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VOL16

GIST OF PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

VVIP CHOPER AGREEMENT
The Government of India has terminated with
immediate effect the Agreement that was signed
with M/s. AgustaWestLand International Ltd. (AWIL)
on 08 February, 2010 for the supply of 12 VVIP/VIP
helicopters on grounds of breach of the Pre-contract
Integrity Pact (PCIP) and the Agreement by AWIL.
Based on the opinion received earlier from the
Attorney General of India, it has been the view of the
Government that integrity-related issues are not
subject to arbitration. However, AWIL has since
pressed for arbitration and appointed an arbitrator
from its side. In view of this, MoD sought afresh the
opinion of the Attorney General. With a view to
safeguard the interests of the Government, MoD has
nominated Honble Mr Justice BP Jeevan Reddy as
its arbitrator.

PARAM SUPERCOMPUTER
The Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing (C-DAC) has achieved a significant
milestone with PARAM Yuva II supercomputer being
ranked 1st in India, 9th in the Asia Pacific Region and
44th in the world among the most power efficient
computer systems as per the Green500 List
announced at the Supercomputing Conference
(SC2013) in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Supercomputers, in general, consume a lot of
electrical power and produce much heat that
necessitates elaborate cooling facilities to ensure
proper operation. This adds to increase in the Total
Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a supercomputer. To
draw focus towards development of energy efficient
supercomputers, Green500 ranks computer systems
in the world according to compute performance per

watt, thus providing a world ranking based on energy

efficiency.
Energy consumed by supercomputers is
measured at various Levels L1, L2, L3 - for purpose
of reporting. As the level increases, accuracy and rigor
of measurement exercise also increases. It is also a
measure of our capability and noteworthy that CDAC is the second organization worldwide to have
carried out the Level 3 measurement of Power versus
Performance for the Green500 List.
PARAM Yuva II uses hybrid technology
processor, co-processor and hardware accelerators to provide the peak compute power of 520.4
Teraflop/s using 210 kiloWatt power. The
interconnect network comprises of homegrown
PARAMNet-III and Infiniband FDR System Area
Network. This system is designed to solve large and
complex computational problems. The system has
200 Terabytes of high performance storage, and
requisite system software and utilities for parallel
applications development.

RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH

DISABILITIES BILL, 2013
The Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full
Participation) Act, 1995 has been in force for over 17
years. In order to harmonize the provisions of this
Act in line with the United Nations Convention on
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the
Act has been reviewed and a new Bill namely Rights
of Persons Disabilities Bill, 2013 was finalized after
extensive consultations with the Central Ministries/
Departments, State Governments/UTs and various
stakeholders. Accordingly, the Department moved a

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Cabinet Note on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Bill, 2013 to replace the existing Persons
with Disabilities Act, 1995 on 11.12.2013. The Union
Cabinet in its meeting held on 12.12.2013 approved
the proposed RPwD Bill, 2013.

SECURITY FOR WOMEN IN PUBLIC ROAD

TRANSPORT IN THE COUNTRY

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

has approved setting up of a unified system at the
national level (National Vehicle Security and Tracking
System) and State level (City Command and Control
Centre) for Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking
of the location of emergency buttons in and video
recording of incidents in public transport vehicles, in
32 cities of the country with a population of one
million or more according to the 2011 census.
The implementation of the project will help in:
(i) Mapping of routes of public vehicles;
(ii) Tracking of vehicles on the route;
(iii) Highlighting of violations through visual and
text signals;
(iv) Panic button alert to transport and police
through visual, text and voice.
(v) Permit, registration and licence
cancellation based
criteria for
enforcement.
(vi) Providing safety and security to women /
girl child in distress in minimum response
time.
The total estimated cost of the project will be
Rs.1405 crore. The project will be implemented
within a period of two years after allocation of funds
to set up a National Level Vehicle Security and
Tracking System and City Command & Control
Centre with installation of GPS / CCTV / Panic
buttons in public road transport.
The scheme for security for women in public
road transport has been formulated with purpose of
improving safety and protection of women from
violence by using information technology in the
following manner:
I. Tracking of all public transport vehicles: This
shall be done in accordance with Sections 72, 74, 75
and 76 of Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
Defaults will be reported and updated on the data

51

base of the vehicle.

