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blue nile n white nile

***The difference between them is their color. The Blue Nile, which begins in the mountains of Ethiopia, starts off with a bright blue color. As it passes through Sudan, however, it picks up black sediment that gives it a darker hue.
*** While The White Nile, which begins in the forests of Rwanda and flows through Lake Victoria, is a whitish-gray color, due to the light gray sediment it carries.
***Although the White Nile is longer than the Blue Nile, the Blue Nile carries around two-thirds of the Nile's water supply.
***The two Nile tributaries join together near the city of Khartoum, and when the Nile River reaches Egypt, it divides into two branches, known as the Damietta on the right and the Rosetta on the left, which empty into the Mediterranean Sea.

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What is foreign investment?

What is foreign investment? 
Any investment flowing from one country into another is foreign investment. A simple and commonly-used definition says financial investment by which a person or an entity acquires a lasting interest in, and a degree of influence over, the management of a business enterprise in a foreign country is foreign investment. Globally, various types of technical definitions — including those from IMF and OECD — are used to define foreign investment. 
How does the Indian government classify foreign investment? 
The Indian government differentiates cross-border capital inflows into various categories like foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign institutional investment (FII), non-resident Indian (NRI) and person of Indian origin (PIO) investment. 

Inflow of investment from other countries is encouraged since it complements domestic investments in capital-scarce economies of developing countries, India opened up to investments from abroad gradually over the past two decades, especially since the landmark economic liberalisation of 1991. Apart from helping create additional economic activity and generating employment, foreign investment also facilitates flow of technology into the country and helps the industry to become more competitive. 

Why does the government differentiate between various forms of foreign investment? 

FDI is preferred over FII as it is considered to be the most beneficial form of foreign investment for the economy as a whole. Direct investment targets a specific enterprise, with the aim of increasing its capacity or changing its management control. Direct investment to create or augment capacity ensures that the capital inflow translates into additional production. 

In case of FII investment that flows into the secondary market, the effect is to increase capital availability, rather than availability of capital to a particular enterprise. Translating an FII inflow into additional production depends on production decisions by someone other than the foreign investor — some local investor has to draw upon the additional capital made available via FII inflows to augment production. 

In case of FDI that flows in for the purpose of acquiring an existing asset, no addition to production capacity takes place as a direct result of FDI inflow. Just like in case of FII inflows, in this case too, addition to production capacity does not result from the action of the foreign investor — the domestic seller has to invest the proceeds of the sale in a manner that augments capacity for the foreign capital inflow to boost domestic production. 

There is widespread notion that FII inflows are hot money — that creates volatility in the stock market and exchange rates. FDI tends to be more stable than FII inflows. Moreover, FDI brings not just capital but also better management and governance practices and, often, technology transfer. The know-how transferred along with FDI is often more crucial than capital per se. No such benefit accrues in case of FII inflows, although the search by FIIs for credible investment options has tended to improve accounting and governance practices among listed companies. 

According to the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Committee, net FDI inflows amounted to $8.5 billion in 2006-07 and is estimated to have gone up to $15.5 billion in 2007-08. The panel feels FDI inflows would increase to $19.7 billion during the current financial year. FDI up to 100% is allowed in sectors like textiles or automobiles while the government has put in place foreign investment ceilings in case of sectors like telecom (74 per cent). In some areas like gambling or lottery, no foreign investment is allowed. 

According to the government’s definition, FIIs include asset management companies, pension funds, mutual funds, investment trusts as nominee companies, incorporated/institutional portfolio managers or their power of attorney holders, university funds, endowment foundations, charitable trusts and charitable societies. 

FIIs are required to allocate their investment between equity and debt instruments in the ratio of 70:30. However, it is also possible for an FII to declare itself a 100 per cent debt FII in which case it can make its entire investment in debt instruments. There are peculiar cases like airlines where foreign investment, including FII, is allowed to the extent of 49 per cent, but FDI from foreign airlines is not allowed. 

What restrictions do FIIs face in India? 

FIIs can buy/sell securities on Indian stock exchanges, but they have to get registered with stock market regulator Sebi. They can also invest in listed and unlisted securities outside stock exchanges if the price at which stake is sold has been approved by RBI. No individual FII/sub-account can acquire more than 10 per cent of the paid-up capital of an Indian company. 

