CENSUS 2011 IMPORTANT FACTS

Census 2011 is the 15th Census of India since 1872. The slogan of Census 2011 is "Our Census, Our Future". The present Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India is Dr. C. Chandramouli. Census 2011 covered 35 States/Union Territories, 640 districts, 5,924 Sub-districts, 7,933 Towns and 6, 40,930 Villages.  Total Population The total population of India at 0.00 hours of 1st March 2011 is 1210.6 million. India’s population accounts for 17.5 per cent of world population. The country’s population is almost equal to the populations of the U.S., Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan put together. Out of the total increase of 182 million added in the last decade, the contribution of rural and urban areas is equal (91.0 million each). The absolute addition is slightly lower than the population of Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world. This makes 2001-2011 as the first decade with the exception of 1911-1921 which has actually added lesser population compared to the previous decade. The rural population is 833.5 million and the urban population 377.1 million. The rural population constitutes 68.8% and urban population 31.2% of the total population. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous State with 199 million people followed by Maharashtra at 112 million people and Lakshadweep is the least populated at 64,429 persons. Uttar Pradesh has the largest rural population of 155.3 million (18.6% of the country's rural population). Maharashtra has the highest urban population of 50.8 million (13.5% of country's urban population) in the country. Himachal Pradesh (90.0%) has the largest proportion of rural population. Delhi (97.5%) has the highest proportion of urban population. Thane of Maharashtra is the most populated District in India. Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, is the least populated District in India. Growth Rate The growth rate of population in India in the last decade is 17.7% (Rural - 12.3%; Urban - 31.8%). Meghalaya (27.2%) has recorded the highest decadal growth rate in rural population. Daman & Diu (218.8 %) recorded the highest decadal growth rate in urban population during 2001-2011. Population Density Population density in Census 2011 works out to be 382 showing an increase of 57 points from 2001. Delhi (11,320) turns out to be the most densely inhabited followed by Chandigarh (9,258) among all States/UTs, both in 2001 and 2011 Census. Among the major States, Bihar occupies the first position with a density of 1106, surpassing West Bengal which occupied the first position during 2001. The minimum population density works out in Arunachal Pradesh (17) for both Censuses. Among districts in India, highest density district is North East Delhi (37,346 per Sq KM) and lowest density district is Dibang of Arunachal Pradesh (1 per Sq KM). Sex Ratio  The Sex Ratio in the country which was 933 in 2001 has increased by 7 points to 940 in 2011. In rural areas, the sex ratio has increased from 946 to 949. The corresponding increase in urban areas has been by 29 points from 900 to 929. Kerala has recorded the highest sex ratio (1084) in respect of total population. Daman and Diu recorded the lowest sex ratio (618) among States and UTs. The lowest sex ratio in rural areas has been recorded in Chandigarh (690). The corresponding value in urban areas has been returned in Daman & Diu (551). Child Population  The child population in the age group of 0-6 years stands at 164.5 million. Compared to Census 2001, the Child population has increased by 0.7 million in the country. The growth rate of child population works out to 0.4% in the last decade. However, there has been a decline of 4.1% in rural areas and an increase of 15.6% in urban areas. Census 2011 marks a considerable fall in child sex ratio (0-6 years) from 927 to 919 (-8 points) during 2001-2011. This is the lowest sex ratio since 1961. Scheduled Caste Population The total Scheduled Caste population returned in Census 2011 is 201.4 million. The Scheduled Caste population constitutes 16.6 % of the total population. The highest proportion of Scheduled Castes has been recorded in Punjab (31.9 %) and the lowest in Mizoram (0.1%). The highest number of Scheduled Castes has been recorded in Uttar Pradesh (41.4 million) and the lowest in Mizoram (1,218). Scheduled Tribe Population  The total Scheduled Tribe population returned in Census 2011 is 104.3 million. The Scheduled Tribe population constitutes 8.6 % of the total population. The highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes has been recorded in Lakshadweep (94.8 %) and the lowest in Uttar Pradesh (0.6%). The highest number of Scheduled Tribes has been recorded in Madhya Pradesh (15.3 million) and the lowest in Daman & Diu (15,363). Literacy Rate The number of literates in India is 763.5 million in Census 2011. Literacy rate has gone up from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent, showing an increase of 9.21 percentage points. The literacy rate for males and females works out to 82.14 per cent and 65.46 per cent respectively. The increase in literacy rate in males and females during 2001-2011 is in the order of 6.88 and 11.79 percentage points respectively. The highest number of rural literates has been recorded in Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of literates in urban areas. In percentage terms male literates were 56.9% of the total literates and the female literates were 43.1 % of the total literates. Kerala has the highest literacy rate (93.91) followed by Lakshadweep (92.28). Bihar has the least literacy rate (63.82) and least goes to Arunachal Pradesh (66.95) Undivided Andhra Pradesh Census 2011The following census of Andhra Pradesh is of the undivided State prior to the formation of Telangana: Andhra Pradesh has population of 8.46 crore, an increase from 7.62 crore in 2001 census. The population of Andhra Pradesh forms 6.99 percent of India in 2011. The total population growth in this decade was 10.98 percent while in previous decade it was 13.86 percent. Density of Andhra Pradesh is 308 per sq km which is lower than national average 382 per sq km. In 2001, density of Andhra Pradesh was 277 per sq km, while nation average in 2001 was 324 per sq km. The Sex Ratio in Andhra Pradesh is 993 much better than the national average of 940. Literacy rate in Andhra Pradesh is 67.02 percent while male literacy stands at 74.88 percent and female literacy is at 58.68 percent.