II. Emergency button in all public transport
vehicles: The button will generate an alarm in the
system. For vehicles which are also provided with
facilities for video recording, the City Command and
Control Centre can receive pictures of actual
incidents and raise an alarm with the nearest police
and transport patrol to reach the bus.
III.Video recording in public transport vehicles
with large seating capacity: Incidents recorded will be
kept for seven days in the on-board unit and can be
used as evidence and arrest of accused in case of any
incident.

Background
Women play an important role in the
economy, politics and social sectors of a country.
People from smaller towns, including a large number
of women, move to cities in search of jobs or studies.
With increasing participation of women in the
economic sphere, safer mobility of women is
essential. As most people, particularly women and
the girl child, cannot afford their own
transportation, they depend on public transport.
The Justice JS Verma Committee constituted
in December, 2012 to look into the possible
amendments in the criminal laws related to sexual
violence against women made various
recommendations for public transport vehicles in its
report.
The Report of Justice (Retired) Ms. Usha
Mehra, Commission of Enquiry constituted under
the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1952 to look into
the incident of gang-rape and assault on a woman on
16.12.2012 in Delhi suggested measures for safety
and security of women in the NCT of Delhi and NCR.

CRITERIA FOR GIVING ARJUNA AWARD

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has
finalized the criteria for giving Arjuna Award to the
sportspersons. The criteria would be applicable for
selection of sportspersons for Arjuna Awards for the
year 2014 onwards. Following is the new criteria:
90 % weightage will be given for the medals
won in various International championships
and sports events of the disciplines covered
in Olympic Games (Summer, Winter and

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Paralympics), Asian Games and

Commonwealth Games. Points for winning
medals will be given to each eligible
sportsperson for his/her performance
during the last 4 years .
Equivalence of any other sports discipline/
tournament, will be decided by the Selection
Committee with reference to abovementioned six categories of sports
tournaments and the points will be allotted
accordingly.
90 marks will be given to the sportsperson
getting maximum points as computed in the
table above. Rest of the sportspersons will
be given marks proportionately to the said
sportsperson. For example, if a sportsperson
A has got highest points say 45 points as
per the table above and another
sportsperson B has got 40 points as per
the table above, then A will get 90 marks
and B will get ( 90 x 40 /45 ) = 80 marks.
10 % weightage will be given to the marks
given by the Selection Committee for
assessment of the eligible sportsperson
keeping in view factors like profile and
standard of the sports events in which he or
she has won medals and qualities like
leadership, sportsmanship, team sprit, fair
play, sense of discipline.
Winners of medals in Olympics and
Paralympics will automatically be considered
for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna or Arjuna
Awards, depending on the type of medal
won, if they have already not been conferred
with either of the two Awards.
For cricket and indigenous games, not
included in Olympic / Asian Games /
Commonwealth Games disciplines, the
Selection Committee will recommend the
number of awards, (not exceeding two), to
be given for Cricket/Indigenous Games and
recommend the sportspersons taking into
consideration their individuals performances
and qualities of sportsman spirit, leadership,
sense of discipline etc.
Ordinarily, not more than one award will be

GIST OF PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

given in each discipline in a particular year

subject to deserving sportspersons being
available. Adequate representation would be
insured for physically challenged and women.
The principle of one award per discipline will
not be applicable in case of team sports and
across gender. That is to say that, the
Selection Committee may recommend, in
deserving cases with proper justification,
more than one sportsperson in respect of
team sports and sportspersons of both the
genders.
Normally not more than 15 awards could
be given in any calendar year. However,
keeping in view the performance of Indian
sportspersons in the Commonwealth, Asian
Games and Olympic Games during a
particular year and for the reasons given in
para 7 above, Selection Committee may
recommend more than 15 sportspersons
for Arjuna Award.
In a particular sports discipline, names of
not more than 4 sportspersons (2 male and
2 female) with the highest marks as per the
criteria brought out in the table above will
be considered by the Selection Committee.
Sometimes, the Selection Committee may
feel that as per the given criteria, a very
deserving sportsperson may not get Arjuna
Award. In such a situation, it may
recommend such name giving full
justification in writing.
Selection Committee will recommend the
final list of sportspersons for Arjuna Awards
as per the marks obtained in terms of the
criteria indicated above.
The recommendations of Selection
Committee will be placed before the Union
Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports for the
final decision.

PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS-2014

Indias efforts to engage with the India
Diaspora received a shot in the arm when the threeday Pravasi Bharatiya Divas from January 7, 2014to
January 9, 2014 is organised in Delhi at Vigyan
Bhawan which sought to connect persons of Indian

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origin and non-resident Indians across generations.
The main event was inaugurated on January 8, 2014
by the Prime Minister of India.
The President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee,
delivered the valedictory address on January 9th and
conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.
The PBD Convention provides a unique
platform for overseas Indians to interact among
themselves and with the Government of India and
the Governments of various Indian States. It is
forum where the Government of India showcases
investment opportunities in India and its potential in
various sectors.
Sh Ravi said that the key focus area of PBD
2014 is Youth PBD on January 7th. India is fast
emerging as a youthful and exuberant nation where
approximately 50 percent of the working population
falls in the age group 18-35 years. There has been a
sharp reversal in migration trends and a number of
experienced and educated NRIs are now returning
home to use their knowledge to build an inclusive
and economically sound future for the country. This
led to the creation of a unique synergy where in
young Indians worldwide are now set to shape the
future of the Indian growth story. This synergy is
expected to be directed by the core principal of
inclusive prosperity and driven by innovation and
technology.
The final day of PBD witnessed sessions on
Investment Opportunities in State and Parallel
State Sessions Concurrent sessions on Innovation
and Technology; Healthcare Opportunity in India;
Meeting of Diaspora organization; Making India
the Hub of Media & Entertainment Industry and
Issues of NRIs in the Gulf .
PBD 2014 showcased the participation of the
state governments, corporate, financial institutions,
NGOs and other sectors through the Exhibition that
is behind the Vigyan Bhawan.

PRITHVI LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL

A missile unit of the elite Strategic Forces
Command (SFC) successfully launched a Prithvi
missile from the test range at Chandipur, off the
Odisha Coast as part of a scenario based live launch
training exercise. The launch was flawless and
achieved all its targeting and technical parameters set
out for the training exercise.

53

The launch was conducted as a culmination to

a strategic training exercise. The aim of this exercise
was to validate our readiness by undertaking
launches in various contingencies, said an SFC
spokesperson.
Prithvi missiles are indigenously produced and
are equipped with improved high accuracy navigation
and manoeuvring system. Inducted into Indias
Strategic Forces Command in 2003, the Prithvi
missile, the first missile to be developed under Indias
prestigious IGMDP strengthens Indias nuclear
deterrence

56 CRORE AADHAAR NUMBERS ISSUED BY

UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION AUTHORITY OF INDIA
(UIDAI)
The Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) has completed issuance of 56 crore Aadhaar
Numbers. With generation of about 13-14 lakhs
Aadhaar Numbers ever y day, the flagship
programme appears all set to complete its mandate
of covering 60 crore population in the next few
weeks.
Established as an Attached Office of the
Planning Commission, through a Government
Notification in January 2009, the UIDAI issued the
first Aadhaar Number on 29th September 2010,
after completing necessary preliminaries including
establishing various standards relating to collection
of data and biometric information such as finger
prints and iris images. The UIDAI issued 25 crore
Aadhaar Numbers in the period up to December
2012 at an average rate of almost one crore
Aadhaars per month. During 2013, UIDAI issued a
total of 29.1 crore Aadhaars at an average rate of
over 2.4 crore Aadhaars per month.
With an increased capacity of Aadhaar
generation, UIDAI is currently generating more than
3 crore Aadhaar Numbers per month and has a
capacity to process 15-16 lakh enrolment packets
every day leading to generation of 13-14 lakhs
Aadhaar Numbers per day.

INDIA AND UAE AGREE TO PROMOTE

COOPERATION IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
India and UAE have agreed to promote

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VOL16

cooperation in renewable energy, especially in the

areas of solar energy and wind power. A
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect
was signed in Abu Dhabi on Saturday,18th of
Januar y. The MoU was signed by Dr. Farooq
Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy of
India and Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister ofState
of UAE.
Both the countries also agreed to form a Joint
Working Group for better coordination through joint
research on subjects of mutual interest, exchange
and training of scientific and technical personnel,
exchange of available scientific and technologies
information and data, organization of workshops,
seminars and working groups, transfer of know-how,
technology and equipment, on non-commercial basis
etc.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah briefed the UAE Minister
on the progress made by India in renewable energy
with special reference to the National Solar Mission
launched in 2010 under the National Action Plan on
Climate Change. He also briefed the Minister on
Indias efforts in promoting energy for remote and
un-electrified areas.He congratulated the UAE for
warm hospitality extended during the 4th Assembly
session of IRENA.