All FIIs and their sub-accounts taken together cannot acquire more than 24 per cent of the paid-up capital of an Indian Company, unless the Indian Company raises the 24 per cent ceiling to the sectoral cap or statutory ceiling as applicable by passing a board resolution and a special resolution to that effect by its general body in terms of RBI press release of September 20, 2001 and FEMA Notification No.45 of the same date. 

In addition, the government also introduces new regulations from time to time to ensure that FII investments are in order. For example, investment through participatory notes (PNs) was curbed by Sebi recently.

Some Important Govt. Programme And Policies and Committees

Some Important Govt. Programme And Policies and Committees

(1) Prerna:- The ‘janasankhya sthirata kosh (national population

stabilization fund) has to promote & under take activities aimed at achieving population stabilization at a level consistent with the needs of sustainable economic growth. Social development and environment protection by 2045

• Prerna is a responsible for parenthood strategy. It is monetary incentive strategy aimed at pushing up the age of marriage of girls and delay the birth of the first child.

(2) National Rural Health Mission:-Lunched in April 2005 the mission seeks to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care which is accountable and at the same time responsible to the needs of the people.

• It also aims to achieve the goals set out under the national policy and the millennium development goals during the mission period.

(3) Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna:-Launched by ministry of labour & employment, govt of India to provide health insurance coverage for BPL families.

• Beneficiaries are entitled to hospitalization coverage up to Rs 30,000 for most of the disease that require hospitalization.

(4) National Food Security Mission:-Sponsored scheme launched in august 2007.

• Objective is to increased production and productivity of wheat, rice and pulses.

(5) 15 Point Programme:-In Oct 2009 govt decided to include 3 more schemes in the Prime minister’s new 15 point programme for the welfare of minorities.

Those are: -

• National rural drinking water programme.

• Urban infrastructure developed scheme for small and medium town.

• Urban infrastructure and governance scheme.

(6) Bharat Nirman Yojna:- It is a time bound business plan for action in rural in infrastructure .Under Bharat nirman , action was proposed in the areas of:-

I. Irrigation.

II. Rural housing.

III. Rural water supply.

IV. Rural electrification.

V. Rural telecommunication connectivity.

(7) National Mission On Education:-It is a mission in which education is provide through information and communication technology. “SAKSHAT” one stop education portal was launched on Oct 30 2006 by the president of India.

• Head of National knowledge commission:-Sam Pitroda.

(8)Right To Education Act 2009:- Article 21-(A), as inserted by the constitution (86th Amendment Act) 2002, provides for free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years as a fundamental rights. Consequently the parliament has enacted this in April 2009.

Salient features:-

(a) Free and compulsory education 6 to 14 age group.

(b) Will apply to all India except J&K.

(c) Provide for 25% reservation for economically disadvantaged communities in admission in private school.

(d) A child who completes elementary education (up to class 8) shall be awarded a certificate.

(9) Female Literacy:-It is a scheme to provide education & related facilities to ST Students launched by ministry of trial affairs in dec 11, 2009.

(10) Anil Kalkaska Committee on reforms in IITS:-it will suggest reforms to make these elite institutions a global brand.

(11) Yashpal Committee Report:- It was set up in 2008 for higher education and research.

• It has suggested the scrapping of all higher education regulatory /monitoring bodies and creation of a super regulation.

• It also recommended that the deemed university status be abandoned and that all deserving universities be either converted into full fledged universities or scrapped.

(12) National Rural Livelihood Mission:-Ministry of rural development and panchyati raj proposed to restructure the existing swarnjayanti gram swarojgar yojna into rural livelihood mission to have a focused approach to rural poverty eradication in a time bound manner.

• Objective is to reduce poverty among rural BPL by promoting diversified and gainful self employment and wage employment opportunities which would lead to an appreciable increase in sustainable basis.

(13) NREGA Renamed After Mahatma Gandhi:- On Oct 2, 2009.

(14) Chandra Sheker Panel:- on the recomandation of a committee headed by cabinet secretary K.M Chander shaker. Centre had increased the pension for retired service man.

(15) Rajiv Awas Yojna:-Ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation had launched the housing project called the Rajiv awas yojna for slum dwellers and the urban poor.

• Aimed at making India slum free in the next five years.

(16) Government Gave 50% Women’s Quota: - For women in urban local bodies from 33 % to 50 % by the 108th const. amendment act.

(17) B.K Chaturvedi panel to resolve the inter ministrial issues to speed up the ambitious national highways development project taken up by the road transport and highway ministry.

