Ambedkar Jayanti: 123rd birth anniversary of B.R Ambedkar

1.    Ambedkar Jayanti: 123rd birth anniversary of B.R Ambedkar 

i. Today is the 123rd birth anniversary of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, observed as Ambedkar Jayanti every year in India. On this day homage is paid to Babasaheb’s statue at the Parliament by the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries. 

ii. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 to the Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai in a poor Mahar family in Mhow, Central Provinces, British India (Madhya Pradesh). He died on December, 6 in 1956 at the age of 65. 

iii. He was popular among the people by the name ‘Babasaheb’ because of his great contribution towards the Indian society. He served throughout his life as a jurist, philosopher, social activist, politician, historian, anthropologist and economist as well as revivalist for the Buddhism in India. He became the first law minister of the Independent India and drafted the Constitution of India.

iv. He continued his social revolution till the end of his life through Buddhism. He was honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1990. 

2.    India becomes net steel exporter after 6 yrs

i. India became net steel exporter in 2013-14 after a gap of six years and is likely to maintain the momentum in 2014-15 as producers are looking to dock more overseas shipment to tide over subdued domestic consumption.

ii. Total steel exports by India during the last fiscal stood at 5.59 million tonnes (MT), as against imports of 5.44 MT, Joint Plant Committee (JPC), a unit of the Steel Ministry, said in a report. 

iii. India, now the world's fourth largest steel maker, had been a net steel importer since 2007-08 and the trend continued till 2012-13 with 7.9 MT of imports and 5.2 MT of exports. Before 2007-08, India's exports were more than its imports. 

iv. About 4.1 percent higher exports and 31.3 percent decline in imports helped India become net exporter of steel. 

v. India's steel consumption grew by just 0.6 percent in 2013-14, its lowest in four years, to 73.93 MT, impacted by a slower expansion of the domestic economy and lower imports. 

Background

Presently, India is the fourth largest steel maker. India had been a steel importer from 2007-08 to 2012-13. About 60 percent of the country's total steel demand is made by the Construction sector and about 15 percent is consumed by automobile sector.

3.    India & China hold 6th round of Strategic Dialogue in Beijing

i. Top diplomats of India and China today held the sixth round of Strategic Dialogue at Beijing, reviewing the status of bilateral relations and exploring new initiatives to deepen the emerging ties. 

ii. Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh co-chaired the talks with her Chinese counterpart Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin. 

iii. A host of issues including mutual concerns over stability in Afghanistan in the backdrop of the US plans to withdraw its troops from there besides India's over 35 billion dollar trade deficit with China were expected to figure in the dialogue. 

4.    Green Economy Summit gets underway in Dubai today

i. The Green Economy Summit gets underway in Dubai today. The four daylong meet is a part of the annual "Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2014". 

ii. More than 1500 exhibitors from 34 countries including India are taking part in the exhibition to showcase the best in renewable or green energy solutions. 

iii. The Green Economy Summit aims to promote capacity building and highlight effective policies, legislation and new opportunities for transition to a green economy. 

iv. Prominent experts from energy, finance and business sectors, in addition to government leaders, international organizations and the private sector will take part in the summit.