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FEBRUARY

11. The space shuttle Columbia disintegrates on February 1st over the state of Texas killing all seven astronauts, including the Indian American, Kalpana Chawla.
12. India and the U.S. sign the statement of principles, a milestone in bilateral relations.
13. Dolly, the Sheep, the World's first cloned animal is Euthanised following a progressive lung disease.
14. Norah Zones, Pop- Jazz Chanteuse bags five Grammys beating the crowed favourite Bruce Spring Steen at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards function in New York.
15. Vaclav Klaus is elected the Czech President.
16. Kuldeep Nair, veteran journalist is presented with the Astor Award for Press Freedom at the Commonwealth Press Union meet in Colombo.
17. The Punjab National Bank takes over Nedungadi Bank Limited, the oldest Private Sector Bank in Kerala.
18. Nikita Anand wins the Miss India Universe 2003 title.
19. The Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial Award 2002 is presented to C.S.I.R., Director General R.A. Mashelkar.
20. Justice A.S. Anand is appointed the chair person of the National Human Rights Commission
21. The film Lagaan bags 8 awards at the 49th National Award Function. Yash Chopra is presented the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
22. Gopi Chand Narang, a well known Urdu Literary Critic is elected as President of the Sahitya Academy.
23. Parliament gives its consent for the abolition of the Banking Service Commission.
24. A National Social Security number scheme initiated by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation is launched by the President in New Delhi.

MARCH

25. Fidel Castro is elected President for a sixth term by Cuba's Parliament.
26. The International Criminal Court, the World's first permanent war crimes court is formally launched in the Hague, the Netherlands.
27. Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic is assassinated in Belgrade.
28. Wen Jiabao is elected China's Prime Minister, Zoran Zivkovic is named Serbian Prime Minister.
29. Robin Cook quits as the British government's leader in the House of Commons over the premier Tonny Blair's handling of the Iraqi crisis.
30. The musical Chicago wins the Oscar for the best film in the 75th Academy Award in Hollywood. Adrien Brody bags the best actor award for his role in 'The Pianist' and Nicole Kidman, best actress ('The Hours' ). Peter O' Toole gets an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.
31. Supreme Court declares that declaration of assets, and antecedents a must by candidates contesting polls is a must.
32. Government setsup a review panel to check POTA misuse.
33. The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, is conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2002.
34. Union Cabinet gives its nod for an open ballot for the Rajya Sabha polls.

APRIL

35. French mathematician, Jean-Pierre Serre is selected for the first Abel Prize for his role in shaping Algebraic Geometry and Number Theory.
36. U.S. troops sweep into the heart of Baghdad as Saddam Hussein's 24 year rule crumbles.
37. Insat-3A is launched from the French Guyanese space port of Kourou.
38. Scientists identify the Corona Virus behind the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS) that has killed an estimated 110 people worldwide.
39. Scientists complete the Human Genome sequencing work begun in 1990, throwing open the book of life.
40. India's first SARS case is reported from Goa.
41. Shivalik, the first indigenously built stealth frigate is launched in Mumbai.
42. Union Cabinet decides to restrict size of the Union and State Council of Ministers and amend the antidefection law to curb bulk defections.
43. Parliament approves the Prevention of insults to National Honour ( Amendments ) Bill 2003 providing for stiff punishment for disrespect for the National Flag and Symbols.
44. The U.S. Ambassador to India, Robert Black Will announces his resignation.

MAY

45. Lithuania, becomes the first former Soviet Republic to vote itself into the European Union, after a referendom in the capital Vilnius.
46. British explorer, Pen Hadow becomes the first person to treck solo and unsupported to the North Pole.
47. The World Health Organisation gives approval to a land mark anti tobacco convention.
48. The Israel Cabinet approves plan for a Palestinian State by 2005.
49. Gus Van Sant's 'Elephant' bags the golden palm at the Cannes International Film Festival.
50. Goa, introduces a land mark legislation, the Goa Childrens Act 2003 for the protection of children.
51. The indigenous L.C.A. is named Tejas by the Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee in Bangalore.
52. The Lok Sabha gives its nod for the delimitation that seeks to make the 2001 census the basis for readjustments of electoral constituencies.
53. Astra, an air to air missile is test fired successfully from the Interim test range in Balasore Orissa.
54. Shiv Shankar Menon is appointed India's High Commissioner to Pakistan.
55. Ganga Ram Bishnoi of Chirai village in Jodhpur is posthumously conferred the Amritha Devi Bishnoi National Award for Wildlife Conservation.

