. These satellites shoot images as small as a car on the street, to build a three-dimensional map of the world. Details such as roads and soil patterns on the maps would be available only for the Indian region, however.
Bhuvan, which uses high-resolution images, will comply with India’s remote sensing data policy, which does not allow online mapping
services to show sensitive locations such as military and nuclear installations. Unlike Google Earth, the Bhuvan application will not be downloadable and will not allow users to host content.
services to show sensitive locations such as military and nuclear installations. Unlike Google Earth, the Bhuvan application will not be downloadable and will not allow users to host content.
Salaries to rise slowest in six year: Salaries in India will see the lowest increase in six years as slowdown impacts business and demand for people, according to a survey released by Hewitt Associates, part of Illinois-based human resource consultant Hewitt Associates LIc.
Pay packets grew by 13.3% and 15.1% in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Hewitt said it surveyed 480 companies in India between December 2008 and January 2009. The downturn has hit all economies across the globe and those that had dependent economic ties with the US are the ones most affected.
Interestingly, staff at the junior manager, professional and supervisor levels are expected to receive the highest increase for the ninth year in a row, the report said. Junior employees are expected to see their pay increase by 8.8%, while top management executives can expect to take home a raise of 7.4%.
Consumer goods, telecom and consumer durables firms are projecting higher raises. Sectors witnessing lowest pay hikes include entertainment, communications and publishing industries, which are dependent upon other industries for advertising revenues.
Many Indian languages endangered: With 196 of its languages listed as endangered, India a nation with great linguistic diversity, tops the UNESCO’s list of countries having maximum number of dialects on the verge of extinction. India is closely followed by the US, which stands to lose 192 language and Indonesia where 147 are in peril.
The facts were revealed in the latest Atlas of World’s language in danger of disappearing, on the eve of International Mother Language Day on February 22.
The Atlas classifies 2500 of the 6000 languages spoken worldwide as endangered. It adds that nearly 200 languages have fewer than 10 speakers and 178 others have between 10 and 50 speakers.
Fiscal Deficit: The difference between total revenue and total expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal deficit. It is an indication of the total borrowings needed by the government. While calculating the total revenue, borrowings are not included. Generally, fiscal deficit takes place due to either revenue deficit or a major hike in capital expenditure. A deficit is usually financed through borrowing from either the Central Bank of the country or raising money from capital markets by issuing different instruments like treasury bills and bonds.
A mismatch in the expected revenue and expenditure can result in revenue deficit. Revenue deficit arises when the government’s actual net receipts is lower than the projected receipts. A revenue deficit does not mean actual loss of revenue.
Events, Appointments, etc..:
MARCH2—The Election Commission of India announces the dates for holding elections to the 15th Lok Sabha. The general elections would be conducted in five phases between April 16 and May 13, 2009
3—In a brazen attack on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, a dozen masked gunmen wound seven players and a British coach and kill at least six Pakistanis, including five police escort.
6—Liquor baron Vijay Mallya bids over Rs 10 crore to buy the lot of personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi that were put on auction by Los Angles- based film-maker James Otis.
—India successfully tests interceptor missile to engage and destroy “enemy” missile.
APPOINTED; ELECTED; Etc.
Zillur Rahman: He has been elected as the President of Bangladesh.
Benjamin Netanyahu: He has been elected as Prime Minister of Israel.
Navin Chawla: He has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner of India. He will take over from April 20, 2009.
Sharat Sabharwal: He has been appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan.
Meera Shankar: She has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to USA.
Pavan K. Varma: He has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to Bhutan.
Dhanendra Kumar: He has been appointed as Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
N.P.S. Aulakh: He has been appointed as the Director General of National Security Guards (NSG).
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
Boni Yayi: President of Benin.
Ban Ki-Moon: Secretary-General of United Nations.
Richard Holbrooke: US special envoy
Robert Mueller: Chief of Federal Bureau of Information (FBI) of USA.
MILESTONES
Prasoon Joshi: Executive chairman of McCann Worldgroup India, he has been named as part of the ten-member Cannes Titanium and Integrated Jury 2009, a first for an Indian ad professional.Justice Kamaljit Singh Garewal: of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he has been elected to UN Appeals Tribunal (UNAT) for a seven-year-term beginning July 1, 2009.
Sourabhee Debbraman: of Tripura has bagged the Indian Idol crown 2009. She is the first girl to win the contest.
