PUBLICATION OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA IN DUBAI

� Industrial output in Indiabounces back to double digits

� FDI norms for real estate inIndia may be relaxed

� India to become second biggestdestination for FDI: survey

� BrahMos cruise missileachieves supersonic dive

VOL. 2 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA BACK IN UNSECURITYCOUNCIL

CONSULATE HOSTS SUHOOR

|3SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

2| INDIA MATTERS

India elected UNSC Non-Permanent Member

A new UNCTAD survey finds India willbecome the second biggest destination forforeign direct investment (FDI) in the worldover the next two years.

The 290-km range BrahMos cruise mis-sile, being jointly developed by India andRussia, achieved a supersonic dive afterbeing test-fired from the Integrated TestRange at Chandipur in Orissa, meetingall mission requirements.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

India to be 2nd biggestdestination for FDI

INDIA-UAE

Indian Consulate, Dubai,hosts Suhoor8

INDIA-UAE

UAE, India sign security,prisoner accords

10

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

BrahMos missile achievessupersonic dive

18

12

20

LONAVLA

After a gap of nearly two decades, India has been elected as a Non-PermanentMember of the United Nations Security Council, a fact that reiterates India’srise as a global power.

contents

4

India Mattersis a monthly publication of theConsulate General of India

(CGI) in Dubai. All rightsreserved. No part of this journalmay be produced, stored or

transmitted in any form or by anymeans – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the

permission of the CGI Dubai.

Editorial correspondence and manuscripts can be addressed to

indiamatters@cgidubai.com

Content and design by IANS(www.ianspublishing.com) on behalf of Consulate General of India in Dubai.

FROM THE CONSUL GENERAL’S DESK

Dear Reader

As a testimony to our international stature, India was elected with a hands-down majority as the Asian regional rep-resentative to the 15-member UN Security Council. India’s elevation to the UN high table was near unanimous. Thisis another recognition of India’s case for a permanent seat in a restructured UN Security Council.

During Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mr. Vayalar Ravi’s visit to UAE recently, he encouraged all Indians toregister with their diplomatic missions as this will help them to exercise their voting rights while in India.

We plan to revamp India Matters. Do let us have your suggestions on a new look and what changes you would liketo see or the kind of articles you would like to read. As much as this is your Consulate, the magazine is yours as well. Sowe look forward to your inputs.

Happy Reading.

INDIA MATTERS ON AIRThe Consulate General of India in Dubai has re-launched its

weekly radio programme, India Matters, with the purpose ofinforming the public about various Consular services, events relat-ing to India and about what matters to Indians in the UAE.

India Matters is aired every Saturday between 6 pm and 7 pmon FM 105.4 Radio Spice and repeated every Friday between 5 pmand 6 pm.

FM 105.4 Radio Spice caters to the South Asian community inthe UAE, broadcasting mainly in Hindi and English.

Sanjay Verma

The winner of the August 2010 monthly quiz contest is

Ms. Anjali Jestine. She wins a gift hamper.

Congratulations!

needed structural reform to the U.N.Security Council. I have absolutely nodoubt that we will utilise our tenure to pro-vide a sense of satisfaction to all our part-ners and obtain their reaffirmation of theneed for a permanent presence for India onthe Security Council.” Minister Krishna had reasons to feel

gratified as he led the diplomatic charge forgetting a non-permanent seat since becom-ing the Foreign Minister in May last year.According to sources, he spoke to foreignministers of over 100 countries and soughttheir support for the U.N. seat. He met

over 50 heads of state and foreign ministersduring his 10-day trip to New York toattend the 65th session of the UNGA justdays before the crucial vote.India last held a non-permanent seat in

the U.N. Security Council in 1991-1992.This will be India’s seventh term on theSecurity Council as a non-permanentmember. India has previously been a mem-ber of the Security Council in 1950-51,1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85,and 1991-92.Looking ahead, Krishna outlined key pri-

orities of India during its tenure as non-per-

manent member of the UNSC for 2011-12and underlined that New Delhi will be the“voice of moderation” in the global body.“India’s traditional wisdom and desire tocontribute to international peace and amitywill result in our being the voice of modera-tion and constructive engagement in thedecisions of the Security Council,” he said.Alluding to “a troubled neighbour-

hood”, Krishna said India’s immediate pri-orities in the Council will include peaceand stability in our near and extendedneighbourhood, including Afghanistan,the Middle East and Africa. Other key pri-

Mirroring the shifting archi-tecture of the evolving glob-al order, India left no one indoubt about the over-

whelming support it enjoys in the globalarena when it won a rotating non-perma-nent seat on the U.N. Security Council(UNSC) with 187 votes in the 192-mem-ber U.N. General Assembly (UNGA). Comprising 98 percent of the total

membership of the UN, this was the high-est number of votes polled by any of thecandidates for a non-permanent seat in theSecurity Council for the past five years.With Kazakhstan withdrawing from therace in January, India became the sole can-didate from the Asian region and its elec-tion to the non-permanent seat hadbecome a near certainty. But the huge mar-gin with which it won the UNGA electionstook even India’s Ministry of ExternalAffairs and diplomats, who worked tireless-ly to make this possible, by surprise. It was clearly a big moment for Indian

diplomacy as New Delhi returns to thecouncil on January 1, 2011, after a gap ofnearly two decades. The news triggeredwaves of jubilation across the Indian diplo-matic and strategic establishment. India’spermanent mission to the UN, which liter-ally burnt midnight oil to make this featpossible, was “overjoyed.” “This is the highest vote that any coun-

try has got in the last five years. Now that’ssaying a lot,” said Hardeep Singh Puri,India’s Envoy to the UN, in New York,while describing the vote as “a ringingendorsement”.In New Delhi, Minister for External

Affairs S.M. Krishna, hailed the re-entry ofIndia into the U.N. Security Council as “astep forward” in the direction of NewDelhi getting a permanent seat in the pre-eminent global body. “We will demonstrate to the internation-

al community that India on the SecurityCouncil is good for the world,” Krishna saidminutes after the news of India winning therotating seat trickled in from New York. “This resounding endorsement of

India’s candidature at the United Nationsserves as a reaffirmation, if any were need-ed, of the overwhelming support that Indiaenjoys in the international community,”Minister Krishna added. “India will alsocontinue to work with like-minded coun-tries and groups for bringing about much

|5SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

4| INDIA MATTERS

COVER STORY

After its election as a non-permanent member of theUNSC, India will now pitch harder for a permanent seat,writes Manish Chand

India elected to UNSC asNON-PERMANENT

MEMBER

Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, meeting with US President Barack Obama, at Toronto, Canada, on June 26, 2010. (File picture)

between nations can be resolved throughmutual discussions. India will continue towork in this direction,” he said.Armed with a non-permanent seat, India

now plans to take the lead in reinvigoratingthe G4 initiative that also includesGermany, Brazil and Japan for expansion ofthe U.N. Security Council in both perma-nent and non-permanent categories. Thecomposition of the new Security Councilthat includes many emerging powersreflects mutating power realities and theshift of power from the north and west toeast and south. German Foreign MinisterGuido Westerwelle, who visited New Delhidays after the two countries won non-per-manent seats, struck an upbeat note. “The architecture of the U.N. is a result

of World War II. The world has changed.Africa is under-represented. Latin Americaand Asia are under-represented,” he saidafter talks with his Indian counterpart. “We need reform of the U.N. to

strengthen the role of the U.N. in theworld as an institution that can resolveregional conflicts,” he stated, adding thatthe G-4 countries would meet soon toreview their strategy for pushing expansionof the Security Council. India is also set tointensify consultations with African coun-tries, who hold key to expansion of theSecurity Council. Leading global powers have welcomed

