Miss Kerala2011

1. How did Miss Kerala happen to you?

I was into modelling. I have participated in a few beauty pageants as well. I had won the Navy Queen in 2010. I do my BDS course from a college in Bangalore, and used to visit Kochi every three weeks. My family stays here. That is when I came to know about Miss Kerala pageant happening here. Social networking sites like Facebook gave me better access to it. I thought I will give it a try. That is how I ended up participating.

2. How did the grooming sessions go?

Grooming sessions were rigorous. It was awesome being with the other contestants. We were groomed by experts. Ritika Ramtri, who has been grooming contestants for many beauty pageants, was a part of Miss Kerala 2011 grooming. The lessons she taught us were of immense help, and it will help us not just for pageants, but later in our lives too. Justine Bhatt was also amazing. Murali Menon also took grooming sessions for us. He was brilliant. He is witty, and makes you laugh so much.

3. How do plan to shoulder the responsibilities of being Miss Kerala 2011?

The theme this year is ‘Save the girl child’. We will be showing people how important education is, and that a girl can do things in par with men. We hope to do something to reduce female foeticide.

4. You are currently staying in Bangalore. Don’t you think that will affect your work as Miss Kerala title winner?

We are doing work for ‘Save the girl child’ campaign. You can do that from Bangalore, or for that matter from anywhere else in the country. You don’t have to be here in Kerala for that. But yes, I’ll be coming here every 3 weeks. I will make sure that my work here is accomplished well.

5. We heard that you had to pay the organizers to get the title.

No one pays anyone to get into things. I believe we have to work hard for it. Even I heard such rumours. Moreover, my dad will not pay a penny extra to win such pageants. He will spend for education, but not for pageants.

6. What was the first thing that passed your mind when you were announced Miss Kerala winner?

I was trying to concentrate on my breathing. I could see my sister from the stage. I was looking at her. She was constantly asking me to keep my hair back and stuff. I could see my family also. I was looking at them.

7. Have you got any movie or ad offers till now?

Well, Impresario the event organizers are taking care of all that. But as of now, I haven’t personally got any invites.

8. So is this pageant a shortcut for you to enter movies?

Not really. I’am concentrating on my studies now. Maybe if I get a really good script, I might think of acting.

Share and Enjoy:

The 20 Sensuous Beauties of Miss Kerala 2011. Click on thumbnail to view larger image.

• 
  Aneesha Ummer
• 
  Elizabeth Thadikaran
• 
  
  Jesna Kannoth
• 
  Justina Mathew
• 
  Kasturi Krishnan
• 
  Maria John
• 
  Marin Babu
• 
  Nikita Cisy
• 
  Nikita Nair
• 
  Nimisha Sivaram
• 
  Pooja Iyer
• 
  Prathiba Premnath
• 
  Richa Sudheer
• 
  Rupika Ramnath
• 
  Sanjana Kumar
• 
  Shikha Santhosh Kumar
• 
  Shruti Nair
• 
  Sree Lakshmi Pillai
• 
  Trupti S
• 
  Vidya Nair

Miss Kerala2011

മിസ് കേരള 2011 (Live)

ഇംപ്രസാരിയോ അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ഹെയര്‍ ഓ മാക്സ് മിസ് കേരള 2011 ഫൈനല്‍ മല്‍സരം കൊച്ചി ലെ മെരിഡിയനില്‍ ആരംഭിക്കുകയാണ്. ആഗോളീകരണത്തിന്റെ ഫലമായി സ്ത്രീസൗന്ദര്യത്തെ ചൂഷണം ചെയ്യുന്ന ബഹുരാഷ്ട്രകുത്തകകളുടെ കച്ചവടതന്ത്രമാണെന്നൊക്കെ പറയാമെങ്കിലും ഇതു വരെ ഈ മല്‍സരത്തിലൂടെ കടന്നു വന്ന പെണ്കുട്ടികളൊക്കെയും (ഉദാ- രഞ്ജിനി ഹരിദാസ്,റിമ കല്ലിങ്കല്‍)എവിടെയെങ്കിലുമൊക്കെ എത്തിച്ചേര്‍ന്നിട്ടുണ്ട് എന്നത് ചെറിയ കാര്യമല്ല. ഈ വര്‍ഷവും മിസ് കേരള 2011 പട്ടത്തിനായി 20 സുന്ദരിമാരെ ഇംപ്രസാരിയോയുടെ പാനല്‍ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ട്.