Sports:
ATHLETICS
Greatest Race on Earth: The Indian marathon team topped the South and South East Asia region standings for the third year in a row and ended up overall third in the fifth edition of the Greatest Race on Earth challenge which concluded with the Hong Kong marathon. India’s 25-year-old Army man Angad Kumar Prasad finished men’s full marathon on seventh spot in the final leg of Standard Chartered Greatest Race on Earth challenge. Angad’s effort kept India on top in the South Asia and West Asia challenge for the fifth year in a row.
Greatest Race on Earth: The Indian marathon team topped the South and South East Asia region standings for the third year in a row and ended up overall third in the fifth edition of the Greatest Race on Earth challenge which concluded with the Hong Kong marathon. India’s 25-year-old Army man Angad Kumar Prasad finished men’s full marathon on seventh spot in the final leg of Standard Chartered Greatest Race on Earth challenge. Angad’s effort kept India on top in the South Asia and West Asia challenge for the fifth year in a row.
CRICKET
West Indies-England Test Series: England suffered a humiliating innings and 23-run defeat at the hands of the West Indies in the first Test when the tourists were bowled out for 51 runs in their second innings. West Indies cricket was plunged into fresh controversy when the second Test against England had to be abandoned after just 10 balls because of a dangerous outfield. England and West Indies drew
the third Test when play was called off with four overs still to bowl.
West Indies-England Test Series: England suffered a humiliating innings and 23-run defeat at the hands of the West Indies in the first Test when the tourists were bowled out for 51 runs in their second innings. West Indies cricket was plunged into fresh controversy when the second Test against England had to be abandoned after just 10 balls because of a dangerous outfield. England and West Indies drew
the third Test when play was called off with four overs still to bowl.
Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test Series: The series had to be called-off after a terrorist strike on Sri Lankan team during the Lahore Test match. Earlier, the first Test had ended in a tame draw with both teams hitting in access of 600 runs in their first innings. Younis Khan hit 313 to help Pakistan achieve a record total. For Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera posted world record partnership of 437 runs for the fourth wicket. Sri Lanka has now inscribed their name on three world records for the second, third and now fourth wickets. Jayawardene, on the other hand, has now been involved in two separate world record partnerships, a landmark which he shares with Donald Bradman.
South Africa-Australia Test Series: Fiery fast bowling from Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle led Australia to a 162-run win over South Africa in the first Test. Australia thus took 1-0 up in a three-match series that will determine which of the two teams tops the world Test rankings.
Australia-New Zealand One-Day Series: Australia lost the first two matches but then snapped their five consecutive ODIs losing streak by registering a thrilling 32-run victory over New Zealand in the must-win third tie. Australia then went on to a six-wicket win in the fourth match to level the five-match series 2-2. Australia retained the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after the crucial fifth and final One-Day International was called off because of heavy rain.
Sri Lanka-India Twenty20 Match: The Pathan brothers helped India win the match by three wickets. India were looking down the barrel at 115-7, needing another 57 runs from 29 balls, when Yusuf was joined by his brother Irfan and both just blasted their way out of trouble.
New Zealand-India One Day Series: Shrugging off the T20 defeats, India bounced back with a solid batting display to spank New Zealand by 53 runs on the basis of Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-marred first one-dayer. The second match was abandoned due to rain. India then hit record 392 runs with the help of sparkling 163 not out by Sachin Tendulkar to win the third match by 58 runs and take a unassailable 2-0 lead.
New Zealand-India Twenty-20 Series: Suresh Raina’s fighting unbeaten 61 went in vain as world champions India began their New Zealand tour on a dismal note with the hosts thrashing them by seven wickets in the first Twenty-20 match. New Zealand followed this win with a last ball win in the second match, thus taking the series 2-0.
Duleep Trophy: Ramesh Powar wrecked South Zone with a 10-wicket match haul as West Zone lifted their 17th Duleep Trophy title.
GOLF
Women’s Indian Open: 19-year-old Thai girl, Phatlum Pornanong emerged winner of the tournament. She pipped her nearest rival Kim Hae-Jung of Korea by two strokes to defend the title.
Women’s Indian Open: 19-year-old Thai girl, Phatlum Pornanong emerged winner of the tournament. She pipped her nearest rival Kim Hae-Jung of Korea by two strokes to defend the title.
HOCKEY
New Zealand-India Test Series: Captain Sandeep Singh and Dilip Tirkey struck a goal each in the second half to guide India to a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the final Test and win the series 2-0.
New Zealand-India Test Series: Captain Sandeep Singh and Dilip Tirkey struck a goal each in the second half to guide India to a 2-0 win over New Zealand in the final Test and win the series 2-0.
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