India’s election to the UNSC. “We will see India emerge as a global

leader as it occupies a non-permanent seat

on the U.N. Security Council from 2011-2013,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State forSouth Asia Robert Blake said in his speechat the Baltimore Council on ForeignAffairs. “As two of the world’s leadingdemocracies, we can help build a new glob-al commons — an international system inwhich other democracies can flourish,human dignity is advanced, poverty isreduced, trade is expanded, our environ-ment is preserved, violent extremists aremarginalised, the spread of weapons ofmass destruction is curbed, and new fron-tiers in science and technology areexplored. That is the moment, and thepromise, that lies before us,” Blake said. It’s now up to India to leverage its non-

permanent seat to take a stand on on press-ing global issues sans prejudices and use itssoft power to revivify the UN’s standing asthe premier global body the world can trustfor maintaining international peace andsecurity. The world will be watching close-ly the way India handles its responsibilitiesas a non-permanent member as New Delhipitches harder for a permanent seat that itbelieves will give it a greater say in shapingglobal discourse. ““Whenever that (expansion of the

Security Council) happens, India will be apart of it — that I guarantee,” saysChinmaya Gharekhan, India’s former per-manent representative to the U.N. and theauthor of The Horseshoe Table, an insightfulaccount of the working of the U.N.Security Council. The veteran diplomat,however, cautioned that “together withsuccess goes responsibility”.“I think we got so much support from the

General Assembly because there (is) a lot ofexpectations that India will play a construc-tive, productive, independent role in theSecurity Council,” he said in an interview. India, on its part, is confident that it will

live up to growing global expectations. “India will also not only bring ability

but add to the legitimacy of the SecurityCouncil and be pro-active on tackling thescourge of terrorism and strengthening theUN’s peacekeeping and peace-buildingefforts,” Krishna said on the day India wonthe non-permanent seat with a recordnumber of votes. “Membership of the UNSecurity Council, of course, entails higherresponsibility. We will live up to that,” heassured. v

(Manish Chand in New Delhi)

orities, he stressed, would include counter-terrorism, including the prevention of theproliferation of weapons of mass destruc-tion to non-state actors, and the strength-ening of U.N. peacekeeping to which Indiais one of the leading contributors. Krishna said the victory was reflective of

India’s major role on the world stage inareas like combating terrorism and climatechange. “India will discharge its obligations as a

responsible member of the internationalcommunity by remaining fully and active-ly engaged on all issues before theCouncil,” Krishna assured. Conjuring a picture of restraint and bal-

ance, Krishna said India would handle allissues with “objectivity” when he was askedquestions about terrorism originating fromPakistan or sanctions against the Iraniannuclear programme. “We would like cordial relations with

Pakistan. We have made every effort to begood neighbours with Pakistan,” Krishnareplied when asked whether India wouldproactively place issues relating to terrorismoriginating from Pakistan on the agenda ofthe Security Council. Krishna also made it clear that India

would take a constructive view when issuesrelating to the Iranian nuclear programmecome up before the UN Security Counciland reiterated New Delhi’s opposition tosanctions. “We believe all questions

|7SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

6| INDIA MATTERS

COVER STORY

With India, South Africa and Germany winning three of

the rotating non-permanent seats in the U.N. Security

Council (UNSC) for 2011-2012, this is the first time the

Security Council will witness the simultaneous presence of all

BRIC and IBSA countries and three of the four G-4 countries.

The BRIC countries comprise four emerging powers, viz.,

Brazil, Russia, India and China who are set to become leading

economies of the world by 2050. Russia and China are already

permanent members of the UNSC.

Brazil was elected to a non-permanent seat last year and will

remain there till end of 2011.

The IBSA comprises India, Brazil and South Africa, bringing

three leading economies of three continents together.

The G-4 comprising India, Brazil, Germany and Japan are

aspiring for a permanent seat in the UNSC. India won the seat

vacated by Japan from the Asia region in a vote in the UN

General Assembly.

FIRST TIME IBSA, BRIC IN SECURITY COUNCIL

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Lula daSilva, South African President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma duringthe 4th Summit of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) DialogueForum in Brasília, Brazil, on April 15, 2010. (File picture)

(L-R) Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula daSilva, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singhduring the Second BRIC Summit in Brasilia, on April 15, 2010. (File picture)

Mangaldas and her dance company, TheDrishtikon Dance Foundation, who mes-merized the audiences with their Kathakperformances based on Sufi poetry byHazrat Amir Khusro. Kathak, one of the eight forms of Indian

classical dances, had originated in northernIndian. This dance form traces its originsto the nomadic bards of ancient northernIndia, known as kathakas, or storytellers.The story of Kathak begun in ancienttimes with the performances of profession-al story-tellers who recited or sang storiesfrom epics and mythology with some ele-ments of dance. The traditions of thekathakas were hereditary, and dances werepassed from generation to generation. Kathak, as a dance discipline, is one of

the most vital expressions of the intersec-tion of secular and religious life in India. Itexemplifies the legacy of Indo-Islamic tra-

ditions that resulted in the most uniquecross-fertilisation of various faiths.Drawing on themes from Persian andUrdu poetry and qawwalis and ghazals,Kathak’s exquisite artistry, rich in rhythmsand utterances, was honed for many cen-turies in Mughal courts. Sufism is known as a science whose

objective is the reparation of the heart andturning it away from all else but God. In itsearly stages of development Sufism effec-tively referred to nothing more than theinternalisation of Islam. According to oneperspective, it is directly from the Qur’an,constantly recited, meditated, and experi-enced, that Sufism proceeded in its originand its development. Others have held thatSufism is the strict emulation of the way ofProphet Muhammad, PBUH, throughwhich the heart’s connection to the Divineis strengthened. v

The Indian Consulate, in associa-tion with India Tourism andDubai Press Club, hosted aSuhoor dinner in Dubai on

August 26, 2010, to celebrate the HolyMonth of Ramadan and showcase theIslamic culture and heritage in India. The event was attended by prominent

Emiratis like Dr. Omar Al Muthanna,Chief Executive Officer of the CommunityDevelopment Authority, Government ofDubai, Dr. Shihab M. Ghanem, renownedEmirati poet, HE Mirza Hussain AlSayegh, Deputy Chairman of DubaiNatural Gas Company and Editor-in-Chief of Gulf News, Mr. Abdul HamidAhmed among others. Mr. Paras Shahdadpuri, President of the

Indian Business and Professional Council

(IBPC), Dubai, Mr. Faizal E. Kottikollon,President of EmiratesTechno Casting FZEand Mr. J.C. Sharma, former secretary inIndia’s Ministry of External Affairs alsoattended the function.Speaking at the event, the Consul

General of India in Dubai, Mr. SanjayVerma, spoke about the large Muslim pop-ulation in India and recalled his childhooddays in his hometown where he used tohave Iftar with his Muslim friends during‘Ramzan’, as it’s known in India. No part ofIndia is left untouched by our Muslimcommunity which is present in everyaspect of Indian society be it the govern-ment, movies, science or business, he said. The evening highlighted the strong

Islamic roots of India with performancesby internationally acclaimed Aditi

INDIA-UAE

| 9SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

8 | INDIA MATTERS

Consul General of India in Dubai, Mr. Sanajay Verma (centre), with Emirati dignitaries at the Suhoor hosted by the Indian Consulatein Dubai on August 26.