Central Statistical Office released the Women & Men In India 2014 Report

The Central Statistical Office on 2 November 2014 released the Women & Men In India 2014 Report. 

Population and related statistics

• As per Census 2011, the population of India is more than 121 Crore with 48.5 percent females, which states the fact that there are 949 female to 1000 males in rural India against 929 in urban India.
• The State of Kerala, Puduchery, Manipur, Goa and Chhattisgarh have more females than males whereas Daman & Diu and Chandigarh are home to less than 80 females to 100 males.
• The Sex Ratio is least for the Girl Child (0-19 Years) but 103 females per 100 males in the age group of 60+ indicates a threat of less economic activity by a sizable population.
•  The economically active age group (15-59) has 94 females to 100 males. Sex ratio at birth is 908 in 2012, which has marginally decreased as compared to the last year.
• The mean age at marriage for females stood at 21.2 years in 2012 with urban mean age at 22.4 and rural mean age at 20.8.
• As per National Sample Survey 68th Round (2011-12), 1.5 percent of total households in rural and 12.4 percent in urban were female headed households as compared to 9.7 percent in rural and 10.6 percent in urban during 1993-94.

Health

• Crude Birth Rate have reduced from 21.8 in 2011 to 21.6 in 2012 and General Fertility Rate (GFR) have also reduced from  81.2 in 2011 to 80.3 in 2012.
• Total fertility Rate (TFR) has also gone down from 2.8 in 2011 to 2.2 in 2012.
• The age-specific fertility rate was the highest for women in the age-group 20-24 years(191.9) followed by age-group 25-29 years (154.6) and then by the age group 30-34 years (64.5).
• The female Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) was 42 compared with the male IMR of 39 and the overall IMR of 40 in 2013.
• IMR has reduced substantially from 60 in 2003 to 40 in 2013 indicating improvement in health facilities for infants. Among the major States, the highest overall IMR of 54 was observed in Madhya Pradesh and the lowest at 9 in Goa in 2013.
• The mortality rate is the lowest in the age group of 10-14 years for males as well as for females but female mortality rate is still lower, it is 0.6 against 0.8 for males. The mortality rate among females across all ages was 6.4 and that among males was 7.7 in the year 2012.
• The Maternal Mortality Ratio has gone down to 178 in 2010-12 from 327 in 1999-2001, which may be attributed due to wide range of Government's Mother & Child schemes and increase in institutionalized births . Among the States, highest MMR is of Assam at 328 and minimum is in Tamil Nadu at 90.

