Massive Protests Rock Egypt Egypt has been rocked by violent protests by demonstrators who have been demanding

the ouster of the country's longtime autocratic president, Hosni Mubarak. Tens and thousandths of people have taken out to streets raising slogans with protests turning violent in many parts of the country. The tension increased today when Mohammed ElBaradei, a former top official at the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency and a high-profile Mubarak opponent was placed under house arrest when he returned to Cairo in his bid to provide a leader for the mass movement. India loses ODI series at South Africa The Indian cricket team lost its chance at creating history by not being able to win the five match ODI series tournament recently concluded at South Africa. The finals match was expected to be a cracker with both teams having registered a couple of wins each. How ever the rain affected target of 263 set by South Africa proved to be too daunting for the Indian team after losing wickets at regular intervals. However some late fireworks by Yusuf Pathan who scored 105 made it a keenly fought contest. Djokovic wins Aus Open title Novak Djokovic of Serbia powered his way into winning the Australian Open 6- 4, 6-2, 6-3 over Andy Murray of Britain. It was a power packed power packed performance by the Serbian who played aggressive strokes throughout the match and always looked to be in control. Murray has now been runner-up in three Grand Slam finals extending Britain's near 75-year drought in men's singles Grand Slams AR Rahman nominated for two Oscars AR Rahman does it again. The Indian musical wizard has been nominated for two Oscars for his compositions in Danny Boyles movie 127 hours. The film has earned wide scale appreciation in various festivals and was also recently nominated under different categories at the recently concluded Golden Globe awards. If I rise sung by Rahman himself and English Pop star Dido has been nominated in the Best Song Category. He has also received a nomination for Best Original Score. Classical music legend Bhimsen Joshi passes away at the age of 88 Legendary vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi passed away after a prolonged period of illness. He was put on life support for age related ailments and was admitted in one of the hospitals in Pune. A pale of gloom descended in the city with people queuing up at his residence in large numbers to pay their last respects. This Bharath Rathna awardee was one of Indias most influential and celebrated Hindustani classical singers. He was a member of the Khirana Gharana school of music who enthralled audiences with his mellifluous renditions of khayals, abhangs and bhajans. His Sant Vani recitals with a flair of marathi bhakthi sangeeth renditions have been hugely popular in both Karnataka and Maharashtra. Bhimsen Joshi was a prolific performer and has toured extensively both home and abroad giving many noteworthy performances. Jaganmohan Reddy names new party 'YSR Party' Former Congress MP from Kadapa, Jaganmohan Reddy submitted an application to the Election Commission to register his own new party called YSR party. It has been named after his father and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS. Rajashekar Reddy who died in a helicopter crash on September 2 in 2009, while serving his second term in office. Jaganmohan had resigned from the party after the Congress expressed anger over the episodes telecast on Sakshi television channel owned by him, which criticized the party leadership. Gujarat attracts Rs 20.83 lakh Crore investment in 2 days Leading industrialists of India have flocked to Gujrat to sign MOUs during the two-day long Vibrant Gujarat Summit that began on 1/12/2011. Chief Minister announced that the state has been able to attract investments to the tune of Rs 20.83 lakh crores during the two-day long Summit. As many as 7,936 MOUs were signed by the state government with several industrial houses to invest in the state. It is rare for 60 of Indias top Industrialists representing companies that command the bulk of market capitalization, to share the dais at a single event and it is even rarer to make investments to the tune of thousands of crores for a single state and that too over just two days. The major investments include Anil Ambani group, Adani Group, Essar Group, Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra & Mahindra and many others.