Consulate hosts Suhoor(Above) IBPC president Mr. Paras Shadadpuri (second from left) with HE AbdulRahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber, and HE Dr. Haneef Hassan,UAE's Minister of Health; (below) guests at the IBPC Suhoor.

WHEN IBPC PLAYED HOST

UTV’s production venture PaanSingh Tomar, about the sol-dier-athlete who went on tobecome a bandit, will have its

world premiere at the Abu Dhabi FilmFestival, starting October 14.Randall Wallace’s Secretariat, starring

Diane Lane and John Malkovich, will openthe fest and Indian filmmaker Murli Nair’sVirgin Goat will be screened in the compe-tition section.The complete line up for the festival was

announced on September 27 at a pressconference at the Abu Dhabi Theater.“The Festival as a whole has three big

competitions for features. When I say big,I mean they have 14 or 15 films each withvery generous prizes of $100,000 for all themajor awards. They are for narrative fea-tures, documentary features and a newcompetition called New Horizons, whichis open to fiction and non-fiction featuresby first- and second-time directors from allover the world,” said Peter Scarlet, execu-

tive director of the Abu Dhabi FilmFestival, in a statement.“This year, first- or second-time direc-

tors of documentary or narrative featureshave the chance of winning a $100,000prize, just as much cash as in the other fea-ture competitions. So the access to prizesfor young filmmakers is no different thanlast year,” he added.In the New Horizons section, films like

Iranian movies Orion by Zamani Esmatiand Gesher by Vahid Vakilifar, two NewYork-based films, Furious Force of Rhymes byJoshua Atesh Litle and Bill CunninghamNew York by Richard Press, which connectthe city’s music and fashion to the rest ofthe world in very unusual ways, will beshowcased.“Adrian Brody, the youngest winner of a

best actor Oscar will be on hand for theAmerican independent film, Wrecked byMichael Greenspan, and there's an equallyimpressive line-up of films by new talentsfrom Egypt, France, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria,Turkey and the UAE.“The selection also includes one of the

most surprising and unexpected new filmswe’ve seen all year, Slackistan by HammadKhan, a Pakistan-UK co-production,” saidScarlet.Feature competition titled Narrative

Competition will have movies like directorWang Bing’s Chinese movie The Ditch;Olivier Assayas’s Carlos, about the notoriousterrorist, featuring a remarkable perform-ance by Edgar Ramirez; In a Better World byDanish filmmaker Susanne Bier; Frenchfilm Potiche by François Ozon; and Russianmovie Silent Souls by Aleksei Fedorchenko.“Until a couple of days ago, we thought

we had three very strong Arab documen-taries. But then we got the upsetting newsthat the Iraqi filmmaker Mohamed Al-Daradji, who has a very strong film calledIn My Mother’s Arms, had run into a tech-nical hitch and the film was not going to beready in time, leaving us with only twoArab documentaries.“That is why we decided to change the

rules of the Documentary Competition thisyear and include three films about theMiddle East made by filmmakers from out-side the region. We thought, let's try havingall five of them compete against each other.They happen to be three films aboutPalestine, from Norway, the Netherlandsand Germany,” said Scarlet. v

SPECIALINDIA-UAE

|11SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

10|INDIA MATTERS

Indians in UAE encouraged to registerat their diplomatic missions

Indians in the UAE are beingencouraged to register themselveswith the diplomatic missions tohelp them exercise their right to

vote while in India.“There is no compulsory registra-

tion. But it will be to the benefit of theIndian community here to use theirvoting rights. In case somebody chal-lenges their names in the voters’ list,the registration will help verify theirdetails through the consulate or theembassy,” Mr. Vayalar Ravi, Ministerfor Overseas Indian Affairs, said at a pressconference at the Indian Consulate inDubai.Consul Geneeral of India in Dubai,

Mr. Sanjay Verma, said currently lessthan 500 people are registered with theconsulate.“If the linkage between NRI voting

rights and online registration is established,

we are ready to take it to a different foot-ing,” the Consul General said.Expatriate Indians can register their

details online by using their passportdetails.The long-standing demand of non-resi-

dent Indians was fulfilled when the Group ofMinisters (GoM) cleared the draft for theRepresentation of People’s (Amendment) Bill

two months ago, to be presented in thefederal cabinet and then the Parliament.If passed in the Parliament as a law,

NRIs will be able to participate in thedemocratic process if they are presentin their constituencies during stateassembly or parliament elections.Currently, an NRI’s name gets delet-

ed from the voters’ list if he or she staysoutside the country for more than sixmonths.Responding to questions from the

media, Minister Ravi said the govern-ments of UAE and India are in the processof finalising the amendments to theMemorandum of Understanding (MoU)signed between the two countries for thewelfare and protection of Indian workers.The Minister, who was in the UAE to

attend the Global Arab Business Meetingat Ras Al Khaimah, did not divulge detailsof the MoU. v

The UAE and India will soon signtwo significant agreements onsecurity and transfer of prisoners.

The India-UAE Foreign OfficeConsultations (FOC), which was held onSeptember 19 in Abu Dhabi, reviewed thecurrent status of three proposed agree-ments.India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Mr.

M.K. Lokesh, said after the meeting that itwas decided that the agreements would beexpedited.Ambassador Lokesh said both sides had

almost finalised the two agreements – oneabout security cooperation between thetwo nations, and the other for the transferof prisoners.In July, the UAE and India had drawn

up an agreement to allow prisoners to betransferred between the two countries.Dr. Anwar Mohammad Gargash, UAE

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, ledthe UAE delegation and VijayalathaReddy, Secretary (East) in India’s Ministryof External Affairs, led the Indian delega-tion in the consultations.Ambassador Lokesh said the proposed

security cooperation agreement had beendesigned to ensure the exchange of infor-mation on security matters between bothcountries.The proposed agreement on those who

have been sentenced would allow the trans-fer of prisoners between the two countries,he said. The agreement would enableIndian convicts in the UAE to serve theirsentences in their home country, theAmbassador said and added that wereabout 1,400 Indians in UAE jails. A fewwere convicted and the others were on trialor in detention.Mr. Lokesh said negotiations were con-

tinuing on a proposed agreement on mutu-al assistance in customs matters. A delega-tion from UAE Customs also visited Indiaas part of the negotiations, he said. Theagreements would be signed at the ministe-rial level.A spokesman for the Indian Embassy in

Abu Dhabi said that those who took part inthe high-level consultations, held after a longtime, agreed to increase the number of visitsbetween the two countries, to consolidate theexcellent relationship at the political level.The spokesman underscored the need

for an early convening of the ministeriallevel India-UAE Joint Commission, whichlast met in 2007.Those at the negotiations said they were

satisfied with the rate of growth in tradeand economic links between the two coun-tries, which had become major tradingpartners for each other. v

UAE AND INDIA TO SIGN SECURITY,PRISONER ACCORDS

PAAN SINGH TOMARTO BE PREMIERED ATABU DHABI FILM FEST

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

|13SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

12| INDIA MATTERS

India to be 2nd biggest destination for FDI

India will emerge the second-mostpopular destination for foreign directinvestment (FDI) in the globe overthe next two years, says the World

