Abdul Kalam, Peoples President, passes awayA.P.J. Abdul Kalam, widely acclaimed as the peoples president for his warmth and accessibility, passed away on 27thJuly. He was 83. Kalam was also called as the Missile Man of India. He was a scientist by training and played a critical role in Indias nuclear tests in May 1998.Contributions and Achievements: Apart from leading the Indian Space Research Organisations satellite launch programme, Mr. Kalam headed the countrys guided missile programme for many years. He was President between 2002 and 2007. As scientific adviser to the Defence Minister, he led the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests. His taking over the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) programme as its Project Director led to its spectacular success in 1980 and it was the turning point in Indias space programme. As director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), he envisioned Indias Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and led teams that built Indias Agni, Akash, Prithvi and Nag missile programmes. He was instrumental in forging Indias collaboration with Russia to build the worlds first supersonic cruise missile called BrahMos. As Director-General of DRDO and Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, he played important role Indias nuclear tests in 1998. He has been honored with Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan. He has received honorary doctorates from over 30 institutions. His 79thBirthday was recognized as the World Student Day by the United Nations. Switzerland has declared 26thMay as Science Day to commemorate Visit of APJ to Switzerland in 2005.

Britain celebrates 800 years of Magna CartaThe 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, a medieval political truce that inspired protections for some of the worlds most cherished liberties, recently began in Britain. Magna Carta is seen as the foundation of parliamentary democracy, human rights and the supremacy of law.What is Magna Carta?Magna Carta is a Latin word and means Great Charter. The Magna Carta was one of the most important documents of Medieval England. Magna Carta is considered one of the first steps towards parliamentary democracy and includes the principle that no one is above the law, including the king. It was signed on 15 June 1215 atRunnymede. The document was a series of written promises between the king and his subjects that he, the king, would govern England and deal with its people according to the customs of feudal law. Magna Carta was an attempt by the barons to stop aking Johnabusing his power with the people of England suffering. It was drafted to make peace between the unpopular King and rebel barons, it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown, to be implemented through a council of 25 barons

Censor Board:

Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)/Censor Board is aStatutory bodyunder Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, regulating the public exhibition of films under the provisions of the Cinematograph Act 1952.

Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification.

Members:The Board, consists of non-official members and a Chairman (all of whom are appointed by Central Government) and functions with headquarters at Mumbai. It has nine Regional offices. The Regional Offices are assisted in the examination of films by Advisory Panels. The members of the panels are nominated by Central Government by drawing people from different walks of life for a period of two years.

At present films are certified under 4 categories:

Unrestricted Public ExhibitionUnrestricted Public Exhibition but with a word of caution that Parental discretion required for children below 12 years

Restricted toadultsRestricted to any special class of persons