CURRENT AFFAIRS 2010 1).India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves declined by $971 million to $295.42 billion for the week ended Dec 10 due to a slump in the value of foreign currency assets. 2).The multi-billion dollar deal to acquire 126 fighter jets to be inked by 2011: IAF chief 3).Multiplex chain operator, Cinemax India Ltd plans to invest Rs 100 crore and double its screens to 200 by 2013, 4).According to WikiLeaks, Rahul Gandhi told Timothy Roemer that the 'growth of radicalised Hindu groups' is a bigger threat than Lashkar-e-Taiba. 5).An Indian receives German human rights award: Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Indian human-rights activist, is in Germany to receive an award in the city of Weimar for his long fight on behalf of the dalits, or untouchables. 6).An Indian company has signed a pact with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to invest $250 million for a knowledge hub and an integrated food park in this East African country, once associated with its fratricidal conflict that claimed nearly a million lives. 7).The Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) have signed an MoU to create the regions first Institute of Islamic Economics and Ethics. 8).UEIL to invest $250 mn in East Africa projects 9).Record car sales mark 2010 for Indian auto sector 10).Tata Motors developing double-trailer truck for global market. 11).Social network Facebook took itself offline after an engineer accidentally leaked internal product prototypes. 12).Wipro signs 5-year IT outsourcing contract with Vasan Eye Care 13).Bajaj allianz launches instant tax-calculator for mobile phone users 14).UAE to implement new work permit rules from 2011 The United Arab Emirates has eased its tough rules for foreign workers who want to change employer, loosening the controversial "sponsor" system in force in the Arab states of the Gulf. 15).The Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) have signed an MoU to create the regions first Institute of Islamic Economics and Ethics. 16).Google opens store for Chrome users: Google has started up a portal for downloading extensions and web applications to its Chrome internet browser. The Chrome Web Store splits apps into nine themed categories, including games, education, news and services, reports the company. 17).Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been named Time magazine's 'Person of the Year' for 2010 18).WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fears US may indict him for espionage.

December 2010 Trivia/Quiz questions | Current Affairs December 2010 Questions-Answers Azim Premji Donates $2 bn worth of equity to own charity foundation. Pak rejected non-aggression pact with India Nokia on Thursday announced installation of a server in India to enable security agencies lawfully intercept its email and messenger services, a move which may force BlackBerry to follow suite. Acer sees shortages as smartphone demand surprises Capgemini to hire 1,700 additional staff in India in one year Tejas successfully test fires Chaff and Flares Cloud computing in India to grow 40 pc by 2014: IDC study Automaker Tata Motors Limited, Lucknow unit, has bagged the Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award for 2009 in the "Best of All" category. US jobless claims rise 26,000 last week

Hi here is Current affairs Related to December 2010 and January 2011 FOR BANK EXAMS these questions is very important for Banks Exams point of view so read it and prepare for your upcoming banks exams 1).Who named as the "Person of the Year 2010" by Time magazine? Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg 2).Mark Zuckerberg is the -------(First/Second)-youngest individual ever to be named Time magazines Person of the Year. second 3).---------- bags 3G services order from Idea for UP(east), UP(west), Kerala and Haryana? Nokia 4).AzZ Group Rs.-------- crore IPO to open on December 8th 2010 675 5).Sun Pharma's subsidiary, Surya Pharmaceutical(Singapore) has acquired US-based ActivOn for ------ million. $22 6).--------------is elected as ASSOCHAMs President. Dilip Modi 7).Which Indian minister announced as the "Forbes Indias Person of the Year" for 2010 by Forbes? Nitish Kumar,The chief minister of Bihar 8).Sachin Tendulkar made his 50th test century against South Africa, on -------------. 19th December 2010 9).On which ground Sachin Tendulkar made his 50th test century against South Africa? Sachin Tendulkar made his 50th test century against South Africa at centurion,19th December 2010. 10).Sachin Tendulkar has made ------- test centuries till now(09/jan/2011)?

There is CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2011 ready for the students which are prepare for comparative UPCOMING EXAMS 2011, So take the enjoy of this today current affairs questions February 2011. CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2011 -1

1).Sensex Declines ------ Pts; Nifty Below 5,400 Mark on 5 February 2011? Ans:-441 2).----------Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance to cover the bank's borrowers under a group life insurance plan. Ans:-Vijaya 3).Who is elected as the Nepal's PM recently? Ans:-Jhalanath Khanal 4).Google to give $5 million grant to -------------? Ans:-Bharti Foundation 5).Time is perfect for World Trade Centers (WTCs) to come up in India, with Kochi taking the lead, according to --------------, Chief Operating Officer of World Trade Centers' Association (WTCA). Ans:-Kofi A. Boateng 6).Who launches website(http://www.12thplan.gov.in/) on XII Plan? Ans:-Montek 7).India donates $250,000 for ---------------- memorial? Ans:-anti-slavery 8).Birla Carbon to acquire Columbian Chem for -------- million? Ans:-$875 9).----------- will have a discussion on their near-$10 billion M&A deal. This deal is the largest in the Indian oil sector so far. Ans:-ONGC 10).---------- Magazine in its latest issue has disclosed details of 15 Indians who have hoarded their black money in foreign banks. Ans:-Tehelka Current Affairs February GK 2011 - 2 This is Current Affairs Related GK quiz of February 2011, it contain all type of questions related to all type of exams, 1. Indian Railways has recently decided to set up a new Wheel & Axle factory at: A). Chhapra B). Harnaut C). Jamalpur

D). Darbhanga

2. With which of the following gland/organ is diabetes associated? A). Thyroid B). Liver C). Pancreas D). Kidney

3. The highest sports award of India is A) Arjun Award B) Dronacharya Award C) Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratan D) Padam Vibhushan

4. Physical exercise done in presence of oxygen, is called? A) Aerobic exercise B) Anaerobic exercise C) Isometric exercise D) Isokinetic exercise

5. Match the. following ancient books with their authors: a) Mahabharata 1. Kalidasa b) Kadambari 2. Panini c) Meghadoot 3. Banabhatta d) Asthadhyayi 4. Ved Vyas A. a-4, b-2, c-1, d-3, B. a-1, b-2, c-3, d-4 C. a-4, b-3, c-1, d-2 D. a-2, b-3, c-1, d-4

6. Indias anti-tank missile is: A). Akash B). Agni C). Prithvi D). Nag

7. Goniometer measures A). Agility B). Strength C). Speed D). Flexibility

8. What is the capital of Burkina Faso? A).Osrier B).Ouagadogu

C).Maxico D).Peru

9. Land of white Elephant is A).Thailand B).Ouagadogu C).India D).Medagasker

10. The first country where is implemented VAT. A).US B).France C).India D).UK Hi Friends, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 IN ADVANCE, here are some Questions answers based on New Year 2011 Date wise schedule.And other Trivia Questions Related to New Year 2011. So take enjoy of this Free/easiest 2011 Trivia Questions Answers. Soon I will post Current affairs January 2011 Questions and answers which will be based on New Year Greeting Card/SMS and other things which are very popular in new year celebration. Lets start.... 1).What is 2011(new Year) equivalent Roman numerals? 2).The United Nations has designated 2011 the International Year of -------------? 3).Cricket World Cup will be held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh From --------2011 to---------2011? 4).On -------------March 2011 NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is scheduled to arrive in orbit around Mercury? 5).------------ Men's World Ice Hockey Championships will start in Slovakia? 6).July------August-------2011 Sweden will host the 22nd World Scout Jamboree. 7).In 2011 XXVI World Youth Day will be held in --------------. 8).New Zealand will host the 2011--------------- World Cup? 9).------------- will open the world's largest solar power plant in New Year 2011? 10).------------ on the subjects of climate change, medical innovation and women's rights will be developed in 2011

Answers:1).2011 (MMXI) 2).Forests 3).19 February to 2 April (new Year) 4).18 March 2011 5).April 29 2011(new Year) 6).July 27 August 7 2011 7).Madrid, Spain 8).2011 Rugby(September 9 October 23)9).California 10).Computer games Hi Friends, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 IN ADVANCE, here are some CURRENT AFFAIRS 2011 Questions answers based on New Year 2011 Date wise schedule.And other Trivia Questions Related to New Year 2011. So take enjoy of this Free/easiest CURRENT AFFAIRS 2011 Trivia Questions Answers. Soon I will post Current affairs 2011 Questions and answers which will be based on New Year Greeting Card/SMS and other things which are very popular in new year celebration. Lets start....

