NATIONAL JUNE 2010

NATIONAL JUNE 2010

• UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation of the 8.8-km-long Rohtang tunnel at Dhundi near Manali(Himachal Pradesh). 
• The first World Classical Tamil Conference was held in Coimbatore. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil presented the Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Classical Tamil Award to Asko Parpola for his work on the Dravidian hypothesis in the interpretation of the Indus script. 
• The Group of Ministers (GoM) submitted their report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the legal, medical, humanitarian, environmental and other aspects of the Bhopal gas leak disaster. The GoM recommended Rs. 1,500-crore package for the victims. 
• The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) endorsed the setting up of the proposed National Commission for Higher Education and Research (NCHER) as an apex body entrusted with framing policy, and to bring within its ambit, medical education and other disciplines of higher education and research. 
• The 75th conference of presiding officers of legislatives bodies from different parts of the country was held in Srinagar (J&K). 
• The Planning Commission estimated four percent growth in the agriculture sector during the XII Plan (2012-17). 
• The Representation of the People's (Amendment) Bill aimed at NRIs for voting rights in India was cleared by a GoM headed by Defence Minister A.K. Antony and is likely to be presented soon before the Cabinet. 
• The government of India has declared the Indian Mujahideen (IM), suspected to be a shadow outfit of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, a terrorist outfit. 
• Jharkhand came under Central rule with President Pratibha Patil accepting a recommendation of the Union Cabinet after the Congress and the BJP gave up efforts to form an alternative government following the resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren.