May 2013

Ashwani Kumar

62 year old Former CBI Director, Ashwani Kumar on 9 March 2013 appointed as Governor of Nagaland. Ashwani Kumar was the Director of the agency from August 2008 to November 2010. He will be the first head of the agency to be appointed as a Governor. With the appointment of Ashwani Kumar Former Delhi Police Commissioner Nikhil Kumar, who was serving as Governor of Nagaland, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Kerala for the remainder of his tenure. 72-year-old Nikhil Kumar is a 1963-batch IPS officer, who was appointed as Governor of Nagaland on 15 October 2009.

Jorge Bergoglio

The cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church chose Argentine Jorge Bergoglio on 13 March 2013 as the new Pope. The new pope chose Francis as his Papal Name. He is the first non-European pope in almost 1300 years and first pontiff from the Americas. A Pope sits in the Vatican City. Before Jorge Bergoglio, no other Pope took the Papal Name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis of Assisi was the reformer of 13th Century, who lived in extreme poverty and preached his followers to preach the Gospel always, if necessary use words. After being elected as the Pope, Pope Francis waved his hands to the huge crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Square. The cardinals elected Jorge Bergoglio as the new pope after completion of the fifth ballot, but in all these ballots there existed no clear front-runner into the vote. For being elected to the position of the Pope, a winner must secure 77 votes or two-thirds of the 115 votes. Before this in the year 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was the front-runner in the fourth ballot. In 1978 Pope John Paul II was elected after eighth ballot and was the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.

Pope Benedict XVI, who was appointed pope in the year 2005 resigned from his position in February 2013 claiming that he was infirm to carry. He was the first pope in past 600 years to resign after Pope Gregory XII, who resigned from the position in 1415 to put an end to the Great Western Split among competing papal claimants.

Importance of the Chimney Smoke in completion of the election process

The colour of the smoke from chimney plays a vital role in indicating the completion of election process of a Pope. When the process of election of a Pope is completed and he accepts his position, the ballots are burnt immediately. Traditionally, these ballots are burnt dry or with the help of chemical additives. When a pope is elected, white smoke appears from the chimney. On the other hand, appearance of the black smoke indicates that voting has remained inconclusive. After the election of the Pope, white smoke appeared from Sistine Chapel chimney on 13 March 2013, which indicated that a Pope was elected and he also accepted his position.

What is Papal Name?

Papal Name is the name used by the Popes at the time, when they are in the office. This activity of choosing a name first started in sixth century and became a custom in the 10th Century. Since 16th Century every pope had been choosing the papal name.

Election Process of the Pope

The process of electing a new pope is called conclave and a college of cardinals is responsible for his election. Conclave is the process of seizing the members of the college in the Vatican City, authorized to vote, leaving them in no-contact with the outside world. During the voting process the Cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace. The Conclave is initiated after 15 days and before 20 days of Pope’s death or resignation. During this complete process the cardinals are made to stay in the hospital inside the Vatican called as St. Martha’s House that has 130 rooms. All the arrangements are made to make sure that no one from the outside world is able to get in touch with any of the cardinals or vice-versa, when they are transported from the St. Martha’s and the Sistine Chapel.

Rules laid down for Election of a New Pope

• The number of electors from the College of Cardinals is 120 may be whatever is the number of Cardinals in the college.

• A Cardnal, who had attended the age of 80 years before the Papacy day is not allowed to participate in the Conclave.

• Any contestant, who is able to win more than two-third of the votes is elected as the Pope

• The ballot is conducted twice in morning and afternoon continuously for four days, before declaring the result

• In case, the cardinals fail to elect a Pope with 12 or 13 days, they can impose a majority vote and select the new Pope with simple majority

Park Geun-Hye

Park Geun-hye sworn-in as the first woman President of South Korea. After swearing-in, she vowed for zero tolerance against nuclearised North Korea as well as economic prosperity of the country. Park Geun-hye took charge of the office of the President of South Korea just a little over 50 years after Park Chung-hee, her father had taken over the office in 1961.

Mohan Parasaran

Mohan Parasaran, the Additional Solicitor General was appointed as the Solicitor General of India after senior advocate Rohinton Nariman resigned from his designation. Mohan Parasaran will serve as the Solicitor General of India for a term of three years. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) cleared his name for Solicitor General of India. Rohinton Nariman resigned from his post in Early February 2013. Mohan Parasaran is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court. He was appointed by first UPA Government as Additional Solicitor General (ASG) in July 2004.

Solicitor General of India

The Solicitor General of India is the second highest law officer of India and a subordinate to the Attorney General for India, who is the Indian government’s chief legal advisor.