Literacy and Education

• As per 2011 census, literacy rate in India stands at 74.04 percent with a 14 percent increase to that of 2001, whereas the hike is maximum for rural women at 26 percent in the last decade. The female literacy levels according to the 2011 census are 65.46 percent whereas the male literacy rate is over 80 percent.
• Kerala is the state with highest literacy rate of 94 and Bihar with the lowest literacy rate at just 63.82.
• The adult literacy rate at the age of 15+ for male has increased from 73.4 to 78.8 whereas increase in adult literacy is more in case of females from 47.8 to 59.3 from 2001 to 2011. Overall adult literacy is increasing over decades.
• The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for females at the primary level stood at 102.65 compared with 100.20 for males in 2013-14.
• There were 93 girls per 100 boys in primary classes, 95 in middles classes and 90 in secondary classes during 2013-14.
• The drop-out rates were observed to be 4.66 and 4.68 in the classes I-V, 4.01 and 2.3 in classes I- VI for females and males respectively.

Participation in Economy

• As per Census 2011, the workforce participation rate for females is 25.51 percent against 53.26 percent for males. Rural sector has a better female workforce participation rate of 30.02 percent compared with 53.03 percent for males in urban sector.
• 41.1 percent of female main and marginal workers are agricultural labourers, 24.0 percent are cultivators, 5.7 percent are household industry workers and 29.2 percent are engaged in other works.
• National Sample Survey (68th Round) results indicate that the worker population ratio for females in rural sector was 24.8 in 2011-12 and 54.3 for males.
• Only 20.5 percent women were employed in the organized sector in 2011 with 18.1 percent working in the public sector and 24.3 percent in the private sector.
• During 2011-12, the average wage/salary received by regular wage/salaried employees of economically active age group was 428.6 rupees per day for females compared with 550.23 rupees per day for males in rural areas. For urban areas, it was 609.7 rupees per day for females and 805.52 rupees per day for males.

Participation in Decision Making

• In 2014, women occupied only 7 out of 45 Ministerial positions in the Central Council of Ministers, which is a little more than 15 percent against around 10 percent women participation in 2004. 62 females have been elected in 2014 Elections constituting more than 1 percent share in the Lower House.
• Female participation in elections has gone up from 56 percent in fifteenth General Elections to 6 percent in the sixteenth in 2014. The male participation has also improved from 60 percent to 67 percent during the same period.
• In the states, women share is only 8 percent in assemblies and only 4 percent in State Councils.
• In the Panchayat setup, overall 46.7 percent women are present with maximum 58.6 percent in Jharkhand and minimum 32.3 percent in Goa as on 1 March 2013.
• There were 2 women judges out of 30 judges in the Supreme Court and there were only 58 women judges out of 609 judges in different High Courts with maximum 25 percent in Delhi High Court.
• Among the All-India and Central Group A Services, 30 percent females are in Indian Economic Service and only 12 percent in Indian Trade Service.
• Social Obstacles in Women's Empowerment
• Cruelty by husband and relatives continues to have the highest share followed by assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty. There has been a phenomenal increase in reporting of Indecent Representation of Women Cases in 2013 over 2012.
• The number of rape case victims had increased to 90 percent in the age group of 50+ whereas 5 percent of all rape victims were under 10 years of age. 13 percent of the rape victims were in the state of Madhya Pradesh in 2013 and 46 percent of the total rape victims in India were in the age-group 18-30 years in 2013.
• The suicide rate among females is approximately half than that of males and there has not been much variation in the suicide rates over the last 10 years.

Suzlon Energy installed world’s tallest hybrid wind generator turbine in Kutch

The largest wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy on 6 November 2014 installed the world’s tallest hybrid wind generator turbine in Kutch, Gujarat. The turbine will generate 12-15 percent more energy.