INDIA AND JAPAN ENTER INTO MEMORANDUM IN

THE FIELD OF TOURISM
India and Japan have entered into a
Memorandum for strengthening cooperation in the
field of tourism. The Memorandum was signed
between Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
and the Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure , Transport and Tourism, Government
of Japan in New Delhi on 22nd January, 2014. Mr.
Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism in his
capacity as Director General, Tourism and Mr.
Shigeto Kubo, Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency
signed the Memorandum.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Shigeto Kubo,
Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency expressed the
hope that the Memorandum would facilitate travel
and tourist visits and further strengthen the tourism
partnership between the two countries.
Mr. Parvez Dewan , Secretary, Ministry of

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Tourism, Government of India said that religious

tourism in the form of Buddhist heritage sites is a
great attraction for Japanese tourists to India. He
said that Japanese tourists have been availing visaon-arrival in a major way and the highest number of
visas on arrival were issued to the tourists from
Japan during 2013, as in previous years.
Japan is an important source market for
Indian Tourism. During 2013, India received 2.20
lakh tourists from Japan.
This Memorandum between India and Japan
is intended to serve as the key instrument for
greater action oriented cooperation and further
strengthening the close tourism partnership
between the two countries. The main objectives of
the Memorandum are :
(a) To expand bilateral cooperation in the
tourism sector;
(b) To exchange information and data related
to tourism ;
(c) To encourage cooperation between Tour
Operators and tourism stakeholders
including Hotel owners;
(d) To establish exchange programmes for
cooperation in Human Resource
Development;
(e) To exchange visits of Tour Operators/Media/
Opinion Makers for promotion of two way
tourism;
(f) To exchange experience in the areas of
promotion, marketing, destination
development and management;
(g) To participate in travel fairs/exhibitions in
each others country; and
(h) To promote safe, honourable and
sustainable tourism.

INDIAS AVIATION S AFETY RECORD ABOVE

GLOBAL AVERAGE
International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) Assessment of India on Universal Safety
Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) is much above
the global average. Under USOAP, ICAO has identified
eight critical elements viz. legislation, organisation,
licensing, operation, airworthiness, accident
investigation, air navigation and aerodromes. As per

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ICAO 2013 Safety Report based on USOAP audit
results as on 31 December, 2012, India figures
among the States having effective implementation
above the global average, which is 61%. Indias
Effective Implementation stands at 79.1%.
A brief comparison of Indias status as on
31st December, 2012 with the global safety is given
below:Critical
Elements
Legislation
Organisation
Licensing
Operation

Airworthiness
Accident
Investigation
Air Navigation
Aerodromes

Global
Average
(as on 31
Dec12)
70.0
63.0
71.0
66.0

Global
Average
(as on date)
66.9
63.5
71.5
66.0

Indias
Status
(as on 31
Dec12)
85.7
57.1
89.6
87.7

72.0

72.9

91.1

51.0

53.6

75.3

53.0

54.7

55.8

58.0

57.7

87.4

The only area in which India lacks marginally in

effective implementation of critical element is
organisation. For this, India has already created 75
posts of Chief Flight Operations Inspector (CFOI),
Deputy CFOIs, Senior CFOIs and FOIs. After the
recruitment, it is expected that effective
implementation in this element also would rise much
above the global average. In fact, in legislation even
USA (80.95) is below India (85.71).

RABI CROP SOWING CROSSES 642 LAKH

HECTARE AREA
The total rabi sown area, as per reports
received from States, during the week ending
31.1.2014 stood at 642.89 lakh hectare as compared
to 608.65 lakh hectare at this time last year.
Total sown area under wheat, pulses and
oilseeds exceeds the normal area for the entire
season.
Details of the areas sown so far this year and
last year are given below: Crop
Rabi Rice
Wheat
Total Pulses