Neiphiu Rio

Neiphiu Rio 63, of Naga People’s Front (NPF) party was sworn in as Chief Minister of Nagaland for the third straight term on 5 March 2013 along with 11 ministers by the Governor Nikhil Kumar at the Raj Bhavan in Kohima. The other eleven ministers who had taken oath for the office were from his own party, the Naga People’s Front (NPF), which had won 38 seats in the 60-member house. The Naga People’s Front (NPF), is supported by two alliance partners, BJP and JD(U) with one MLA each, also with an unconditional support of 7 Independents.

The other 11 ministers who took oath are, Noke Konyak, T. R. Zeliang, G. Kaito Aye, Imkong L. Imchen, Kuzholuzo Nienu, Kiyaneilie Peseyie, Yanthungo Patton, C M Chang, E E Pangteang, S Pangyuh Phom and R Merentoshi Jamir. Neiphiu Rio is the only leader to have led the regional party to victory in the assembly elections for the third time in the 50-year history of Nagaland statehood. Neiphiu Rio was Chief Minister from 6 March 2003 to 3 January 2008, and has been Chief Minister again since 12 March 2008. Rio was dismissed as Chief Minister when President’s Rule was imposed on Nagaland on 3 January 2008. His party emerged as the single largest party in the ensuing elections and Rio, as the leader of DAN, was invited by the state Governor to form the government on 12 March, 2008.

Asoke Kumar Mukerji

Asoke Kumar Mukerji was appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. Mukerji replaced Hardeep Singh Puri who retired in February 2013 after the tenure of two years. Asoke Kumar Mukerji was chosen by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Union Government of India.

At present, Mukerji is Special Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry. He also served as the Consul General in Dubai as well as the Deputy High Commissioner in London. Asoke Kumar Mukerji was the private secretary to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Justice Retd. Mir Hazar Khan Khoso

Justice Retd. Mir Hazar Khan Khoso took oath as the sixth caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan on 25 March 2013 in Islamabad. The oath was administered by President Asif Ali Zardari at the ceremony which was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Important Facts

It is important to note that Justice Retd. Mir Hazar Khan Khoso is the sixth caretaker PM of Pakistan. He will lead Pakistan in the general elections scheduled on 11 May 2013. The earlier five caretaker Prime Ministers of Pakistan were- Ghulam Mustafa Khan Jatoi (6 August 1990-6 November 1990), Mir Balakh Sher Mazari (18 April 1993-26 May 1993), Moin Qureshi (8 July 1993-19 October 1993), Malik Meraj Khalid (6 October 1996-17 February 1997) and Muhammad Mian Soomro (16 November 2007-24 March 2008).

Nicolas Maduro

Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro on 8 March 2013 was sworn in as Venezuela’s acting president, despite the Opposition resistance as it is being considered to the violation of the country’s constitution. Late President Hugo Chavez who died on 5 March 2013 after two year long fight against cancer named Maduro as his successor before undergoing the latest surgery in December 2012. He picked Nicolas Maduro as the presidential candidate of Chavez’s socialist party. As per the country’s 1999 constitution, the National Assembly speaker becomes interim president in the event of a president-elect’s death or inability to be sworn in. The constitution also says new elections should be called within 30 days. Leader of opposition Angel Medina boycotted the swearing-in ceremony, with the vast majority of opposition legislators who haven’t attended the ceremony. The earlier interim president of Venezuela was Ramón José Velásquez who served as acting president of Venezuela between 1993 and 1994 as a result of the crisis produced by the impeachment of president Carlos Andrés Pérez.

B Ashok Reddy

B Ashok Reddy, the Infotech Enterprises President (Human Resources and Corporate Affairs), was elected as the new chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Andhra Pradesh, for 2013-14. C Suresh Rayudu, the Srinivasa Hatcheries Group Managing Director was elected as the vice-chairman of CII, AP. Both of them were elected on 16 March 2013 in Hyderabad. Earlier, B Ashok Reddy served as the Vice-Chairman, CII Andhra Pradesh. CII-AP also commemorated the annual day on 16 March 2013. The acting chief justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court Justice N V Ramana, in the meanwhile, also released the Feasibility Study Reports of CII on the potential of industries in Khammam district on this day. In the report, it was suggested that six main sectors- chillies processing units, cold storage, cotton ginning, poultry farming and cotton spinning would be useful in boosting the growth prospects of Khammam district.

Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee appointed Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty as the chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty is the IAS officer of 1970 batch and retired from the designation of Secretary to Government of India. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty will retain his position till 31 December 2017. Chakravarty also served in Madhya Pradesh government. He had also remained member-secretary of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and director general of the National Museum, New Delhi apart from vice chancellor of the National Museum Institute.