The 120-metre hybrid turbine is taller than conventional wind turbine towers by 40 metres. With this new turbine, the installed wind energy capacity at the Kutch region of Gujarat has gone up to 1100 MW. It makes it the Asia’s biggest wind energy park at one location.
This tower is ideal for low wind areas and the potential is huge. In the next three years, this region will have 2000 MW of wind energy capacity.
In 2008, the Suzlon Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gujarat Government to set up 2000 MW of wind energy capacity in the state.

Suzlon Energy
Established in 1995, Suzlon is a leading wind power products and services company with a global footprint. Suzlon is credited with developing one of the world’s largest wind farms in the western Indian state of Gujarat and Rajasthan. 
The company has presence across six continents : North and South America, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa. The Suzlon Group has built its presence in over 31 countries and has achieved a milestone by crossing over 25000 MW of wind power installations globally.

Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar resigned as Goa Chief Minister

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar on 8 November 2014 resigned from his position. With the resignation of Parrikar, entire state cabinet comprising of 12 ministers was dissolved.
Manohar Parrikar had resigned to take up the post of Defence minister in the Union Cabinet on 9 November 2014.

Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar
• Born on 13 December 1955, Parrikar did his graduation in metallurgical engineering from IIT Bombay in 1978.
• Manohar Parrikar is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India.
• He has been Chief Minister of Goa first from 2000 to 2005 and later from March 2012 to November 2014 and represented the Panaji constituency in the Legislative Assembly of Goa.

Indian-origin politician Keith Vaz named as Labour MP of the Year

Indian-origin British politician Nigel Keith Anthony Standish Vaz known as Keith Vaz was on 6 November 2014 named as the Labour MP of the year 2014.

He was choosen for this award for his valuable work for underrepresented, deprived and minority sections of the country.

Speaker of the house John Bercow announced the Patchwork Foundation MPs of the Year 2014 at Speakers House.  The awards were announced for those who have represented and worked with underrepresented, deprived and minority communities across the country.

About Keith Vaz

Keith Vaz is a British Labour Party politician and has been Member of Parliament for Leicester East since 1987. He is the longest-serving Asian MP and has been the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee since July 2007. 

He was appointed as a member of the Privy Council in June 2006. He has been named among the most influential Asians in Britain.

Cristiano Ronaldo received 2013-14 European Golden Boot award

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo received his 2013-14 European Golden Boot award on 5 November 2014 at the Meliá Castilla hotel in Madrid. The Portuguese star was awarded for being joint top-goal scorer last season in Europe along with Luis Suarez, having hit 31 goals. 

Suarez was presented with his award by ex-Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish in October 2014 and now Ronaldo has followed suit.

This was the third Golden Shoe for Ronaldo who also won the prize at Manchester United in 2007-08 with 31 goals and earlier in his Madrid career in 2010-11 with 40.

Angelo Mathews named as captain of the ICC Test Team of the Year 2014

Sri Lankan cricket captain Angelo Mathews on 5 November 2014 was named as captain of the ICC Test Team of the Year 2014.

ICC Test Team of the Year 2014 (in batting order)
• David Warner (Australia)
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
• AB de Villiers (South Africa)
• Joe Root (England)
• Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) (captain)
• Mitchell Johnson (Australia)
• Stuart Broad (England)
• Dale Steyn (South Africa)
• Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)
• Tim Southee (New Zealand)
• Ross Taylor (New Zealand) (12th man)
 
The ICC Test team of the Year was chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by the ICC’s Cricket Committee chairman and former India captain Anil Kumble. The selection panel also included Jonathan Agnew, a former England international and now a respected broadcaster/journalist, ex-Sri Lanka opener Russel Arnold, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, and Betty Timmer, former Chair of the ICC Women’s Committee.

The selected team was announced at the ICC Headquarters in Dubai, where ICC Chief Executive David Richardson also announced the short-lists for the LG ICC Awards 2014.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni named as captain of ICC ODI Team of the Year 2014

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 5 November 2014 was named as the captain of ICC ODI Team of the Year 2014. He has been selected in the ICC ODI team of the year for the eight time (seventh year in a row), while fifth year as a captain of the team.