400 അപേക്ഷകരില്‍ നിന്ന് വിവിധഘട്ടങ്ങളിലായി നടന്ന തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിലൂടെ 20 പേരാണ് അവസാന റൗണ്ടില്‍ എത്തിയത്. സാരി, പാര്‍ട്ടി വെയര്‍, ഗൗണ്‍ എന്നിങ്ങനെ മൂന്ന് റൗണ്ടുകളിലായി നാല് മണിക്കൂര്‍ നീണ്ടുനില്‍ ക്കുന്നതാണ് മത്സരം. വസ്ത്രധാരണം, ആത്മവിശ്വാസം, പൊതുവേദികളിലെ സാന്നിദ്ധ്യം, ആശയവിനിമയ മികവ് തുടങ്ങിയ ഘടകങ്ങളെ അടിസ്ഥാനമാക്കിയാണ് അവസാന വിജയിയെ കണ്ടെത്തുക. മിസ് കേരള, റണ്ണേഴ്‌സ് അപ്പ്, മൂന്നാം സ്ഥാനം എന്നിവയ്ക്കുപുറമേ മിസ് ബ്യൂട്ടിഫുള്‍ ഹെയര്‍, മിസ് ബ്യൂട്ടിഫുള്‍ ഐ, മിസ് ബ്യൂട്ടിഫുള്‍ സ്‌കിന്‍, മിസ് ടാലന്റ്, മിസ് ബ്യൂട്ടിഫുള്‍ സെ്‌മെല്‍, മിസ് ഫോട്ടോജനിക്, മിസ് കണ്‍ജീനിയാലിറ്റി, മിസ് സെന്‍ഷ്വാലിറ്റി, മിസ് ബ്യൂട്ടിഫുള്‍ വോയ്‌സ്, മിസ് വീവേഴ്‌സ്, എന്നീ ഉപപട്ടങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടാകും.

ശിഖ സന്തോഷ് കുമാര്‍ (കോഴിക്കോട്), ജെസ്‌ന കുഞ്ഞി കണ്ണോത്ത് (മുംബൈ), പൂജ അയ്യര്‍ (കോഴിക്കോട്), ജസ്റ്റിന മാത്യു (പത്തനംതിട്ട), എസ്. തൃപ്തി (തിരുവനന്തപുരം), കസ്തൂരി കൃഷ്ണന്‍ (ദുബായ്), പ്രതിഭ പ്രേംനാഥ് (ദുബായ്), സഞ്ജന കുമാര്‍ (ദുബായ്), റിച സുധീര്‍ ചന്ദ്രന്‍ (ദുബായ്), ശ്രീലക്ഷ്മി പിള്ള (അഹമ്മദാബാദ്), നികിത നായര്‍ (അഹമ്മദാബാദ്), വിദ്യ നായര്‍, (ബാംഗ്ലൂര്‍), നികിത സിസി (തിരുവനന്തപുരം), രൂപിക രാംനാഥ് (ബാംഗ്ലൂര്‍), നിമിഷ ശിവറാം (ബാംഗ്ലൂര്‍), അനീഷ ഉമ്മര്‍ (മലപ്പുറം), ലിസ് താടിക്കാരന്‍ (കൊച്ചി), മരിയ ജോണ്‍ (പുണെ), മെറിന്‍ ബാബു (കൊച്ചി), ശ്രുതി നായര്‍ (കൊച്ചി) എന്നിവരാണു ഫൈനലിസ്റ്റുകള്‍.