(18) Librahan Commission:- It was set up in dec 16 ,1992 by the Narashima Rao govt. to probe the demolition of Babri Mosque. The commission was initially asked to give a report in three months, however it could do so only after over 16 years that saw 39 sitting and 48 extensions, finally on June 30 2009 it gave the report.

(19) S.D. Tendulkar Committee:-It is to estimate poverty in the country. It’s said that about 38% of the country’s population are living below poverty line. This figure is 10% higher than the present poverty estimate of 28.5 % by the planning commission.

(20) Moily Panel:- For administrative reform commission it is the 2^nd administrative reform commission.

(21) Unique Identification Authority:- Chairman of UID is Nandan Nilekani. He revealed that the first set of 16 digit unique identification number for citizen of the country will roll out by the end of 2010.

• The UIAI is a part of the planning mission of India.

• AADHAR:-UIDAI now new name AADHAR and also a logo.

• AADHAR or foundation through through which the citizen can claim his/her rights and establishment when assumed of equal opportunities as symbolized by the logo which has the halo of the sun in the imprint of a thumbs.

(22) M.S swami Nathan Panel:- It’s recommendation is on coasted management zone.

(23) G.T Nanavati-Akshay Mehta judical commission:- Probing the Godhra train carnage and post Godhra riots.

(24) Justice B.N Srikrishna is the head of the committee on Telangana issue. The committee is requested to submit its report by dec 31, 2010.

(25) Census 2011:-15th national census of India. President being first person to share her details. First census was conducted in 1872.

(26) D.P Wadhawa Committee On PDS:-Established by the Supreme Court to give recommendation on the reform of public distribution system.

(27) Rajiv Gandhi Grammeen LPG Vitarak Yojna:- Union petroleum and natural gas ministry inaugurated this scheme for providing liquefied petroleum gas to the rural house hold at Lachhman ghar in sikar district of Rajasthan .

• Under the scheme it is proposed to increase the number of connection to 16 crores with coverage of 75% of population by 2015.

(28) Punchhi Commission:-Commission on centre state relation. It was constituted in April 2007. It was ask to make recommendation to help address the emerging challenges faced by the nation regarding centre state relation.

Before this in mid 1980’s the SARKARI commission had undertaken a comprehensive review of the center state relation.

(29) National Integration Council:-The Govt. has reconstituted it which will be chaired by prime minister. Set up in the early 60’s by Nehru.

(30) E.R Rammohan Committee on Dantewada Massacre of CRPF personal.

(31) ICDS:-Integrated child development service launched on 2nd Oct 1975.

• It is the world largest programme for early child hood.

• The objective is to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years.

(33) Green India Mission:- Ministry of environment and forests and the defense research and development organization have launched the mission.

• The aim is to bring a million heacter of high altitude, cold desert

ecosystem under cultivation by 2020.

(34) Pradhan Mantra Adarsh Gram Yojna:- It was launched in Rajasthan Sriganga nagar district.

• Aim at integrated development of 1,000 villages where a majority of the population belongs to the schedule caste.

• It is a replica of U.P’s Ambedkar village scheme.

(35) Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission:- Objective -Generation of 20000 mw of solar energy in three phases by 2022.

• Under this govt. aims to add at least 1000 mw solar power by the end of 2013.

• Power Finance Corporation and the rural electrification corporation had agreed to provide financial assistance.

(36) Certified command of state centre force in chattisgrah, orissa,Jharkhand, Bengal was mooted to counter naxal problem. Under this a IG rank officer or a retired major general on board should be headed the certified command. In this:-

• Additional helicopters should be provided.

• 400 new police stations should be opened.

• 34 new battalions should be constituted.

(37) S. Irani committee:- Rajasthan Govt appointed this committee regarding the Issue of providing reservation to Gujjars.

(38) Pradhan committee:-

• Investigate Nov 26 2008 terror attack.

(39) Muzzafar Jan Commission:-

This committee had probed the gang rape of 17 years old Asiya and pregnant neelofar in shopiaon (J&K).

(40) Kasturi Rangan Committee:- Council of scientific and industrial research (CSIR) has set up this committee. To see the capability of the national aerospace laboratory (NAL) to build civil aircraft.