ICC ODI Team of the Year 2014 (in batting order)
• Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)
• Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
• Virat Kohli (India)
• George Bailey (Australia)
• AB de Villiers (South Africa)
• MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper) (captain)
• Dwayne Bravo (West Indies)
• James Faulkner (Australia)
• Dale Steyn (South Africa)
• Mohammad Shami (India)
• Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)
• Rohit Sharma (India) (12th man)

The selected ICC ODI team was chosen by a specially appointed selection panel chaired by the ICC’s Cricket Committee chairman and former India captain Anil Kumble. Other members of the committee were Jonathan Agnew, a former England international and now a respected broadcaster/journalist, ex-Sri Lanka opener Russel Arnold, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, and Betty Timmer, former Chair of the ICC Women’s Committee.

The team was selected on the basis of their 12-month performance between 26 August 2013 and 17 September 2014. The panel selected the team after discussing various combinations and took into account several scenarios like opposition, pitch conditions and match situations.

Law Commission recommended repeal of 73 more obsolete statutes

The Law Commission headed by Justice (retd) A P Shah on 3 November 2014 recommended repeal of 73 more obsolete statutes. With this, the total number of such laws increased to 258.

Law commission submitted its third interim report to the Union Law Ministry.  The panel recommended repeal of 258 laws which are clogging the statute books as they have lost their relevance.

It included the one which prescribed punishment for those who dissuaded people from taking part in wars in which the British Empire was engaged. One of the Acts recommended for repeal is the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1938 enacted just before the beginning of World War II.

Earlier, Law Commission submitted its first interim report in September 2014. Commission had recommended repeal of 72 old Acts.

In its second report submitted in October 2014, the panel had suggested that repealing of another 113 laws, including 11 World War II era ordinances.

The recommendation of the Law Commission is part of its ongoing exercise to help the government weed out unwanted statutes.

The Union Law Ministry had mandated the Law Commission to recommend laws that can be repealed. This is the first time since 2001 that such an exercise is being undertaken by the Law Ministry.

Steps taken by the Union Government to weed out obsolete laws
In August 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted a separate committee to identify obsolete laws which hamper governance by creating avoidable confusion.

This committee will examine all Acts recommended for repeal by the Committee on Review of Administrative Laws which was appointed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998. Out of the 1382 Acts recommended by Vajpayee government appointed committee for repeal, only 415 have been repealed so far.

In the Budget Session of Lok Sabha in July 2014, Union Government had introduced Repealing and Amending Bill, 2014 to repeal 32 acts.

The Bill seeks to remove certain Amendment Acts and Principal Acts from the statute books as they have outlived their utility.

The Amendment Acts which are sought to be repealed through the Bill include amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Special Marriage Act, 1954, Indian Divorce Act, 1869 and Anand Marriage Act, 1909 and Indian Evidence Act, 1872.

India and Bhutan signed MoU to develop Nalanda University

India and Bhutan on 7 November 2014 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Nalanda University in Bihar as an international centre of excellence.

Highlights of the agreement
The MoU states that the objectives and functions of Nalanda University includes the establishment of an international institution of learning that will bring together the brightest and the most dedicated students from all countries irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability, ethnicity or socioeconomic background.

According to the MoU, the Nalanda University will be located at Rajgir in Bihar and will have the power to confer degrees, diplomas and certificates.

It focuses on building an Asian community of learning where the intellectual potential of every student can be developed to the fullest extent possible.

As per the MoU, India will provide appropriate visa to students, faculty and staff for travelling to India to study or work in the University. The funding for the establishment and operations of the University will be on a voluntary basis.

Priti Patel honoured with Asian Trader Editor's Award

Indian-origin British MP Priti Patel has been honoured with the prestigious Asian Trader Editor's Award for her tireless campaigning to support small shops and convenience stores.

Priti, the British Prime Minister's recently appointed Indian Diaspora Champion, won the award at a ceremony held at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel here last night. Priti has supported the grocery sector by campaigning for tougher punishments for offenders who commit retail crime, reforms to business rates and cuts to red tape.