വിദ്യാര്‍ഥികള്‍, സോഫ്റ്റ്‌വെയര്‍ എന്‍ജിനീയര്‍, ബാങ്ക് അസിസ്റ്റന്റ്, ചാര്‍ട്ടേഡ് അക്കൗണ്ടന്റ്, എയര്‍ഹോസ്റ്റസ്, ഫാഷന്‍ഡിസൈനര്‍ തുടങ്ങി വൈവിധ്യമാര്‍ന്ന രംഗങ്ങളില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നവരാണ് ഇവര്‍. പേജന്റ് ഗ്രൂമര്‍ റിതികരാംത്രി, വ്യക്തിത്വ വികസന പരിശീലകന്‍ മുരളി മേനോന്‍, ഫാഷന്‍ കൊറിയോഗ്രഫര്‍ ജസ്റ്റിന്‍ ഭട്ട്, ഡിസൈനര്‍മാരായ സെമു, അദിത്, ഹെല്‍ത്ത് ആന്‍ഡ് ഫിറ്റ്‌നസ് പരിശീലകന്‍ സൂരജ് മസൂദ് എന്നിവരുടെ കീഴില്‍ എട്ടു ദിവസം നീണ്ട പരിശീലനത്തിലൊടുവിലാണ് അവര്‍ ഫൈനലിനൊരുങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നത്.

ഈ ഇരുപതു പേരില്‍ ആരും മിസ് കേരള എന്നറിയാന്‍ രാത്രി 11 വരെ കാത്തിരിക്കാം. ഷോ തല്സമയം കാണണം എന്നുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് Kochivibe വെബ്‍കാസ്റ്റിങ്ങ് കാണാം. 20 സുന്ദരിമാരെയും ഒന്നു കാണണമെന്നുള്ളവര്‍ക്കായി ഇരുപതു പേരുടെയും ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ താഴെ കൊടുക്കുന്നു. 20 സുന്ദരിമാര്‍ക്കും വിജയാംശകള്‍ നേരുന്നു.

(ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ക്കു കടപ്പാട്- മിസ് കേരള ഡോട് നെറ്റ്).

Confirmation Examination will be held on 6.11.2011.

Confirmation Examination will be held on 6.11.2011.

The next Confirmation Examination of PA/SAs will be held on Sunday, the 6^th November 2011. The time table is as follows:

Day and date	Sunday, 6.11.2011
Paper- I	Theory (With the aid of Books) (10.00 AM to 01.00 PM)
Paper-II	Practical (Without the aid of books) (From 02.00 PM onwards the same day)

A Special Examination in Paper-III for PAs/SAs who have not passed the Confirmation Examination within the period of three years of their appointment as PA/SA will also be held on 6.11.2011 (Sunday). There will be only one paper (with the aid of books) from 10.00 AM to 01.00 PM for the Special Confirmation Examination. The officials, who have not passed the Confirmation Examination within three years of their appointment as PA/SA, if any, will also be admitted to this examination.

Click here to download previous year question papers

India launches world’s cheapest Tablet PC for students

Shri Kapil Sibal Launches ‘Aakash’, Low Cost Access Device

Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resourced Development launched ‘Aakash’, a low cost access cum computing device, here today. This device was also distributed among 500 children on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion the Minister underlined that Aakash will help in eliminating digital illiteracy. For this he also emphasized the need for having high quality study content to be made accessible to students. He also called for support and partnership from all so that the device could cost further less, while praising the team which had worked towards the creation and production of this device.

Background on the Device

To ensure complete transparency and a level playing-field, the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT) decided to task one of the IITs (IIT Rajasthan at Jodhpur) with the job of procuring and testing these devices based on the design and specifications that the Mission’s team had finalized.

IIT Rajasthan followed an open tender process. A three-step process was followed to evaluate the bids that were received. First, a committee scanned all bids to check their eligibility based on the conditions specified in the tender. Eligible bids were then evaluated by a technical evaluation committee comprising of eminent academics and industry experts. Bids that were found technically suitable were then evaluated by a financial evaluation committee which then declared the lowest bidder. Following set government norms, a further negotiation was then held with the lowest bidder and a further discount obtained from them

On 22nd July, 2010 Shri Kapil Sibal, had unveiled a device that was expected to cost “around US$ 35”. The lowest bidder quoted an ex-factory price of US$ 37.98 which was close to the cost mentioned by HRM. This cost that comprised of cost of components and material as well as manufacturing expenses. The final landed price of $49.98/unit (which translated to INR 2276 at the exchange rate at the time of the order) included taxes, levies, and charges like freight and insurance, servicing and documentation etc. The landed price also includes one-year free replacement warranty from the manufacturer

It needs to be mentioned that this price does not include any subsidy from the Government and is a price that has been arrived at following a commercial tender process. The Government will also be providing price subsidy to the students on the price indicated in the earlier paragraph. The device will be distributed to students through the institutions at which they are studying.