(41) Goverdhan Mehta Committee:-To review the procedure of the intergovernmental panel on clime change.

deserts around the world

Africa

       Algerian Desert – part of the Sahara located in Algeria

       Blue Desert – a desert in Egypt

       Kalahari Desert – a desert covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa

       Karoo – a semi-desert region in South Africa

       Libyan Desert – part of the Sahara located in Libya

       Namib Desert – a desert in present day Namibia

       Nubian Desert – a desert in present day Sudan

       Owami Desert – a desert in Nigeria

       Sahara Desert – the world's largest hot desert covering most of Northern Africa

       White Desert – a desert in Egypt

Asia

       Akshi Desert – a desert in India

       Badain Jaran – a desert located in China

       Cholistan – a desert in Pakistan

       Gobi – a desert in Mongolia and China

       Indus Valley Desert – a desert located in Pakistan

       Kara Kum – a large Central Asian desert

       Kharan desert – a desert located in Pakistan

       Kyzyl Kum – a desert in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

       Lop Desert – a desert in China

       Ordos – a desert in northern China

       Rub' al Khali – a desert located in Saudi Arabia

       Taklamakan – a desert located in China

       Thal Desert – a desert in Pakistan

       Thar Desert – a desert in Pakistan and India

       Arabian Desert – a vast desert complex on the Arabian Peninsula comprising the Al-Dahna Desert, Empty Quarter, Nefud Desertand other deserts

       Dasht-e Kavir – a desert in central Iran

       Dasht-e Lut – a large salt desert in southeastern Iran

       Judean Desert – a desert in eastern Israel and the West Bank

       Maranjab Desert – a desert in central Iran

       Negev – a desert located in southern Israel

       Ramlat al-Sab`atayn – a sandy desert in central & northeastern Yemen, part of the Empty Quarter

       Sinai Desert – a desert located on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt

       Wahiba Sands – a desert in Oman

Australia

Main article: Deserts of Australia

       Central Desert – a central Australian desert

       Gibson Desert – a central Australian desert

       Great Sandy Desert – a northwestern Australian desert

       Great Victoria Desert – the biggest desert in Australia

       Little Sandy Desert – a western Australian desert

       Simpson Desert – a central Australian desert

       Strzelecki Desert – a south-central Australian desert

       Tanami Desert – a northern Australian desert

Europe  

             Accona Desert – a semi-desert in central Italy

             Aleshkovskie peski – a sandy desert in Ukraine

             Bardenas Reales – a semi-desert in Navarre, Spain (455 km²)

             Błędowska Desert – a desert located in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland (32 km²)

             Deliblatska Peščara – a desert located in Vojvodina, Serbia (300 km²)

             Highlands of Iceland – the interior plateau of Iceland; not a desert by climate, but effectively one because precipitation penetrates the volcanic soil so quickly that it is unavailable to plants

             Monegros Desert – a semi-desert in Aragón, Spain

             Oleshky Sands – a desert located in Ukraine near Askania-Nova biosphere reserve (15 km in diameter)

             Oltenian Sahara – a desert spanning approximately 80,000 hectares or 800 km² in the Romanian historical province of Oltenia[1]

                                                         Piscinas – a desert located in southwest Sardinia, Italy (5 km²)

                                                         Ryn Desert – a desert in western Kazakhstan and southeastern Russia, north of the Caspian Sea and southeast of the Volga Upland. It is the largest sandy desert in Europe

                                                         Stranja Sahara - a desert in southeastern Bulgaria near the city of Burgas. It is about 80,000 hectares, sometimes estimated to about 850 km². It is near the borders of Turkey and northwestern Greece[2]

                                                         Tabernas Desert – a desert in Almería, Spain (280 km²)

             Pumas Desert - a desert in Spain (province)

North America

List of North American deserts

          Central Valley of California (which is divided into the Sacramento Valley in the north, and the San Joaquin Valley in the south) – this area has largely been transformed, due to irrigation canals, to an agricultural area. It is technically a semi-arid climate

          Chihuahuan Desert

          Colorado Desert

          Mojave Desert

          Sonoran Desert

]South America

             Atacama – a desert in Chile and Peru, the driest place on Earth

             La Guajira Desert – a desert in northern Colombia and Venezuela

             Monte Desert – in Argentina, a smaller desert above the Patagonian Desert

             Patagonian Desert – the largest desert in the Americas, located in Argentina and Chile

             Sechura Desert – a desert located south of the Piura Region of Peru

Polar Regions

          Antarctica Desert – the largest desert in the world

          Arctic Desert – the second largest desert in the world

          North American Arctic – a large tundra in North America

          Russian Arctic – a large tundra in Russia

Oceania

          Rangipo Desert – a barren desert-like plateau (with 1.5-2.5 m/yr rainfall) on the North Island Volcanic Plateau in New Zealand