Mudgal Committee on IPL Spot Fixing submitted final report to Supreme Court

The Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee on 3 November 2014 submitted its final report on IPL Spot fixing to the Supreme Court (SC). 

The report was submitted in a sealed envelope to the two-judge SC bench of Justice TS Thakur and Ibrahim Kalifulla who are hearing the case of IPL spot fixing. The bench will take cognizance of the report on 10 November 2014.

The Mudgal committee was appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate the fixing and betting scandal in the cricket Indian Premier League (IPL). The probe committee also included Additional Solicitor General L Nageswara Rao, advocate Nilay Datta, Deputy DG (Narcotics Control Bureau) BB Mishra and former India captain Sourav Ganguly.

Earlier, prominent IPL players S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested on allegations of spot-fixing. The former Chennai Super Kings Team Principal Gurunath Meiyappan and Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh were also behind the bars on allegations of betting during the sixth edition of the league. At present, they are all out on bail.

This betting and spot-fixing scandal forced N Srinivasan to step down as the President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He stepped down after Supreme Court asked him to step down on his own to ensure a fair inquiry into allegations of betting in the Indian Premier League.

Manmohan Singh chosen for Japanese National Award

Former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh on 3 November 2014 was chosen for Japan’s top national award The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers 2014.
He will be awarded for his contribution to the enhancement of relations and promotion of friendship between Japan and India for about 35 years. Manmohan Singh became the first Indian to receive this rare honour.
He is among other 57 foreign recipients who are also named for the  Order of the Paulownia Flowers 2014.

About the award The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers
• In 1888, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers was established as the highest award under the Orders of the Rising Sun. The award is presented by the Japanese Government. 
• The medal features rays of sunlight radiating from the rising sun wreathed by Paulownia flowers. It is worn on the left chest.
• It is a high level National Order and a rare honour awarded to those who are recognised for their distinguished contribution.

Indian Navy to commemorate 1000th-year of coronation of Rajendra Chola

Indian Navy on 3 November 2014 announced to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of ancient Tamil King Rajendra Chola with a series of activities. 
Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah would flag off the ship from the Chennai Port Trust premises to Nagapattinam. It will symbolize the achievements of the Chola Navy. Nagapattinam is believed to be one of the naval bases of Rajendra Chola’s navy.
Indian Navy will join hands with the National Maritime Foundation and the Tamil Nadu government for the celebration.
As part of the celebrations, INS Sudarshini is being brought to Chennai and its journey will conclude till Nagapattinam. 
INS Sudarshini is a sailing and training ship of the Indian Navy. It is now on its voyage around the world or circumnavigation and is on its way back to Kochi. It is only fitting that a circumnavigating ship is being involved in the celebrations of a king, whose navy has gone beyond boundaries even in those ancient times.
Boats belonging to Tamil Nadu Sailing Association and Royal Madras Yacht Club would escort INS Sudarshini out of Chennai harbour, while the local elite and dignitaries would welcome her on her calling the Nagapattinam port.

About Rajendra Chola 
Rajendra Chola I considered as one of the greatest rulers and military leaders of the Indian Tamil Chola Empire. He succeeded his father in 1014 CE as the Chola emperor.

During his reign, he extended the influences of the already vast Chola Empire up to the banks of the river Ganges in the north and across the ocean. Rajendra’s territories extended coastal Burma, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Maldives, conquered the kings of Srivijaya and Pegu islands with his fleet of ships. 
He defeated Mahipala, the Pala king of Bengal and Bihar, and to commemorate his victory he built a new capital called Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The Cholas became one of the most powerful dynasties in Asia during his reign. 
The successful invasions of Rajendra Chola were applauded by several medieval Tamil poets like Jayamkondan in his text Kalingattupparani andOttakkoothar in his text Ula.
He received the titles Gangai Kondan (He who took the Ganges river in north India) and Kadaram Kondan (He who took kedah in Malaysia).