Lalit Kala Akademi

Lalit Kala Akademi or the National Academy of Fine Art is fine art institution of Government of India with an objective to promote, develop as well as spread the culture of Indian fine art. It receives funds from Ministry of Culture.

Xi Jinping

The new leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping on 14 March 2013 was appointed as the President of China. It is important to note that Xi Jinping, 59, was also chosen as the General Secretary of CPC in November 2012. He overtook the office from Hu Jintao. On 14 March 2013, Xi Jinping was approved by National People’s Congress (NPC), the Parliament of China, in the comprehensive election process at Great Hall of the People. Out of 2963 delegates of NPC, there were 2956 delegates present. Out of the present delegates, 2952 voted for Xi Jinping. Only one vote was cast against him, while three representatives did not vote. Politburo member Li Yuanchao (63) was also chosen as the Vice President of Xi Jinping on the same day with 2839 votes in favour of him. Li Keqiang, 57, was appointed as the Prime Minister of China. He replaced Wen Jiabao.

Mukul Manda Sangma

Mukul Manda Sangma of Congress was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the second term on 5 March 2013. He took oath for the second term as 26th Chief Minister of the state.
The Governor, R.S. Mooshahary administered him the oath of office and secrecy at the Raj Bhavan premises in Shillong. 47-year old Mukul Sangma led the Congress with 29 seats, merely two seats short of the majority in a house of 60. He was sworn-in without the Council of Ministers. Announcement of the list of Council of Ministers will be made by Mukul Manda Sangma in the second week of March 2013.

Prahlad Joshi

Lok Sabha member Prahlad Joshi on 21 March 2013 appointed state ruling BJP chief by national President Rajnath Singh to lead the 5 May 2013 Assembly polls. The appointment of Joshi, representing Dharwad, was announced by Karnataka BJP just a day prior, after the Election Commission declared the poll schedule. Prahlad Joshi defeated other contenders as he has a relatively wider appeal and hails from north Karnataka which the party considers as stronghold but where it is facing a threat to its prospects from former BJP strongman B S Yeddyurappa. Numerically powerful Lingayat community to which Yeddyurappa belongs has a strong presence in north Karnataka. A second time Lok Sabha member from Dharwad, from where Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar also hails, 50-year-old Joshi, eclipsed former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Mangalore Lok Sabha member Nalin Kumar Kateel and Minister Govind M Karjol who were also in the race.

T. S. Vijayan

T. S. Vijayan, the former LIC chief took over as the Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). Vijayan will succeed J. Hari Narayan. J. Hari Narayan completed the five-year term on 20 February 2013. The tenure for IRDA chairman is five years or till 65 years. T. S. Vijayan will take over as the Chairman of IRDA when the entire industry is facing meltdown. The challenges which will be faced by him include taking the insurance industry to rural areas as well as simplifying the insurance products.

Khil Raj Regmi

Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Nepal on 14 March 2013. Khil Raj Regmi will be the head of interim government which will have its elections by 21 June 2013. He took over the office from Baburam Bhattarai. Khil Raj Regmi, 63, took oath of the office and secrecy from the President Ram Baran Yadav. In the meanwhile, Madhav Ghimire was chosen as the Home Minister as well as the External Affairs Minister. Hari Prasad Neupane was chosen as the Law Minister as well as Labour Minister. Regmi will head the 11-member interim government.

Rajeev Shahare

Rajeev Shahare was appointed as the new High Commissioner to Maldives on 28 February 2013, replacing D M Mulay. At present, Shahare is a Joint Secretary in the West Asia North Africa division of Ministry of External Affairs. D M Mulay, on the other hand, has now been appointed as the India’s Consul General in New York.

He would take up office in March 2013. The appointment of Rajeev Shahare came at a time when bilateral relations between India and Maldives are suffering because of termination of contract to GMR for Male International Airport modernisation.

P.R. Vasudeva Rao

P.R. Vasudeva Rao became the Director of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam. He succeeded S.C Chetal, who has now retired. Dr. Rao was earlier the Director, Chemistry Group in IGCAR and is also a specialist in the field of actinide chemistry as well as a few areas of chemistry of nuclear fuel cycle. In IGCAR, Dr. Rao led various R&D programmes related to the field of chemistry.

Bobby Ghosh

Bobby Ghosh, the eminent Indian Journalist was appointed as the editor of Time International on 16 March 2013. He is the first non-American World Editor in the history of the Times. His appointment to the post was confirmed by the editor in Chief, Martha Nelson and Managing Editor Rick Stengel in a joint email.