1).The United Nations has designated 2011 the International Year of -------------? 2).Cricket World Cup will be held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh From --------2011 to---------2011? 3).What is 2011(new Year) equivalent Roman numerals? 4).On -------------March 2011 NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is scheduled to arrive in orbit around Mercury? 5).------------ Men's World Ice Hockey Championships will start in Slovakia? 6).July------August-------2011 Sweden will host the 22nd World Scout Jamboree. 7).In 2011 XXVI World Youth Day will be held in --------------. 8).New Zealand will host the 2011--------------- World Cup? 9).------------- will open the world's largest solar power plant in New Year 2011? 10).------------ on the subjects of climate change, medical innovation and women's rights will be developed in 2011 Answers:1).Forests 2).19 February to 2 April (new Year) 3).2011 (MMXI) 4).18 March 2011 5).April 29 2011(new Year) 6).July 27 August 7 2011 7).Madrid, Spain 8).2011 Rugby(September 9 October 23)9).California 10).Computer games Latest Wikileaks Related Questions Answers Who is Wikileaks founder? Julian Assange The website wikileaks.org was launched in ---------- and run by The Sunshine Press. 2006

In -----------, WikiLeaks posted video from a 2007 incident in which Iraqi civilians and journalists were killed by US forces. April 2010 In May 2010, WikiLeaks said they had video footage of a massacre of ----------------- by the U.S. military which they were preparing to release. civilians in Afghanistan In which month of 2010 WikiLeaks released Afghan War Diary, a compilation of more than 76,900 documents about the War in Afghanistan. July 2010 In October 2010, the group released a package of almost 400,000 documents called the Iraq -------- Logs? War According to Wikileaks On dinner arranged by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, What Rahul Gandhi speaks about Hindu Extremists? Gandhi said, Attention required on the risk of a extremist grown in homeand they are reacting to terror attacks coming from Pakistan or from Islamist groups in India On 20 August WikiLeaks released a publication titled ------------------ Duisburg planning documents, 20072010, which comprised 43 internal documents regarding the Love Parade 2010. Loveparade 2010

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010 DELHI | SHOOTING - 2010 CWG RELATED QUESTION ANSWER | SPORTS GK | WINNERS CWG 2010-III Hi friends there is CWG 2010 Shooting related questions answer/CWG-2010 Shooting GK is ready for you. Shooting sports is play best part for India for collect Medals. Who got the Gold medal in CWG 2010 10 miter air rifle by defeating Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra? Shooting CWG 2010 Answer:- Gagan Narang Who won Gold medal in CWG 2010 for the 25-meter center fire pistol in men group? Shooting CWG 2010 Answer:- Harpreet Singh and Vijay Kumar Who won Gold medal in CWG 2010 for the 25-meter center fire pistol in men single? Shooting CWG 2010 Answer:- Harpreet Singh Winner of Silver medal in CWG 2010 for the 25-meter center fire pistol in men? Shooting CWG 2010 Answer:- Vijay Kumar Winner of Gold medal in CWG 2010 for Shooting: 50 meter rifle 3 positions (3x40 shots) Men doubles? Gagan Narang and Emran In men double of Shooting CWG 2010 who won the Gold medal for 10-meter air rifle? Gurpreet and Omkar Who won Gold medal in CWG 2010 for Shooting-sport: 50 meter rifle 3 positions (3x40 shots) Men single? Gagan Narang Who won Gold medal for the 25-meter pistol in women's pair? Anisha Syeed- Rahi Sarnobat Which sports women won Gold medal for the 25-meter pistol in women's single? Anisha Syeed

Who won the second gold medal for India in CWG-2010 Delhi? The women's pair of Rahi Sarnobat and Anisa Sayyed gave the second gold with their sterling performance in the 25m pistol pairs event with a championship record of 1156 points. List of 15 black money account holders disclosed by Tehelka List of 15 names include Manoj Dhupalia, Rupla Dhupalia, Mohan Dhupalia, Hasmukh Gandhi, Chintan Gandhi, Dilip Mehta, Arun Mehta, Arun Koohar, Gunwanti Mehta, Rajnikant Mehta, Prabodh Mehta, Ashok Jaipuria, Raj Foundation, Urvasi Foundation and Ambunova Trust. Maruti Cervo is the latest small car recently launched in India. Maruti Cervo is initiated in Japan. It (Maruti Cervo) looks like TATA Nano and Maruti Cervo price is also compete with TATA Nano. For See Maruti Cervo Images and Prices Follow the below link.