Hockey India President Narinder Batra became a member of FIH Executive Board

Hockey India President Narinder Batra on 2 November 2014 became a member of International Hockey Federation (FIH) Executive Board. 
The decision was taken during the 2014 Ordinary Congress of FIH. The event was held in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Voting for Ordinary Members of the FIH Executive Board also took place for the positions of two female members, one male member and two open positions.
The voting for the new Executive Board members began with the female vote. Maureen Craig-Rousseau from Trinidad and Tobago was elected and Pamela Stuper from the USA was re-elected to the Board.

The male place went to Dr. Narinder Batra from India. The two open positions saw the re-election of Marc Coudron from Belgium and Qasim Zia from Pakistan.
Hockey Revolution Congress
During the event, a new ten-year strategy for hockey was launched and well-received by delegates.
The well-attended two-day event was titled the Hockey Revolution Congress and delegates learnt about the Hockey Revolution. 
The FIH laid out ambitious goals for the next ten years for hockey around entertainment, professionalism, image and following. A clear strategy was outlined for hockey focusing on five key initiatives; fan-focused entertainment portfolio; world-class content creation and distribution; joined-up global marketing.
The 44th Congress welcomed five new national associations from three continents. From Africa — Burundi, Cameroon and Sierra Leone all became Sole Governing Member National Associations.
Vietnam join from Asia and Ha join from Pan-America, meaning FIH now has 132 National Associations.
The FIH Executive Board is the legislative body of the FIH. It meets three times a year and is made up of the President, the Chief Executive Officer and 14 members, five of which represent the Continental Federations and one that serves as the athletes' representative.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon launched global campaign to end female genital mutilation

United Nations (UN) chief Ban Ki-moon on 30 0ctober 2014 launched a global campaign in Kenya to end the deadly practice of female genital mutilation.

More than 125 million girls and women have been cut in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East. If current trends continue, 86 million young girls are likely to undergo same form of the practice by 2030.

As per the UN, the practice of female genital mutilation is a violation of human rights. In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring zero tolerance for female genital mutilation (FGM) with the hope to raise awareness against the practice.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ranges from the hacking off of the clitoris to the mutilation and removal of the entire female genitalia and is carried out from the youngest babies to teenagers.

FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15. It can cause severe bleeding and health issues including cysts, infections and infertility as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.  

In 2001, Kenya passed a law to criminalize FGM especially for girls under 18. The law came into effect in 2011. The government established the anti-FGM board and developed a policy to implement the prohibition of FGM under the FGM Act 2011.

The government also employed various strategies in the campaign against FGM these include awareness raising and education campaigns.

Union Cabinet approved proposal to amend FDI policy in construction and real estate sector

Union Cabinet on 29 October 2014 approved the proposal to amend Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in construction and real estate sectors. The proposals came in the backdrop of depleting FDI inflows in construction and real sector in last few years.

Union government decided to use relaxed rules for FDI in the construction sector by reducing minimum built-up area as well as capital requirement and easing the exit norms to boost the construction and real sector.

Proposals
• The proposal is the minimum capital requirement is brought down from 10 million US dollar to 5 million US dollar.
• In case of development of serviced plots, the condition of minimum land of 10 hectares has been completely removed. 
• In case of development of trunk infrastructure, though the lock in period has not reduced from 3-year lock-in period but permitted foreign investors to investors to exit on project completion or 3 years from the date of final investment.

Present status
Earlier in 2005, although 100 percent foreign direct investment was allowed in townships, housing and built-up infrastructure and construction developments, the government imposed certain conditions.

After the relaxation, the FDI inflows in the construction sector witnessed a steady rise during 2006-07 but have stared declining in 2009-10.

The construction sector received FDI worth 23.75 billion US dollar or 10 percent of the total FDI attracted by India during the period between from 2000 to 2014.

The investment in construction and real estate sector has a multiplier effect on the economy by way of infrastructure creation and employment generation which will also help to create demand for products of related industries like cement and steel.