1 JULY 2014: PSLV C23 launched successfully putting 5 satellites in orbit

Ø  M.K. Narayanan has resigned as Governor of West Bengal.

Ø  India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C-23 on Monday successfully put five foreign satellites into orbit in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian Space Research Organisation’s spaceport in Sriharikota. ISRO launched the 714-kg French earth observation satellite SPOT-7, the 14-kg German AISAT, the two 15-kg Canadian NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) and the 7-kg Singapore VELOX-1. Following a “perfect” lift-off at 9.52 a.m., the PSLV-C23’s four stages came to life and fell off as programmed — the 4-storey heat shield which protected the satellites from turbulence, split in two and fell into the Bay of Bengal. Soon, all five were in their slots at a height of more than 660 km. Observing that 40 of the 67 PSLV satellites were put into orbit from 19 foreign countries, Mr. Modi said it was “a global endorsement of India’s capabilities”.

Ø  The Rangarajan Committee is likely to recommend a formula for identifying the poor that places a significantly higher number of Indians below the poverty line than the methodology adopted by the Tendulkar Committee. If the Modi Government accepts this recommendation, it will mean more than 370 million Indians were below the poverty line (BPL) in 2011-12 as against the Tendulkar panel’s estimate of 270 million.

Ø  China has for the first time formally agreed to allow Indian hydrological experts to conduct study tours in Tibet to monitor the flows on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, according to a new agreement signed here on Monday during the visit of Vice-President Hamid Ansari.

Ø  The Nanavati Commission of Inquiry probing the 2002 post-Godhra riots on Monday received a two-month extension beyond its expiry date. The two-member commission consisting of Justices (retired) G.T. Nanavati and Akshay Mehta has been probing the 2002 Godhra train burning incident and the subsequent communal riots in Gujarat.

Ø  While the Commission submitted the first part of its report in September 2008, its final report is still awaited. The Commission was appointed by the Gujarat government in 2002 in the aftermath of the riots. Its initial members were Justices (retired) Nanavati and K.G. Shah. However, following the demise of Mr. Shah in March 2008, Justice (retd.) Mehta was appointed in his place.

Ø  Kaafiron ki Namaaz , a movie by debutant director Ram Ramesh Sharma and producer Bhargav Saikai won four awards, including one for the best feature film at the third Ladakh International Film Festival.