http://letmeget.com/blog/maruti-cervo-india-maruti-cervo-price-pics-photos-review
Shashi Tharoor marriage Shashi Tharoor marriage, shashi tharoor wedding, shashi tharoor, shashi tharoor twitter, sunanda pushkar, sunanda pushkar biography.Former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor married girlfriend Sunanda Pushkar Sunday, months after the couple were the focus of a cricket team ownership scandal that saw him quit the Indian government.The couple were married in the presence of close relatives in Tharoors ancestral home in the southern state of Kerala, a witness said.The suave, debonair Tharoor, who spent almost three decades in the United Nations before quitting in 2007, was elected to the Indian parliament in 2009. Shashi Tharoor got affiliated to her babe acquaintance Sunanda Pushkar in a action captivated at his House in Palakkad aboriginal morning. Tharoor has wed alert afore and his additional annulment to his Canadian wife Christa Giles was clearly accepted on Friday. Tharoor has accompanying sons from his aboriginal alliance to an academician, Tilottama Mukherjee namely Ishaan and Kanishk. accepted fiancee, Sunanda Pushkar hails from Kashmir and the London built-in Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar accept been visiting abundant temples, lately.Both of them performed a puja in a temple abreast Shirdi.

watch true blood i smell a rat, true blood season 3 episode 10, true blood season 3 episode 10 torrent, true blood s03e10 torrent, watch true blood season 3 episode 10 http://www.tvduck.com/True-Blood.html This is the link where the True Blood s03e10 torrent could be found with about 1 or two seeders at a time. The seeders might be few but this is definitely the place where the torrent would result in a sure shot complete 10th episode of the third season of the vampire series. True Blood has a powerful villain in Russell Edgington, and tonight he goes even further off the rails to avenge Talbots death. Add in relationship drama with Jessica, Hoyt and Tommy, Eric writing his will, and the fallout from Sams attack on Calvin last week, and youve got the makings of another amazing episode. Heres the official synopsis for tonight: A reluctant Bill warns Sookie about the dangers she will face. Jesus is intrigued by the mysterious qualities of V. Sams recent fit of rage triggers dark memories. Eric takes precautions and fulfills a wish; Arlene turns to Holly for help with a pressing problem; Jason deals with the unexpected, with both Tara and Crystal; Jessica is torn between Tommy and Hoyt. After communing with Talbot, Russell promises to extract vengeance on his enemies. I Smell A Rat airs Sunday, August 22 at 9/8c on HBO. Watch clips from the episode, see promo stills from season 3, check out spoilers for this episode, watch our podcast discussing last weeks episode, enter to win a copy of Deaths Excellent Vacation and be sure to come back at 8:45 EST for our live chat!