Investment Prospect Surveys 2010-2012,published by the United NationsConference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD).China remains the “top investment des-

tination” for FDI, followed by India,Brazil, the US and the Russian Federation.The report stated it was the first time thatall the four BRIC countries figure amongthe top five for FDI inflows.Predictably, developing Asia is seen as

the most sought-after place for FDI (withsix countries in the top 15). The survey,aimed at the largest global non-financialtransnational companies (TNCs), nationalinvestment promotion agencies and loca-tion experts, explores coming trends in glob-al FDI over the next three years in the wakeof the financial crisis.Until as recently as mid-2010, FDI

flows had not climbed back to the pre-cri-sis levels. Yet, the survey finds attitudestoward the business and investment envi-ronment improving, with only 36 percentof respondents expressing pessimism, com-pared to 47 percent in 2009.The survey says a mere 13 percent of the

respondents were actually optimistic aboutthe prospects of the global business envi-ronment in 2010. Yet, this gloom seems tobe short-lived, with 62 percent saying theythought things would look up in 2012. Infact, 58 percent of TNCs are planning toincrease their international investment

expenditures in the next three years. This isa positive sign, given that many developingeconomies depend on FDI inflows toensure growth in their domestic markets.Data released by other international

organisations reflect the improved condi-tion of global FDI after 2008. The International Monetary Fund

(IMF) reported that net inflows in emerg-ing and developing economies were up to$294.1 billion in 2010, compared to$274.8 billion in 2009. The EconomistIntelligence Unit predicts that while globalflows will not match 2007 numbers ($2trillion) until 2014, they will grow to $1.3trillion in 2010. Unctad predicts a furtherincrease to between $1.6 and $2 trillion in2012. Interestingly, developing economieshave moved up the ranks in their capacityof serious investors. Half of the 20 most-promising investor

countries were economies in transition –with China ranking second and Indiaranking sixth globally. v

Industrial output bounces back to double digits

A63-percent rise in capital goodsproduction pushed India’s industri-al output up to 13.8 percent in

July, as against 7.1 percent in the previousmonth, according to official data releasedon September 10. The index of industrialproduction (IIP) had grown at 7.2 percentin July of 2009-10.The double-digit growth is significant

because industrial expansion in the previousmonth was revised downward to 5.67 per-cent from the earlier estimate of 7.1 percent. Experts had earlier said the industry

could grow in single-digit for July becauseof the base effect.Planning Commission Deputy

Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia saidthe IIP figures were better-than-expectedand there was a good case for the govern-ment to increase its economic growth tar-get for the current fiscal year.Though 12 out of 17 industries, which

constitute the IIP, posted a positive growthin July, it was manufacturing, the one with

the maximum weightage, rose the highest,to 15 percent in the month under review,compared to a rise of 7.4 percent in theyear-ago period, data from the Ministry ofStatistics showed.The manufacturing sector constitutes

about 80 percent of the IIP.The mining sector expanded at 9.7 per-

cent, quickening its pace from the increaseof 8.7 percent in July 2009. Among the topperforming sectors was capital goods,which grew the fastest at 63 percent, 9.1percent in intermediate goods and 5.1 per-cent in basic goods.“While it is unclear whether the

increased output for the capital goods isdriven by investments in productive capac-ity formation within the economy, thetrend in the data provides room for opti-mistic projections regarding India’s longterm productivity in manufacturing andinfrastructure sectors,” said Shanto Ghosh,principal economist, Deloitte, in India.During the April-July period, industrial

output has risen 11.4 percent, compared toa mere 4.7 percent in the first four monthsof the last fiscal.India’s industrial output, which surged

13.8 percent in July from 7.1 percent inthe previous month, is an indication of thelong-term optimism in the country’sindustry and the overall economy, FinanceMinister Pranab Mukherjee said onSeptember 10.“The figures indicates long-run opti-

mism on the part of Indian industry andthis, once again, underlines my own opti-mism concerning the growth of the Indianeconomy,” Mr. Mukherjee said. v

Planning Commissionsees a rosier economy

With an over4-5 percentagriculturegrowth like-

ly to pep up the overall GDPgrowth a little higher thanthe projected 8.5 percent,Planning CommissionDeputy ChairpersonMontek Singh Ahluwalia sees a rosier econ-omy in the offing. Ahluwalia echoed thepopular perception of a good rabi harvestthis year because of an excellent monsoon.In an interview to the TV•channel CNBCTV18, he said, “I am absolutely certainthat this year we are going to see more than4 percent agricultural growth. My guesswould be that we should be somewhere inthe 5 percent to even 6 percent range.”While terming an agriculture growth in

the range of 5-6 percent as “not-so-phe-nomenal”, Ahluwalia, however, explainedthat it would be potent enough to pep upIndia’s overall growth beyond the targeted8.5 percent. On the chances of the countryclocking a higher growth, Ahluwaliaexpressed optimism that good agricultural

growth would make it pos-sible for the economy togrow up to about 8.4-8.5percent.“The economy grew at

7.4 percent last year. So,agriculture alone wouldtake it up to about 8.4-8.5percent. The rest of the sys-

tem would also show some acceleration,and it could go beyond 8.5 percent,” saidAhluwalia.Agreeing that “the base level effect is

going to affect quarter-2 growth comparedto quarter-1”, Ahluwalia said, “There willbe some slowing down but we will end theyear with double-digit industrial growthand that’s very good.”“It (the base effect) is not a cause of con-

cern. Let’s look at it. The 8.5 percent GDPgrowth only requires just about double-digit growth in industry. So there is a lot ofroom for industrial growth to slow downand for our aggregate growth performanceto be on track.”He said that food inflation may even fall

below 6 percent to 5.5 percent range. v

India will target nearly 10percent growth in the12th Five-Year Plan (fiscal

years 2012-17), said PlanningCommission DeputyChairman Montek SinghAhluwalia.“Our GDP (gross domestic

product) growth target during the 12thPlan will be somewhere between 9 to 10percent. I think a 10-percent target is quitefeasible,” Ahluwalia said.The Planning Commission deputy

chairman further said that during the cur-rent plan period (2007-2012), GDPgrowth was likely to remain at 8.1 percent.The Planning Commission has set a 9-per-cent GDP growth target for the 11th Five

Year Plan. “Because of the cri-sis in the global economy, wewill not be able to achieve thegrowth target during the 11thPlan. I hope we will achieveoverall 8.1 percent growth inthe current plan, which isquite good,” Ahluwalia said.

Kaushik Basu, the government’s chiefeconomic advisor, said that GDP growthin the current fiscal was likely to remainabove 8.5 percent.“I hope in the second and the third

quarters, growth will be better than thefirst quarter. We might surpass the 8.5 per-cent growth target,” said Basu, adding thatGDP growth would remain between 8.5 to9 percent during fiscal 2010-11. v

India is ranked fifthin real estate FDI

India is ranked

as the fifth

most- attractive

destination for

future real

estate invest-

ments in a list

topped by

China, according to a latest report of

industry body FICCI and Ernst and Young.

In the list of top-nine attractive destina-

tion for real estate investments, China is

followed by the US, the UK and

Singapore.

“India ranks fifth on the overall index, as

it scores better on the country economy

development index and the real estate

market index, but fairly low on the regulato-

ry index,” the report said.

Dean Hodcroft, E&Y’s Head of Real

Estate for India, Europe, Middle East and

Africa, said, India had the potential to even

overtake the Chinese attractiveness, “if the

government allows real estate investment

trust (REIT) and real estate mutual funds

(REMF)”.