Area sown
in 2013-14
21.13
315.25
156.73

Area sown
in 2012-13
15.15
296.32
149.09

55

Coarse Cereals
Oil Seeds
Total

60.50
89.28
642.89

61.92
86.18
608.65

INDIA AS TOP INVESTMENT DESTINATION

India has received total foreign investment of
USD 306.88 billion since 2000 and 94% of this
amount has been received during last 9 years. Indias
Foreign Direct Investment policy has been
progressively liberalised to make the investment
regime more investor friendly. In a recent review of
the policy the government has amended the sectoral
caps and/or entry routes in some sectors viz.
petroleum & natural gas; commodity exchanges;
power exchanges; stock exchanges, depositories and
clearing corporations; asset reconstruction
companies; credit information companies; tea sector
including tea plantations; single brand product retail
trading; test marketing; telecom services; courier
services and defence. The review of FDI policy is done
with a view to boost investor confidence thereby
stimulating FDI inflows and contr ibuting to
accelerated economic growth.
The government approved liberalisation of
FDI norms in a number of sectors, including 100
percent in telecom and higher caps in insurance and
defence sectors. FDI in multi-brand retail has been
allowed up to 51%. The minimum foreign investment
requirement is US$ 100 million, at least 50% which
shall be invested in backend infrastructure within
three years of the induction of FDI. The FDI limit in
Single Brand Retail has been enhanced to 100%. It
was also decided to allow 49 percent FDI in single
brand retail under the automatic route and beyond
through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board
(FIPB) route. While the FDI cap in defence sector
remained unchanged at 26 percent, it was decided
that higher limits of foreign investments in state-ofthe-art technology manufacturing would be
considered by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
The result of the liberal foreign investment
policies is that India has been consistently rated
amongst the top three investment destinations
globally by all international bodies including World
Bank, UNCTAD. This is also mirrored in the foreign
investment data. Between 1999- 2004, India received

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VOL16

US$ 19.52 billion of foreign investment which

increased to US$ 114.55 billion between 2004-09,
and increased further to US$ 172.82 billion between
2009- September 2013.
FDI inf lows have a positive impact by
supplementing domestic capital, technology and skills
of existing companies including in the aviation sector,
as well as through establishment of new companies.
It has indirect multiplier effect on other related
sectors also, and thereby stimulates economic
growth. FDI inflows also have a positive impact on
the current account balance.
When it comes to the impact of FDI in retail
trading towards the consumers, it is beyond doubt
that they have gained a lot from organised retail on
multiple counts. Studies in comparable situations
have revealed that lower income consumers saved
more. Farmers too have benefited significantly from
the option of direct sales to organised retailers. The
profit realisation for farmers selling directly to
organised retailers is about 60 per cent higher than
that received from selling in the mandi.
Small manufacturers will benefit from the
safeguard pertaining to a minimum of 30%
procurement from Indian small industries. This
would provide the necessary scales for these entities
to expand capacities in manufacturing, thereby
creating more employment and also strengthening
the manufacturing base of the country. They will also
derive the benefits of technology upgradation, which
will provide a fillip to productivity and local valueaddition, thereby raising the profitability and
earnings of the small manufacturer. The sourcing
condition will also enable the small enterprises to get
integrated with global retail chains, thereby
enhancing their capacity to export products from
India. Small retailers would continue to be able to
source high quality produce, at significantly lower
prices, from wholesale cash and carry points. The
young population joining the workforce will benefit
from the creation of employment opportunities, in
the entire range of activities from the backend to the
frontend retail business, as also from the skills
imparted to them by the prospective investors.
Price stabilisation and inflation control could
be achieved through direct buying from farmers,

GIST OF PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

improving supply chain inefficiencies to lower transit

losses, improved storage capabilities to control
supply/demand imbalances, better quality and safety
standards through farmer development and
increased processing of produce. FDI in retail may
thus be an efficient means of addressing this issue as
this would bring in large investments required for the
back end infrastructure & value chain and requisite
technical &management know-how.