New rupees sign,New Indian rupee symbol, New rupee symbol ,India currency symbol , New symbol of rupee, Top News, Latest News New Indian Rupee Symbol/New rupees sign The Symbol of Indian Rupee approved by the Union Cabinet on 15th July, 2010. The Design for the symbol was submitted by Shri D Udaya Kumar. The Indian rupee will soon have a unique Indian currency(rupee) symbol a blend of the Devanagri 'Ra' and Roman 'R' joining elite currencies like the US dollar, euro, British pound and Japanese yen in having a distinct identity. Indian Rupee Symbol Final Shortlisted Designs The new Indian currency(rupee) symbol, designed by Bombay IIT post-graduate D Udaya Kumar, was approved by the cabinet on 15th July, 2010 reflecting that the Indian currency, backed by an over-trillion dollar economy, was finally making its presence felt on the international scene. "It's a big statement on the Indian currency... The Indian currency(rupee) symbol would lend a distinctive character and identity to the currency and further highlight the strength and global face of the Indian economy," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters after the cabinet meeting. Though the Indian currency(rupee) symbol will not be printed or embossed on currency notes or coins, it would be included in the 'Unicode Standard' and major scripts of the world to ensure that it is easily displayed and printed in the electronic and print media. Among currencies with distinctive identities, only the pound sterling has its new Indian currency(rupee) symbol printed on the notes. Unicode is an international standard that allows text data to be interchanged globally without conflict. After incorporation in the global and Indian codes, the symbol would be used by all individuals and entities within and outside the country. The symbol will be adopted in a span of six months in the country, and within 18 to 24 months globally, Soni said, adding that it will feature on computer keyboards and softwares for worldwide use. Soni said that the new Indian currency(rupee) symbol, which reflects the Indian ethos and culture, would help distinguish the currency from the rupee or rupiah of other countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Besides this, state governments would be asked to proactively promote the use of the new Indian currency(rupee) symbol, she added. Kumar's entry was chosen from 3,000 designs competing for the new Indian currency(rupee) symbol. He will get an award of Rs 2.5 lakh. "It is a perfect blend of Indian and Roman letters capital 'R' and Devanagri 'Ra' which represents rupaiah, to appeal to international and Indian audiences... My design is based on the tricolour, with two lines at the top and white space in between," a visibly-happy Kumar said. The jury, which had sent the five short-listed entries for the cabinet's approval, was headed by a Reserve Bank Deputy Governor.

Hard questions about soft questions

P. Sainath There was in fact a successful auction of spectrum only it was not conducted by the government but by its corporate sector cronies who made a fortune on the deal. On one pronouncement of his, you have to agree with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. His is not a lame-duck government.' Cooked goose seems the more appropriate soubriquet. However, not a single new scam worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore has surfaced for 10 days now. So maybe things are getting better. Yet, even a doting corporate media find that the Professor did not come out looking good from his interaction with a few favoured students. That is, electronic media chiefs and editors who have mostly adored Dr. Singh for nearly two decades. If even the largely free ride they gave him left him unnerved and defensive, it's a measure of how much things have changed. Not that the editors emerged looking better. If asking the right questions is at the heart of journalism, then somebody had a bypass. At no point did it occur to them that the corruption they questioned him on with some passion, flowed entirely out of policies and from a policy altar at which they have worshipped for years. Some of the questions in fact indicated a need by worried editors to be reassured that those very policies would continue. For instance, a fear that there is no big reformist wave coming from UPA II. Have we lost the will to take hard reformist decisions? No way, responded the Prime Minister. We have not lost the will. We will persist. In asserting that what he (and the editors) view as reforms are on track, Dr. Singh speaks the truth. The chaos and corruption troubling the editors was the outcome of those very reforms', if they cared to see it. Even on corruption, the questions ranged from those revolving around some Ministers' actions to a couple implying wrongdoing by people within the PMO or Cabinet. Nothing that suggested the country's basic direction under the Professor's guidance is destructive and dangerous. But once you've accepted the neo-liberal economic framework scripted since 1991 as wonderful and beyond reproach, then your questions get limited to asking who fluffed his lines. And as for corporate criminality, editors step on to that terrain only when left without a choice and at their own risk. The first question, fair enough, was about the 2G scam and the lack of an auction in the sale of spectrum. There's something missing here, though. There was in fact an auction of spectrum a successful one. Only it was not conducted by the government but by its corporate sector cronies who gave it away for a pittance. Having been gifted that scarce public-owned resource by the government, the cronies then auctioned it privately for astronomical sums of money. The argument that consumers today enjoy low prices because the privateers got it cheap is a fraud. Customers are getting those cheap prices even after this double sale. After the crony cabal milked huge profits in its own private auction. Had that process been cut out, consumer benefits would have been far greater. Also auctioned alongside were the government's individual Ministers, posts and integrity. Two auctions for the price of none. Abstract query The press conference saw one abstract query and a no less abstract reply on black money.' Not a single question on Indian illegal funds parked overseas in Swiss and other banks. None on why the government does not reveal the names it has in this connection. The illegal flow of such funds, according to the startling report from Global Financial Integrity, costs the nation Rs.240 crore every single day, on average. As much as Rs. 4.3 lakh crore (twice the highest estimate of the 2G scam losses) has been lost in just five years, between 2004 and 2008. And who are the main culprits? High net-worth individuals and private companies were found to be the primary drivers of illicit flows out of