Globally, REITs and REMFs have con-

tributed significantly to the real estate

finance and developers overseas have

capitalised on the growth potential of the

sector, the report said.

“However, this source of finance has not

seen a similar response in India primarily

due to policy issues and lack of clarity on

government’s intention to promote such

alternative source of funding,” it noted.

Hodcroft observed that while global

investors were wary of investing in China

as they were concerned that Beijing could

change the policy anytime, New Delhi

should strive to make regulations more

investment-friendly.

“India has a strong macro economic

story which needs to be supported by

some regulatory changes like availability of

liquid vehicle for investment such REMFs

and REITs,” he added.

Hodcroft said as much as $200 billion

private equity fund was waiting to be

invested globally and India had a chance

to get more than its fair share.

India to target 10% growth in12th Five-Year Plan

Passengers carried by domestic carri-

ers rose 19.3 percent to 33.9 million

passengers in January-August with Jet

Airways recording the highest market

share among domestic carriers, govern-

ment data showed.

Jet Airways and its budget arm, Jetlite,

recorded a combined market share of 27

percent in August while Kingfisher Airlines

had a 20 percent share of the aviation

market.

State-run Air India had a 18.3 percent

market share and budget airline SpiceJet

had a market share of 12.6 percent for the

month, data from the Civil Aviation Ministry

showed.

India’s largest cellphone operatorBharti Airtel on September 17 saidglobal technology major IBM wouldsupply the computing technology

and services for its telecom network across16 nations in sub-Saharan Africa.

The two companies, whose partnershipbegan in 2004, will finalise an agreement tothis effect in the fourth quarter, the compa-ny said in a regulatory filing. The deal willenable Bharti Airtel to provide innovativeand affordable second and third generationmobile services across the continent.

“There are huge opportunities through-out Africa to transform how people com-municate and how communities interact.Delivering on that opportunity throughaffordable mobile communications foreveryone is our focus,” said Sunil BhartiMittal, Chairman and Managing Director,Bharti Airtel. Under the agreement, IBM

will consolidate 16 different IT systemsacross Bharti Airtel’s African operationsinto an integrated one and will oversee themanagement of all of the applications, datacenter operations, servers, storage anddesktop services.

“We are delighted to extend our success-ful relationship with IBM in South Asia toAfrica. This business delivery model willbring enhanced efficiencies to our opera-tions and help us deliver world-classmobile services to our customers,” Mittaladded. v

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

|15SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

14|INDIA MATTERS

n IN SHORT n

The Centre for Monitoring Indian

Economy (CMIE), in its monthly

review, has estimated India’s GDP to grow

at 9.2 percent in 2010-11 on the back of

robust growth in economic activities. “We

have been maintaining a 9.2-percent

growth projection for FY-11 since March

2010. We project the three broad sectors

of the economy (industry, services and

agriculture) will improve their perform-

ance in FY-11,” said CMIE. Growth in the

industrial sector is projected to increase

at 9.4 percent in 2010-11, better than 9.2

percent in 2009-10.

GDP growth projected at9.2%: CMIE

The National Skill Development

Corporation, a joint venture between

the government and industrial associa-

tions, targets to create 150 million skilled

workforce in India by 2022 for sustaining

high economic growth, Finance Minister

Pranab Mukherjee said on September 20.

“We have a challenging target of creating

a skilled workforce of 150 million persons

by 2022. We have to take action to

achieve this target by ramping up the

capability of the NSDC. The movement is

in the right direction,” Mukherjee said at a

meeting with top NSDC officials in New

Delhi.

India targets 150 mnskilled workforce by 2022

Core Projects and Technologies,

provider of ICT (information and

communication technology) education

services, acquired two US-based educa-

tion companies for $20 million. Core

acquired Georgia-based education solu-

tions company Technical Systems

Integrators and New York-based Keenan

and Keenan Group, an education consul-

tancy. The two companies have a com-

bined turnover of $25 million, with an

average Ebit (earnings before interest

and taxes) margin of 16 percent.

Core Projects acquires 2US-based KPO firms

IBM to manage Airtel’s IToperations in Africa

FDI norms for real estate may be relaxed

$220 million corpus forspurring innovation

Reiterating the government’scommitment to make India anattractive foreign investmentdestination, Commerce and

Industry Minister Anand Sharma onSeptember 16 said the three-year lock-inperiod for overseas investment in the realestate sector might be relaxed.

“It is an evolving process. We will takean appropriate decision when required,”Minister Sharma told reporters on the side-lines of the 7th FICCI International RealEstate Summit in New Delhi.

He pointed out that India had emergedas the second most-favoured destinationfor overseas investment after China on theback of forward looking government poli-

cies and strong macro-economic outlook.“We are committed to create an invest-

ment-friendly environment, be it in realestate or any other sector,” Sharma added.

India allows 100 percent foreign directinvestment in integrated housing projects.

However, there are certain conditionslike investment has to be made within sixmonths of commencement of businessand repatriation of original investments isnot permitted before a period of threeyears.

These conditions, many analysts say,are restrictive in nature and limit the flowof overseas investment into the real estatesector.

The Minister said, “Indian real estatesector emerged from the crisis because theirfocus shifted to affordable housing proj-ects, the demand for which remains strongin the country.” v

Putting a premium on innovativeideas to spur inclusive growth, tech-nology evangelist Sam Pitroda on

on September 9 envisaged a $220-millioncorpus to nurture a culture of innovationin the country.

The Prime Minister’s Advisor on PublicInformation Infrastructure andInnovation mooted the idea at the first-ever meeting of the newly-formedNational Innovation Council, of which heis also the Chairman.

Pitroda expected the government topitch in with a 10-20 percent share in cre-ating the corpus, which, he hoped, wouldeventually grow to a size of $1.09 billionwith public buying its equities.

“This will not be a government fund.The government may contribute onlyseed capital to the tune of 10 to 20 per-cent. We are looking at a fund of size$220 million to begin with,” said Pitroda,answering queries as to how the councilwould fund innovative ideas.

“We need to create a new model ofinclusive innovation for India which canprovide solutions for the people at thebottom of the pyramid,” said Pitroda.

“India needs more frugal innovations

that produces more frugal cost productsand services that are affordable by peopleat low levels of income without compro-mising the safety, efficiency and utility ofthe products.”

The council has the mandate to pro-mote the culture of innovation aimed atachieving inclusive growth.

While encouraging all key sectors ofthe economy to innovate, it is expectedto take special efforts to facilitate innova-tion by micro, small, and medium enter-prises.

Among other things, it will focus oninnovation in public services delivery andencourage multi-disciplinary and globallycompetitive approaches for innovation. v

India air traffic up19%, Jet Airways leads

Sam Pitroda, extreme left, addressing themedia after the meeting of the Council.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma.

An ice-themed water park in theArabian Gulf, where penguins canbe seen frolicking in the waters, was

built at a cost of $100 million by a jointventure of Indian and UAE firms. The parkwas opened for public on September 29.

The Ice Land Water Park, built in theemirate of Ras Al Khaimah, is part of a125-acre resort project inspired by the issueof global warming.

The park, spread across 110,000 sqmetres, packs an array of unique attrac-tions, including the world’s largest man-made water fall and rain dance pool alongwith over 50 exhilarating water slides andrides.