The development of this device has been done in India in a plant at Hyderabad. This unique device is meant for students across India. Using this device, and the connectivity also provided under this Mission, learners will be able to access all the thousands of items of content available on the Sakshat portal and other educational web-sites

Roadmap
This current phase was a pilot to procure 100,000 devices. This pilot helped in sorting out the production related issues. These devices are now being distributed to students all over the country so that they can be extensively tested in various climatic and usage conditions. The feedback obtained from the testing will form an input into the design of the next version of the device. This is important, as the numbers that the Mission needs to procure are very large.

To achieve this, the team of experts working on this project would be broad-based. The production capacities of Indian manufacturers would also have to be substantially expanded to meet production requirements of a few million devices within a six-month time frame

Broadly speaking, future efforts will move in two directions – to achieve the same functionality at a lower cost and to achieve added capabilities at the same cost

MHRD invites collaboration, ideas and inventions from the community of academics and experts and inventors to achieve the cherished goals.

Connectivity:
It is expected that 416 Universities and 20,000 colleges all over India will be connected under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT). The Mission pays for fiber connectivity for each University to connect to the nearest NKN node. The Mission has placed a consolidated order for connecting all Universities and Colleges to BSNL and about 80% of the Universities and Colleges have been connected already

Content Creation
The National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT) has proposed 18 different line items for content creation. All content that is created under this Mission needs to meet the following criteria:

· It should be related to education delivery.
· It should involve faculty from different institutions
· All IP (Intellectual Property) created under projects funded by this Mission will vest with MHRD
· All content should be created using open-source software.
· All content created under this Mission is for open access by all and cannot be charged for in any way


The National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NME-ICT) was launched by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, in February 2009 with a budget of Rs 4612 crore. The National Mission on Education comprises of 48 different components structured broadly around building CONTENT, enabling ACCESS and developing LOW COST ACCESS cum COMPUTING DEVICES.


Aakash UbiSlate 7 Specifications
• Hardware:
– Processor: 366 Mhz with Graphics accelerator and HD Video processor
– Memory (RAM): 256MB RAM / Storage (Internal): 2GB Flash
– Storage (External): 2GB to 32GB Supported
– Peripherals (USB2.0 ports, number): 1 Standard USB port
– Audio out: 3.5mm jack / Audio in: 3.5mm jack
– Display and Resolution: 7” display with 800x480 pixel resolution
– Input Devices: Resistive touch screen
– Connectivity and Networking: WiFi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g
– Power and Battery: Up to 180 minutes on battery. AC adapter 200-240 volt range.
• Software:
– OS: Android 2.2
– Document Rendering
• Supported Document formats: DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, ODT, ODP
• PDF viewer, Text editor
– Multimedia and Image Display
• Image viewer supported formats: PNG, JPG, BMP and GIF
• Supported audio formats: MP3, AAC, AC3, WAV, WMA
• Supported video formats: MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, FLV
– Communication and Internet
• Web browser - Standards Compliance: xHTML 1.1 compliant, JavaScript 1.8 compliant
• Separate application for online YouTube video
• Safety and other standards compliance
– CE certification / RoHS certification
Other: Additional Web Browser: UbiSurfer-Browser with compression/acceleration and IE8 rendering.

Source:pib

GRANT OF DEARNESS RELIEF TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS/FAMILY PENSIONERS - REVISED RATE EFFECTIVE FROM 1.7.2011

F. No.42/15/2011-P&PW(G)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,

Khan Market, New Delhi - 110003

Date; 5th October, 2011

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of Dearness Relief to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners - Revised rate effective from 1.7.2011.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM No. 42/15/2011-P&PW(G) dated 29th March, 2011 on the subject mentioned above and to state that the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Relief (DR) payable to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 51% to 58% w.e.f. 1st July, 2011.