Hugo Chavez

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on 5 March 2013 at a military hospital in Caracas at the age of 58 due to Cancer. He died after battling from cancer for two years during which he underwent several surgeries and chemotherapy in Cuba. With his death his 14 year rule of Venezuela came to an end and bringing a challenge of electing a new President for the country within 30 days as per Constitution of Venezuela. Till then the Presidency will be assumed by the Vice-President of the country, Nicolas Maduro. The Foreign Minister of Venezuela Elias Jose Jaua Milano announced seven days mourning for the country.

• Hugo Chavez was the President of Venezuela from 1999 till his death in 2013

• He was the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela

• He was responsible for the promotion of the Bolivarian cause of social revolution and started the secretive Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200) in early 1980s

• He served the Venezuelan army as a officer before entering into politics and initiation the secretive Revolutionary Bolivarian Movement-200 (MBR-200)

• He was a former leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007

• He led a coup attempt in 1992 and landed in jail for his act and was further he launched his political career

• Served as the President of Venezuela for three times

A coup attempt was made in Venezuela in April 2002 to overthrow Hugo Chavez from his office. During this coup attempt, Hugo was ousted from his office for 47 hours and further the situation was restored by the support of public that was seeking his government and the military loyalists.

86 years old Former West Bengal Governor and industrialist Viren J Shah died in Jordan on 9 March 2013 after a heart attack. Viren Shah went on for holiday to Jordan with his wife where suffered the heart attack. Viren Shah was born in Calcutta on 12 May 1926 and was educated at Bombay University.

Lilian Davies

Swedish Princess Lilian Davies died in Stockholm on 10 March 2013. She was aged 97 years. Swedish Princess Lilian was married to Prince Bertil. The Swedish Princess Lilian Davies was born in Swansea, Wales in August 1915 in a working class family. The cause of her death is unknown, but she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Lilian Davies became the princess of Sweden in 1976 as well as the duchess of the southern province of Halland at Drottningholm Palace Chapel in Stockholm.

Kallam Anji Reddy

Kallam Anji Reddy, the main behind Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd (DRL), the second-largest drugmaker of India died on 15 March 2013 at Hyderabad’s Apollo Hospital. Anji Reddy was the founder and chairman of DRL. He was aged 72 years. He died because of liver cancer. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son.

About Kallam Anji Reddy

• Anji Reddy was a chemical engineer.

• He served as the member on Prime Minister’s Council on Trade & Industry.

• Anji Reddy was honoured with Padma Bhushan, the highest Civilian Award in India, in April 2011. He was awarded for distinguished service in Trade and Industry field.

• He also founded Neo-natal Intensive Care and Emergencies called NICE Foundation, which is the only institute for new-borns in Asia.

• In 1998, he also established Naandi Foundation which provided safe drinking water in rural areas. This foundation also provides the midday meals to 1.3 million children as well as farmers.

About Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd (DRL)

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories is the second-largest pharmaceutical company of India, in terms of market capitalization with 31000 crore Rupees. It was also the first pharmaceutical company of India that was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2001.

Zillur Rahman

The President of Bangladesh, Zillur Rahman passed away on 20 March 2013 at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. He was 84 years of age. The Government of Bangladesh announced three-day mourning in the country. Zillur Rahman was undergoing treatment for kidney as well as respiratory complications.

Article 54 of the Constitution of Bangladesh: Speaker to act as President during absence

Speaker Abdul Hamid became acting President of Bangladesh now. According to the Article 54 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, if a vacancy occurs in the office of President or if the President is unable to discharge the functions of his office on account of absence, illness or any other cause the Speaker shall discharge those functions until a President is elected or until the President resumes the functions of his office, as the case may be.
Executive powers vest in the Prime Minister of Bangladesh

President’s death does not affect the Government of Bangladesh because ever since the parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh was restored in 1991, the President has remained just a ceremonial post. The executive powers vest in the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra

Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra, the noted environmentalist as well as the acclaimed Hero of the Planet of TIME Magazine in 1999, died at Sir Sundarlal Hospital of Banaras Hindu University on 13 March 2013. He was aged 75 years.

About Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra

• Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra was given the title of Hero of the Planet by the TIME magazine in 1999.

• He was the founder of Sankat Mochan Foundation. He founded Sankat Mochan Foundation in 1982.

• He was also the former professor of Hydraulic engineering, apart from being the former Head of the Civil Engineering Department at the Institute of Technology.

• Mishra was also recognised on United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1992.

• Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra was among the various expert members of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).

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