Managed by Polo RAK Amusement, ajoint venture between India’s PoloAmusement Group and RAK PropertiesPJSC and RAK Investment Authority(RAKIA), the park is equipped with a fullset of in-house utilities, including a fourmegawatt power generation, a waterdesalination plant and water filtrationsystems. v

Indian firm helps buildwater park in UAE

TCS No.2 insuranceBPO in UK

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has

become the second-largest insurance

business process outsourcing (BPO)

provider in the UK, after winning two deals

worth £250 million. UK-based Capita is the

number one player in this space.

Diligenta, a subsidiary of TCS, had

recently announced that it had acquired

Unisys Insurance Services (UISL) from

Unisys Corporation, in lieu of which the

company received business worth £250

million for the next six years.

TCS, the country’s largest information

technology (IT) services provider, took

almost four years to develop a platform for

the insurance segment in the UK. “It has

taken four years to develop the platform.

There was skepticism around this platform,

but in April this year, we went live with two

million policies for Phoenix,” said

Vandrevala. For TCS, the UK is an impor-

tant market, contributing 15 percent to its

revenue. TCS headcount in the UK will

touch 2,000.

Cognizant, a leading provider ofconsulting, technology andbusiness process outsourcingservices, has announced a joint

development programme with Microsoft todeliver cloud-enabled solutions to enter-prise customers. As part of this programme,Cognizant has set up an ‘Octane SolutionCenter’ to accelerate development ofcloud-enabled next-generation solutionsthat integrate Cognizant business servicesand Microsoft technologies. It extendsCognizant’s long-term partnership withMicrosoft and will facilitate collaborationbetween customers and senior businesstechnology specialists, solution architects,and security experts. The centre was inau-gurated by S. Somasegar, Senior Vice-President of the Developer Division atMicrosoft. R. Chandrasekaran, President and

Managing Director of Global Delivery atCognizant, said, “This strategic pro-gramme will enable our customers torealise the full potential of Microsoft cloudtechnologies and redefine the way theydeliver value to their customers.” v

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

|17SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

16| INDIA MATTERS

COGNIZANT, MICROSOFT INPACT FOR CLOUD SERVICES

KEC buys US-basedSAE Towers

KEC International Ltd, an RPG group

company, has acquired Texas-based

power transmission infrastructure company

SAE Towers Holdings for an enterprise

value of $95 million.

The 100-percent acquisition from ACON

Investments, a US-based private equity

firm, will help KEC reach the

expanding markets of North

and South America. In the US

market, SAE Towers has a

40-percent market share.

Ramesh Chandak,

Managing Director and Chief

Executive of KEC, said the acquisition

would be completed through a mix of debt

and equity.

The deal will put KEC in the league of

global power infrastructure companies and

for fiscal 2010-11, it is expected to make

profits.

Based in Houston, Texas, SAE Towers

has a production facility at Monterrey,

Mexico and at Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

The Indian economy is estimated togrow by 8.5 percent this fiscal and9 percent in 2011-12, Finance

Minister Pranab Mukherjee said onSeptember 16.“We have not revised our projections of

achieving the growth rate of 8.5 percentdespite achieving the growth of 8.8 percentin the first quarter of the current financialyear,” Mukherjee said at the platinumjubilee celebrations of the Bank ofMaharashtra.Mukherjee said that with growth back

on a high trajectory, the government wastrying to make it more inclusive so thatthe benefits also reached the poor. TheMinister asked banks to increase theirpresence in rural areas so that more peoplecould be brought under the banking net.Mukherjee added that even in areas well-

covered by banks, there were sections ofurban society who were excluded from thebanking system.

The government aims to provide finan-cial and banking services to all areas with apopulation of more than 2,000 people by2012, the Minister said. v

Economy to grow by 9% in 2011-12, says Finance Minister

INDIA’S EXPORTS UP 22.5%

India’s exports rose 22.5 percentto $16.64 billion in August asagainst a 13.2-percent growth inthe previous month, helped by a

revival in the demand for leather, cot-ton and engineering goods.Imports jumped 32.6 percent to

$29.7 billion, widening the tradedeficit to $13.06 billion in the report-ing month.“Widening trade deficit is a matter

of serious concern. We must boostour exports to bridge the gap,”Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullarsaid.In the first five months of this fiscal

trade deficit has jumped to $56.62billion. Khullar said total trade deficitduring the current fiscal was likely tosurge to $135 billion.“The sheer size of deficit is quite high. It

is manageable. But we remain concerned

about the widening gap,” he added. Totalexports during the April-August periodgrew 28.6 percent to $85.27 billion, while

imports surged 33.2 percent to$141.89 billion.Khullar said with the current

growth trend the government wasconfident to meet $200 billionexports target during fiscal 2010-11.“The incentives that we

announced recently will start showingits impact on exports in the comingmonths,” said Khullar, adding thegovernment was still concerned aboutthe low exports of handlooms, handi-crafts and ready-made garments.In the annual supplement to the

foreign trade policy recently, the gov-ernment announced `1,050 crorestimulus package for labour intensiveexport sectors like handicrafts, hand-looms and leather goods, whose busi-

nesses had been badly affected by the eco-nomic downturn in the US and Europeancountries. v

Mobile subscriber basetouches 652 million mark

The number of Indian mobile subscribers

witnessed a robust growth as it touched

the 652.42-million mark in July, with an addi-

tion of 16.92 million connections, as per the

official data. The total telephone subscriber

base has touched 688.38 million.

Digital information inIndia to grow 60-fold by2020: EMC

India’s share of digital information isexpected to grow 60-fold by 2020, driven

by the roll-out of 3G and BWA networks,

digitisation of television networks, and

increased technology adoption among indi-

viduals, small and medium enterprises, and

in government services like the Unique ID

project, Census, among others, said a

study.

India becomes the seventhlargest vehicle producingcountry globally

TThe government has claimed that the

country has become the seventh-

largest vehicle producing nation in the

world.

According to B.S. Meena, Secretary,

Ministry of Heavy Industry, “When we

were making the Auto Mission Plan

(AMP) in 2006, we had projected India

to become the seventh-largest vehicle

producing country in the world by 2016.

We have already achieved this mile-

stone good six years ahead of the set

target.”

Government approves simplified labour law

The Cabinet has cleared a simplified ver-

sion of the Labour Bill, which will benefit

small business establishments employing up

to 40 workers in maintaining registers and

submitting returns electronically.

According to the bill, small establishments

will now require to maintain two registers

about the labourers which can be main-

tained in computer, floppy, diskette or on

other electronic media and return submitted

through e-mail.

The BrahMos cruise missile,being jointly developed byIndia and Russia, achieved asupersonic dive after being fired

from a defence base in Orissa as part of thetrials to fine-tune its capabilities.“The missile flew in the designated

complex trajectory conducting largemanoeuvres and steep dive. This is the firsttime in the world that a supersonic divehas been realized by a cruise missile,” saidBrahMos Aerospace spokesperson PraveenPathak.The Indian armed forces termed it a

“perfectly precise flight”.The 290-km range BrahMos missile,

which can travel 2.8 times the speed ofsound, was tested for the army from theIntegrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur,some 230 km from Bhubaneswar, theOrissa capital, it was disclosed by directorof the test range S.P. Dash.“The launch met all mission require-

ments. It was a 100 percent fantasticlaunch,” Dash said.Defence Minister A.K. Antony congrat-

ulated the armed forces and the defencescientists associated with the project for the“success”.

The launch was conducted in the pres-ence of Director General of Artillery Lt.Gen. Vinod Nayanar, BrahMos AerospaceCEO and MD A.S. Pillai, scientists fromthe Defence Research and DevelopmentOrganisation, industry representativesand officers from different units of thearmy.