India's private sector. Seems a good subject to ask the Prime Minister some questions about. But it didn't happen. Nor was there a single question about the Amnesty/Immunity schemes his government seems to be planning for such criminals. This, even as it plans tougher and tougher laws for ordinary citizens, abridgement of rights for displaced persons, gutting of the public distribution system and arrests of those protesting the incredible price rise. Nor, while on morality and corruption, was there a single question from the editors about the Prime Minister making Vilasrao Deshmukh Union Minister of Rural Development. A man castigated by the Supreme Court for protecting moneylenders in Maharashtra now controls rural development across the country. The Maharashtra government has even paid up the Rs.10-lakh fine imposed by the court in that case, signalling acceptance that wrong had been done while he was Chief Minister. Dr. Singh cannot plead coalition compulsions' here. Mr. Deshmukh is from his own party. If he remains in the Union Cabinet after the Supreme Court trashes him, it is only because Dr. Singh wants him there. There were no coalition compulsions' in brewing the CWG scam either, but that too wasn't touched upon in the questions. It would, of course, be insane to expect the editors to raise a question on the nearly quarter of a million farmers who have committed suicide in this country since 1995, going by the data of the National Crime Records Bureau. Or on migrations out of villages going berserk. Or on worsening levels of unemployment. But there was not a single one on hunger either. The only serious question on food inflation, linking that to its impact on the poor in a country with 8.5 per cent growth came from a foreigner. Now our editors present knew this to be a burning issue, even for their middle class audiences. Yet Sara Sidner of CNN was the only one to raise it. The other question on inflation related to the need for the second [round of] structural reforms to be done in agriculture. Another query on price rise not linked to hunger or poor people was not answered at all. The Prime Minister was not challenged when he virtually equated losses in the 2G scam with subsidies to the poor. If auctions are not taking place then what is the basis for you to calculate a loss? ... It is very much a function of what is your starting point. And also depends upon your opinion. We have a budget which gives subsidy for food, Rs.80,000 crores per annum, some people may say these foodgrains should be sold at marketplace. Will we say then because they are not sold at market prices, because you are giving them a subsidy, it is a loss of Rs. Rs.80,000 crores? Plunder and subsidy Firstly, he equates plunder with the pathetic subsidies tossed at the world's largest hungry population. We rank 67th out of 84 nations in the Global Hunger Index. Secondly, subsidies for the super-rich soar each year. While food subsidies for hundreds of millions were cut by Rs. 450 crore in the last budget. All those carping critics attacking direct cash transfers miss the point that the government has become really good at this. It routinely transfers billions of rupees, directly or indirectly, at each opportunity to the corporate world. And it is equally good at corporate karza maafi Rs.5,000 billion under just three heads (direct corporate income tax, customs and excise duties) in the last budget. That's two-and-a-half times the 2G scam estimate. It also gets bigger with each new budget. The dominant media have never once raised a peep of protest against the corporate plunder of public money, thanks to the government Dr. Singh presides over. Nor did they in this conference with the Prime Minister. So Dr. Singh is understandably peeved when asked about the petty cash transfers of the 2G scam to a handful of hucksters. The Prime Minister wanted to know if the editors would view the Rs.80,000 crore his government commits to food subsidies as losses.' Actually, most of them do. Quite a few of them

would like to see all subsidies directed at the poor to be wound up. The politically correct way of going about this is to call for the streamlining of systems, or proper targeting, or efficiency. A demand never once made of the tsunami of subsidies given to a handful of super-rich (media owners amongst them). One positive point: Dr. Singh announced no new Group of Ministers at his conference with the editors. Though one's probably required to conduct a GoM Census. That might help Pranab Mukherjee figure out how many of these he chairs. And spare him the embarrassment of having to ask so which GoM is this? at his next meeting. A lame duck' government? Not really. More like an integrity-challenged Cuckoo.