INDIA & UK S IGNS MOU TO ENHANCE

COLLABORATION
A Memorandum of Understanding has been
signed between Department for Business Innovation
and Skills (BIS) and Ministry of Labour &
Employment (MoLE) to enhance the collaboration
within the framework ofUK India Education and
Research Initiative (UKIERI) . The signing took pkace
here in New Delhi today after a bilateral meeting
held between the delegations led by between
Minister of State (L&E), Government of India Shri K.
Suresh, and Minister Mr. Matthew Hancock, Minister
of State for Skills & Enterprise, United Kingdom.
The key points of the memorandum are as
fpllows:
Focus of this MOU is to collaborate and build
partnership in the area of Skills Development and
Employment Services. The MoU will be the guiding
document for overall collaboration under which the
following activities will be supported:
1. Institutional capacity building of UK and
Indian official and institutes handling skill
development and employment services
2. Sharing of technical expertise, building
linkages and identification of gaps in the areas
of skill development and employment
services, improvement in curriculum,
benchmarking of assessment, certification
and training methods.
3. Supporting development of employment
services in India on the lines of National
Careers Service, UK.
4. Other beneficial projects, in the area of skill
development and employment services,
mutually agreed.
As a first step, UKIERI will facilitate

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partnership of Indian stakeholders with the existing
Career Services in the UK. Best practices from the UK
will be shared with MoLE and other stakeholders to
help develop the Indian model. A workshop in this
regard would be jointly organized by MoL&E and
UKIERI in February 2014. This initiative will be
jointly funded by MoLE and UKIERI. The India cost
will be borne by MoLE and the UK cost will be borne
by UKIERI.
India and the UK will partner on Mentor
Councils in the identified priority sectors in
responding to the skills demand in the sector and
would cover an entire spectrum viz. restructuring of
courses, curriculum development, identification and
development of good teaching and learning aids,
training of trainers with quality, devising assessment
mechanisms, improving on the job training etc.
UKIERI will support in providing UK experts
for the Mentor Councils for upto 10 sectors through
institutional partnership between the MCs set up by
MoLE and the National Skill Academies in the UK.
Each partnership will be jointly funded by MoLE and
UKIERI. The Indian cost of the partnership will be
borne by MoLE and the UK cost of the partnership
will be borne by UKIERI.
GLOBAL CRUDE OIL PRICE OF INDIAN BASKET
US$ 104.77 PER BBL ON 10.1.2014

DECLINES TO

The international crude oil price of Indian

Basket as computed/published today by Petroleum
Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry
of Petroleum and Natural Gas fell to US$ 104.77 per
barrel (bbl) on 10.01.2014. This was lower than the
price of US$ 105.11 per bbl on previous trading day
of 09.01.2014.
In rupee terms also, the crude oil price of
Indian Basket declined to Rs 6489.45 per bbl on
10.01.2014 as compared to Rs 6535.74 per bbl
on 09.01.2014.
This was due to fall in price in dollar terms and
also because of Rupee appreciation. Rupee closed

57

stronger at Rs 61.94 per US$ on 10.01.2014 against

Rs 62.18 per US$ on 09.01.2014.
The table below gives details in this regard:
Particulars

Unit

Crude Oil
Indian
Basket
Exchange

($bbl)
(Rs/bbl)
(Rs/$)

Price on January
10,2014 (Previous
tradingday i.e.
19.01.2014)
104.77 (105.11)
6486.45 (6535.74)
61.94 (62.18)

For pricing
Fortnight
12 to 27.12-2013
Effective 1.1.2014)
108.46
6726.69
62.02

Rate

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

observed 25th National Road Safety Week from
11th-17th January this year.The National Road
Safety Week is observed throughout the country, in
the month of January every year, to highlight the
need to make roads safe and to give all stakeholders
an opportunity to take part in concerted efforts for
the cause. To mark 25 years of road safety, the
Ministry launched a new Logo on Road Safety, with
an aim to encourage every section of society to join
hands towards making roads safer.
The theme of this year s Road Safety
awareness was When on road, always say Pehle Aap
, to educate all drivers in this etiquette of Lukhnavi
Tehzib requiring them to be more generous and
considerate towards fellow road users. This attitude
of Pehle Aap will help prevent many avoidable road
accidents and make road journeys less stressful.
During the last two years, the number of road
accidents has shown a decreasing trend. Number of
fatalities has also decreased in 2012.However there
is no scope for being complacent. The road safety
scenario in India needs urgent improvement with
over 1.38 lakh lives lost in 4.9 lakh accidents in 2012.
Several measures towards improving road
safety including improvements in roads from
engineering perspective, road safety audits at all
stages of road construction beginning right from the
planning stage besides identification and remedy of
black spots which account for almost 90% of road
fatalities in India. The same has been taken up in
thirteen states.

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