The sophisticated cruise missile hasalready been inducted into the Indian armyand the navy. The Block-II version capabil-ities to hit precisely a small target in a clus-ter of larger targets were demonstratedfrom Pokhran recently.“This new capability has made it even

more lethal,” Pathak said in a statement.The BrahMos missile is a two-stage

vehicle that has a solid propellant boosterand a liquid propellant ramjet system. Itcan carry conventional warheads up to 300kg for a range of 290 km.The cruise missile is capable of being

launched from multiple platforms basedon land, ships, submarines and aircraft,and currently the focus in on for the devel-opment of its air-launched and submarine-launched versions.India and Russia are jointly designing

the BrahMos missile, named after theBrahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia)rivers.A regiment of the BrahMos-I variant,

consisting of 67 missiles, five mobileautonomous launchers on 12x12 Tatravehicles and two mobile command posts,among other equipment, is already opera-tional with the army. v

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

|19SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTEMBER 2010

18|INDIA MATTERS

India to launch four satellites in December

The Indian Space ResearchOrganisation (ISRO) is gear-ing up to launch four satelliteswithin a span of one week in

December, a top space scientist said inChennai on September 14.“We will be launching the satellites this

December. Currently the two rockets arebeing assembled,” Vikram Sarabhai SpaceCentre (VSSC) Director P.S.Veeraraghavan told reporters on the side-lines of a function.The two rockets that will fly towards

the heavens are the polar satellite launchvehicle (PSLV) and the heavier geosyn-chronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV).According to Veeraraghavan, the PSLV

will carry three payloads – Resourcesat

and two small satellites each weighingaround 90 kg made in Singapore andRussia.The GSLV will launch the INSAT

series communication satellite.He said the space agency was working

toward the goal of doubling the number ofrocket launches to eight per year.Earlier, at a function, Veeraraghavan

received the next generation strap onmotor case – the PSOM-XL empty shell –fabricated by Ramakrishna EngineeringCompany that would be fitted on nextgeneration PSLV rockets.Strap-on motors are additional motors

hugging the PSLV rocket to provide addi-tional upward thrust during the initialstages of launch. v

Indian-built Kaveri engine for the country’s

Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) may be ready

for installation in 2018, a senior official of the

Defence Research and Development

Organisation (DRDO) has said.

“The gas turbine engine Kaveri will

replace the GE-404 engines which are now

being put in the LCA,” DRDO’s chief con-

troller of research and development

Prahlada told reporters in Bangalore on

September 16.

The Kaveri engine, a `20-billion project,

is being developed by one of the DRDO

labs based in Bangalore, the Gas Turbine

Research Establishment (GTRE).

Test runs of the first complete prototype

Kaveri began in 1996.

The Kaveri engine project got revived in

2006 following a joint venture formed

between the DRDO and French company,

Snecma, an engine-maker, to jointly devel-

op it to fit in the LCA.

Kaveri engine to beinstalled in 2018 India’s fast breeder reactor gets

critical component

In a 20-hour operation that ended onearly September 18, the $1.25 billionprototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR)

built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya VidyutNigam Ltd (Bhavini) at Kalpakkam got itsfourth critical component — the 65-tonneinner vessel.“The 65-tonne inner vessel has been

successfully installed and bolted preciselyinside the main vessel. The process startedat 6 a.m. on September 17 and got overaround 2 a.m. the next day without anyscratch to any of the components,” PrabhatKumar, project director at Bhavini, said. With the meteorological department

forecasting a clear sky on September 17,Bhavini officials decided to lower the 11-metre tall conical shaped inner vessel intothe already erected main vessel.The inner vessel, which would support

reactor components like pumps and heatexchangers, was ready for installation fornearly a week but cloudy weather deterredthe officials to proceed further.The sodium-cooled PFBR designed by

the Indira Gandhi Centre for AtomicResearch (IGCAR) has three vessels — asafety vessel, a main vessel and an inner ves-sel. A breeder reactor is one that breeds

more material for a nuclear fission reactionthan it consumes.Outer-most is the stainless steel safety

vessel (200 tonnes, 13 metres in diameterand 13 metres in depth) which was loweredinto the reactor vault in June 2008.The project achieved its third milestone

in May this year when another criticalcomponent, thermal baffle, a cylindricalsafety vessel weighing 60 tonnes, measur-ing 12 metres in diameter and more thansix metres in height, was lowered into themain vessel.Meanwhile, the Bhavini has started pre-

liminary work for the construction of twomore units at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.“The government has released `2.5 bil-

lion to carry out preliminary activitiestowards setting up of two more 500 MWfast reactors at Kalpakkam. We have start-ed the site preparatory work where the twounits are likely to be located,” disclosedPrabhat Kumar.

BrahMos missile achieves supersonic dive

Chandrayaan-2, the proposed second

Indian mission to the moon, would

undertake “extremely good” experi-

ments and try out new technologies. This was

stated by Prof. U.R. Rao, Chairman,

Advisory Committee on Space Sciences

(ADCOS). Prof. Rao chaired the national

committee of experts drawn from ISRO cen-

tres, academic institutions and R&D labora-

tories which finalised the payloads to be

flown on board Chandrayaan-2 (orbiter and

rover).

He said that Chandrayaan-2 would carry

out experiments based on the discoveries of

its predecessor.

“It will conduct extremely good experi-

ments, try out very new ideas and new tech-

nologies,” the former chairman of ISRO said.

India is seeing Chandrayaan-2 mission as

an opportunity to develop new technologies

in a “comprehensive way” .

The first edition of the moon odyssey had

six foreign payloads and five Indian ones on

board but heavy orbiter (satellite) and lander

weight this time has put constraints on the

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

in terms of carry-load of instruments.

“One of the problems was weight consid-

eration. Weight limitation is overall boundary

within which we have to work,” Rao said.

With a heavy orbiter and lander, the weight

of the payloads cannot exceed 40 kg.

The Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft weighs

about 2,650 kg at lift-off of which the orbiter

weight is about 1,400 kg and lander’s about

1,250 kg.

The mission, which will have an orbiter, a

lander and a rover, is planned to be

launched onboard Geosynchronous Satellite

Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from Satish Dhawan

Space Centre, Sriharikota, in 2013.

While the lander would be provided by

Russia, the orbiter and the rover are being

built by ISRO.

Prof. Rao said there were informal discus-

sions with players from the US and Europe

on flying their payloads, even though ISRO

had not issued “availability of opportunity”

for foreign instruments.

CHANDRAYAAN-2 WILL TRY OUT NEW IDEAS

den situated in Lonavla. This garden cov-ers a lot of ground and it is full of majes-tic tall trees. There is an old Shiva templein this park.

LONAVLA LAKE: It is a picturesquespot surrounded by natural scenery,about 1.6 km from the town. However,the lake dries up during the hot summermonths.

DUKE’S NOSE: Duke’s Nose stands 12km from Lonavla, clearly visible from thehighway while driving towards Mumbai.This is the finest landmark in Khandala(neighboring hill station) and is popularwith hikers. The cliff owes its name to theDuke of Wellington, since it resembles hisfamous and ample nose.

TIGER’S LEAP: Tiger’s Leap is a cliff-topwith a sheer drop of over 650 m. Themagnificent view from Tiger’s Leap isenthralling.