2. These orders apply to (i) All Civilian Central Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners (ii) The Armed Forces Pensioners, Civilian Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates, (iii) All India Service Pensioners (iv) Railway Pensioners and (V) The Burma Civilian pensioners/family pensioners and pensioners/families of displaced Government pensioners from Pakistan, who are Indian Nationals but receiving pension on behalf of Government of Pakistan and are in receipt of ad-hoc ex-gratia allowance of Rs. 3500/- p.m. In terms of this Department's OM No. 23/1/97-P&PW(B) dated 23.2.1998 read with this Department's OM No. 23/3/2008-P&PW(B) dated 15.9.2008.

3. Central Government Employees who had drawn lumpsum amount on absorption In a PSU/Autonomous body and have become eligible to restoration of 1/3 commuted portion of pension as well as revision of the restored amount in terms of this Department's OM No.4/59/97-P&PW (D) dated 14.07.1998 will also be entitled to the payment of DR @ 58% w.e.f. 1.7.2011 on full pension i.e. the revised pension which the absorbed employee would have received on the date of restoration had he not drawn lumpsum payment on absorption and Dearness Pension subject to fulfillment of the conditions laid down in para 5 of the O.M. dated 14.07.98. in this connection, Instructions contained in this Department's OM No.4/29/99-P&PW (D) dated, 12.7.2000 refer.

4. Payment of DR involving a fraction of a rupee shall be rounded off to the next higher rupee.

5. Other provisions governing grant of DR In respect of employed family pensioners and re-employed Central Government Pensioners will be regulated in accordance with the provisions contained In this Department's OM No. 45/73/97-P&PW (G) dated 2.7.1999 as amended vide this Department's OM No. F. No. 38/88/2008-P&PW(G) dated 9th July, 2009. The provisions relating to regulation of DR where a pensioner is in receipt of more than one pension , will remain unchanged.

6. In the case of retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, necessary orders will be issued by the Department of Justice separately.

7. t will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authorities, including the nationalized banks, etc. to calculate the quantum of DR payable in each individual case.

8. The offices of Accountant General and Authorised Public Sector Banks are requested to arrange payment of relief to pensioners etc. on the basis of these instructions without waiting for any further instructions from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Reserve Bank of India in view of letter No. 528-TA, 11/34-80-II dated 23/04/1981 of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India addressed to all Accountant Generals and Reserve Bank of India Circular No. GANB No. 2958/GA-64 (II) (CGL)/81 dated the 21st May, 1981 addressed to State Bank of India and its subsidiaries and all Nationalised Banks.

9. In their application to the pensioners/family pensioners belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders Issue after consultation with the C&AG.

10. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure conveyed vide their OM No. 1(4)/EV/2004 dated 5th October, 2011.

11. Hindi version will follow.

Sd/-

(S. P. Kakkar)

Under Secretary to the Government of India

Senior Postmaster Examination on 31.12.11

The Postal Directorate vide its notification No. A-34012/6/2011-DE dated 03.10.2011 announced about the conduct of the Senior Postmaster examination on 31.12.2011 . The following is the schedule for conducting the LDCE for promotion of Sr. Postmasters 2011.

Activity	Scheduled
Receipt of Application on plain paper from willing candidates with service details to decide his eligibility to DO /RO/CO/ Controlling unit.	Latest by 15.10.2011
2. Receipt of Application Form Kits by Nodal Officer DPS(HQ) from CMC	Latest by 21.10.2011
3. Receipt of Application Form Kits by DO /RO/ CO / Controlling unit from Nodal Officer of Circle for making available to the eligible candidates.	Latest by 25.10.2011
4. Last date for receipt of Application Form Kits at DO /RO/ CO / Controlling unit.	Latest by 02.11.2011
5. Receipt of duly filled in application forms by Nodal officers of the Circle sent by DO /RO/ CO / Controlling unit.	Latest by 05.11.2011
6. Despatch of duly filled in application forms by Nodal officer of the Circle to CMC.	Latest by 08.11.2011
7. Issue of Hall Permits by CMC to eligible candidates .	Latest by 05.12.2011
8. Date of Sr. Postmaster Examination	31.12.2011

(No. A-34012/6/2011-DE dated 03.10.2011)