September 2010 International Affairs ::.

* As per the WEF's Global Competitiveness Report 2010-11, released today,

Switzerland is No. 1 followed by Singapore in the world in terms of its ability to provide
the most competitive environment on several fronts. India has slipped by two places to
51st. The global competitiveness rankings are viewed as a barometer of the business
climate in 139 countries and mirror the assessments of leading businessmen on a range of
political, social, and economic parameters.
* The new UN survey clearly showed that India is the second most preferred country
for investment for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) after China. The next places go to
Brazil and USA.
* World Water Week was started in Stockholm, Sweden as a part of Global Water
Summit.

September 2010 National Affairs ::.

* Tirumala Seshachalam hills, the abode of Lord Venkteswara, has been declared as a
“biosphere reserve” in the country by the ministry of environment and forest.
* The Andhra Pradesh government has set a target of achieving 80 per cent literacy
rate from the existing 64 per cent by 2020
* Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone for the Tirupati
international airport to provide direct connectivity from various international destinations
to the temple town in Andhra Pradesh.
* Shri K.H. Muniyappa, Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways laid the Foundation
Stone for Kadapa-Bangalore Railway line on 1st September, 2010 at Kadapa Railway
Station. The new Railway line is one of the largest projects of the South Central Railway
and estimated to cost Rs.1785 Crs. for a length of 258.3 Kms. This project is being
executed on 50 :50 cost-sharing basis by the Railways and the State Govts.

September 2010 Bilateral Affairs ::.

* India and South Korea entered into a five-year defence cooperation accord by
signing two memorandums of understandings on sharing of military expertise and
technology.
* India and Switzerland signed a treaty that will enable exchange of information on tax
evaders, considered a must for getting details on unaccounted funds stashed away by
Indians in Swiss banks.
* The treaty is a revised version of the existing Double Taxation Avoidance
Agreement between India and Switzerland and was signed by visiting Swiss Foreign
Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

September 2010 Science & Technology ::.

* India test-fired the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, which has a range of 290
kms, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Orissa coast. The
Brahmos-II, a result of an Indo-Russian joint venture, can be potentially used for surgical
strikes, including at terror camps, without causing collateral damage. It can carry
conventional warheads up to 300 kg and effectively engage ground targets from an
altitude of just 10 metres. The missile can travel at three times the speed of sound.
* The 13 computer cabinets containing the Tianhe-1, China's first domestically-made
petaflop supercomputer, have been installed and it is scheduled to begin system
debugging and testing in September, according to the National Supercomputing Center in
Tianjin.

September 2010 Awards ::.

* Social activist Irom Sharmila, who has been on fast-unto-death for the past nine
years demanding withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 from
Manipur, has been awarded ‘Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize’
* The savoured Haleem dish, a mouth-watering delicacy of Hyderabad, has been
awarded the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) status.
* Veteran film maker D. Ramanaidu has been selected for the prestigious Dadasaheb
Phalke Award 2009. The award, which includes a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, will be
presented at the National Film Awards event in October. The other recepients from
Telugu film industry were BN Reddy, LV Prasad, B Nagi Reddy, A Nageswara Rao.
* The famous writer Kaluvakolanu Sadananda was conferred with Sahitya Academy
Award for his novel Adavithalli.
* 62nd Prime Time Emmy awards were presented in Los Angeles. Best Actor was won
by Bryan Cranton and best actress to Kyra Sedgwick. Best supporting actress was won by
Archie Punjabi whose origin is from India.

September 2010 Sports ::.

* US OPEN 2010 Men’s Singles title was by Rafael Nadal defeating Novak Jokovich.
Women’s Singles title was by Kim Clijsters defeating Vera Zvonareva.
* Sushil Kumar created history by becoming the first Indian wrestler to win a gold
medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Moscow.
* The Indian men's archery team won gold in the World Cup archery stage IV meet in
Shanghai. The Indians also picked up one silver and a bronze meda

September 2010 Persons ::.

* Indian nuclear scientist Homi Sethna has died at the age 86. During his career Sethna
held several posts including director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and
chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. During his time with the AEC Sethna
presided over India's nuclear experiment at Pokhran in 1974.
* Arjun Munda was sworn in as Jharkhand chief minister heading a BJP-JMM
coalition.
* P.J. Thomas, former Telecom Secretary, was sworn in as 14th Central Vigilance
Commissioner by the President of India
* Sonia Gandhi was anonymously elected as the Chairperson of AICCC for the fourth
time.
 * The state government appointed Senior IPS officer Aravind Rao as Director General
of Police of Andhra Pradesh. He was 1977 batch IPS officer and was chief intelligence
officer during YSR's tenure.
* India`s top cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with Indian Air Force`s
honorary rank of Group Captain on September 3, 2010.
* In 2008, India`s World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had received the honorary
rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the Territorial Army. In 2009, Mohanlal was conferred
with the honorary title of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army. Till date, 21
eminent personalities have been granted honorary ranks by the IAF, the first person being
the Raja of Jawhar Raja Yashwant Rao, who was conferred the Flight Lieutenant rank in
1944. Industrialist J R D Tata was made an honorary Air Vice Marshal in 1974 and the
last one to get such an honour in 1990 was industrialist-cum-aviator Vijaypat Singhania,
who is now an honorary Air Commodore.
* The government today released a five-rupee commemorative coin on Mother Teresa
to mark the centenary birth celebrations of the legend who made serving the poor her
mission in life.
* Senior IPS officer R K Medhekar will be the new Director General of elite
commando force -- National Security Guard. Medhekar, a 1975 batch officer of Kerala
cadre, currently serving as Special Director General of Border Security Force.
* Vineet Jain, Managing Director of the Times of India Group, was elected Chairman
of the board of directors of the Press Trust of India