GAMBHIRNATH CAVES: If one isready to go through certain inconvenienc-es, Gambhirnath Caves must be visited.While going towards Mumbai, between

Monkey Hill and Thakarwadi, lies theplace. To reach Gambhirnath, one has toleave the train, climb the narrow path onthe hill and reach Gambhirnath. At thevery entrance of the cave, one can feel theunderlying suspense and darkness.

KAIVALYADHAM: Kaivalyadham is oneof India’s premier yoga institute. It’s aninstitute for scientific and philosophic lit-erary research, training and therapy inyoga. It offers short and long term coursesin Yoga.

LOHAGAD FORT: A robust climb ofabout 11.2 km from Malavali RailwayStation takes you to the ‘Iron Fort’, once aformidable battle station of Shivaji.The fort commands an exhilarat-

ing view of the surrounding hills andhamlets.

Bhushi Dam: A fabulous waterfall nearthe dam is one of the most exciting spotsof Lonavla. It’s abeautiful waterfallbetween Lonavlaand the navalstation INSShivaji. v

Perched on the Western Ghats inMaharashtra, Lonavla is popularromantic hill station far awayfrom the madding crowds.

Lonavala is a place where nature appearswith its entire splendour. It is a placewhere you can sink into an ocean of tran-quility, one that is filled with gurglingbrooks, gushing waterfalls, refreshinggrasslands, deep valleys, majestic forts,placid lakes, mystical hillocks, cool winds.And the little township has sprung up inthe midst of all these. Blessed with resplen-dent valleys, hills, milky waterfalls, lushgreenery and pleasant cool winds,Lonavala is an epic poem created by God.

Wake up in the morning to the glazed pic-ture of sunrise, the sounds of birds chirp-ing, the soft blanket of fog and the nip inthe air – and for a brief moment, youwould be left wondering where you are.When you are at the jewel of the

Sahyadri mountains – Lonavala is locateda little over 100 km from Mumbai – youare left wishing you had a one-way ticketinto this place and didn’t have to go back.The enchanting smells of nature’s floraadd to the nip in the air as it reminds youthat you are 625 metres above sea level.Add to this, the sweet smells of variouskinds of chikki — a delicious sweet madeof groundnuts and jaggery — wafting

around and enticing you, and you knowwhy the residents of the nearby Mumbaiand Pune find every conceivable opportu-nity to rush to Lonavala for the weekendor on holidays.

Major attractions

RAJMACHI POINT: Rajmachi Point islocated about 6.5 km from Lonavla. Thispoint commands a magnificent view ofShivaji’s famous fort, Rajmachi (royal ter-race) and the surrounding valley.

RYEWOOD PARK & SHIVAJIUDYAN: This is a big and beautiful gar-

TRAVEL

|21SEPTEMBER 2010

INDIA MATTERSSEPTMEBER 2010

20|INDIA MATTERS

An ocean of tranquility, Lonavla is filled with gurgling brooks, gushing waterfalls, refreshinggrasslands, deep valleys, majestic forts, placid lakes, mystical hillocks and cool winds.

LONAVLA:A romantic gateway

By Air: Pune, 64 km from Lonavla, is the nearest airport which is well-connected to othermajor cities in India.By Rail: Since Lonavala is located between the Mumbai and Pune broad gauge rail net-work, you can easily travel either from Mumbai or from Pune by the express trains that plyfrom one city to another.By Road: Lonavala is located at a distance of 92 km from Mumbai and the well-maintainednetwork of the roadways allows the tourists in reaching Lonavala by road transport quiteconveniently.

HOW TO REACH

QUIZ

SEPTEMBER 201022|INDIA MATTERS

1. Which beach in Goa is famous for the Church

of Our Lady of Mercy and the miracle statue

of Menino Jesus?

2. Which bank in India advertises itself with the

catchline, ‘The banker to every Indian’?

3. Balram Halwai is the main character of which

Booker Prize-winning book by an Indian

author?

4. Which ancient Indian treatise is also referred to

as the fifth Veda?

5. The sophisticated patterns of which style of

sarees are inspired by the figurines on the walls

of the citadel of queen Ahilya Bai of Holkar?

6. How is the river, called Yarlong Zangbo in

China, known as in India?

7. Who produced the 1937 Hindi feature film

Kisan Kanya, credited as being the first indige-

nously produced colour film in India?

8. Name the annual award presented every

November 19 that was instituted by the All

India National Unity Conference to recognise

national unity, integration and brotherhood?

9. The Rajmala is the ancient royal chronicle of

which modern Indian state?

10. Who was the first chief justice of India to also

serve as acting president of India?

THE PICTURE QUESTION

The winner of which premier Indian domestic sports tournament gets the trophy shown here?

Readers are invited to answer the questions given in the column which will make them eligible towin a prize to be given by the Indian Consulate in Dubai. Write in the answers to claim a prize. Allanswers should be e-mailed to indiqtive@gmail.com and the first person to email all the correctanswer will win the prize. Please mention your postal address, mobile phone number and e-mailaddress clearly in the mail.

1. The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, regarded as India’s first war of independence, 2. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, the annual conclave of the Indian diaspora, 3. Rani Gaidinliu.

4. The All India Home Rule League, with Annie Besant as its leader, 5. The Lucknow Pact, 6. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 7. To conduct an inquiry into the Jallianwala Bagh mas-

sacre that happened on April 13 that year, 8. The Indian national flag. (It originally had the spinning wheel in the middle, which was replaced by the Ashok Chakra once the

flag was adopted officially as Indian national flag.), 9. Since he was imprisoned in a South African jail in December, 1907. (As an Indian, Gandhi fell under the coloured cat-

egory and all coloured prisoners had to wear a similarly designed cap. After returning to India, Gandhi continued to wear the cap made out of homespun khadi and it soon

became popular.), 10. Moirang in Manipur.

The Picture Question: Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar.

ANSWERS TO indiQtive, AUGUST 2010

Rajasthan, a colourful state of India, has many valuable tourism

attractions in the country. The palatial palaces, fantastic forts,

impressive art and architecture, frescoes, havelis, magnificent temples

and the never ending deserts are the most important and significant

attractions over there. The marvellous historic monuments are

attractions for tourists from all over the world since these places

appeal a lot to them.

Consulate General of IndiaP.O. BOX 737, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Tel: +971 4 3971222/ +971 4 3971333, Fax: +971 4 3970453, Tlx.: 46061 CGIND EMEmail: cgidubai@cgidubai.com

CONSULATE HOTLINE NUMBERS: +971 50 9433111 (For women/housemaids in distress and counseling for stress and depression)

+971 50 7347676 (For death formalities on holidays and after office hours)Passport: 04-3070741 Visa: 04-3070743 Consular: 04-3070782 Labour: 04-3070716

Embassy of India, Abu DhabiPlot No. 10, Sector W-59/02, Diplomatic Area, Off the Airport Road

P.O. Box 4090, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesTel: +971 2 4492700, Fax: +971 2 4444685 / +971 2 4447768

Email: indiauae@emirates.net.ae

Consul General of India in Dubai, Mr. Sanjay Verma, presenting acclaimed litterateur ofKerala, Padmashri Professor O.N.V. Kurup, a memento at the AKCAF Onnakkazhcha

2010 held in Dubai on September 24.

Honour for O.N.V Kurup

Consulate General of India, Dubai’s very own radio show, ‘India Matters’, is now back in a new way. Tunein every Saturday from 6 pm to 7pm on 105.4 Radio Spice FM.