JUNE

56. The G-8 Summit, reaffirms commitment to prevent proliferation and describes International Terrorism as the pre-eminent threat to International Security.
57. Valerie Martin, American Writer, Wins Orange Fiction Prize ( Britains Biggest Prize of Women's Fiction) for her novel Property.
58. Singapore launches a new driverless train.
59. India and China sign an accord opening border trade through Sikkim.
60. Heatwave in Andhra Pradesh leaves 1020 dead.
61. The Maruti Udyog Limited open's its maiden public issue.

JULY

62. Raghuram Rajan is named the I.M.F.'s Chief Economist.
63. Astronomers discover a new Jupiter like planet circling a sun like star about six million miles away in the constellation Puppis.
64. David Kelly, a former British U.N. Weapons Inspector in Iraq, commit suicide.
65. The government of the African nation, Sao Tome and Principe is toppled in a military coup.
66. The Fiji Supreme Court rules that a multi-ethnic Cabinet is obligatory as per the Constitution.
67. The Texas University digitises all 1268 pages of the Guten Berg Bible, a 15 century landmark publication.
68. Arunachal Pradesh is not a part of India says Beijing.
69. J.M. Lyngdoh ( Chief Election Commissioner ) and Shanta Sinha ( Social Worker ) honoured with the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2003.
70. India and U.A.E., sign accord on Defence Cooperation in New Delhi.
71. The Tamil Nadu Government sacs over one lakh employees under the Essential Services Maintenance Act for striking work seeking restoration of pensionary benefits.
72. India decides not send troops to Iraq under the American and British Command.
73. The Prime Minister launches Varistha Pension Bima Yojana, an age old pension scheme and health insurance scheme in New Delhi.
74. Y. Venu Gopal Reddy is appointed as R.B.I., Governor.
75. Rajendra Keshavlal Shah, eminent Gujarati poet is named winner of the Jnanpith Award for 2001.
76. Supreme Court declares that employees do not have any Fundamental Right to go on strike.
77. Parliament gives its nod for the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management ( FRBM ) Bill 2003, seeking to eliminate the government's fiscal and revenue deficits.
78. The Supreme Court upholds the Haryana Government law on the two child norm.

AUGUST

79. Lord Hutton heads a judicial enquiry into the death of the British Weapons Scientist David Kelly in London.
80. NATO takes over peace keeping in Kabul, its first operation outside Europe since its establishment 54 years ago.
81. The NASA's New Infrared Space Telescope, SIRTF blasts of from the base in Cape Canaveran, Florida, to unravel secrets of the evolution of the universe.
82. Tejas, the light combat aircraft makes its maiden super sonic flight, in Bangalore, to create an Indian aviation history.
83. Supreme Court rules that government employees have no 'fundamental, legal, moral or equitable right' to go on strike.
84. Supreme Court bans collection of capitation fees by professional colleges.
85. The Vajpayee government defeats a no confidence motion by a big margin at the end of a two day marathon debate.
86. The Bombay Stock Exchange, 30 shares sensitive index ( sensex ) breaches the 4000 mark for the first time after March 8th, 2001.
87. The Union Cabinet gives its nod for contributory pension scheme for all central government staff who joined service after October 2002, excluding the defence force.
88. 46 persons killed, 160 injured in bombblasts in South Mumbai.
89. 33 pilgrims die in a stampede during Kumbhmela in Nasik, Maharashtra.
90. The Centre and the States reach a consencus on retaining Article 356 with safeguards to check its misuse at the Interstate Council meet in Srinagar.
91. Bimal Jalan, ( RBI Governor), K. Kasturirangan ( ISRO, Chairman), Hemamalini ( Hindi actress), nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

SEPTEMBER

92. The Iraqi governing council names a 25 member cabinet. The first post Saddam cabinet is sworn in at a ceremony in Baghdad.
93. The 5th Ministerial meeting of the W.T.O. begins in Cancun, Mexico. The meet collapses after stand of over the draft text.
94. Estonia joins the European Union.
95. India and Turkey setup a joint working group on Terrorism.
96. Paul Berenger becomes the first Non-Hindu Prime Minister of Mauritius.
97. G. Madhavan Nair assumes office as Chairman Space Commission and Chairman ISRO.
98. Supreme Court gives its nod for the Tehri Dam Project in Uttaranchal.
99. Y. Venugopal Reddy takes over as the 21st Governor of the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai.
100. The Union Cabinet clears privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai Airports.
101. The Trade mark acts 1999 and the Geographical Indication of Goods Act ( Registration and Protection ) Act come into force.
102. The 17th Law Commission is constituted with justice M. Jagannadha Rao as Chairman.
103. A designated C.B.I. Court awards death penalty to Dara Singh and life term of 12 others for their role in killing of Graham Stuart Staines and his two sons in Orissa's Keonjhar district on January 22nd 1999.
104. Focus on Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas is the key for social and economic transformation of India says the President, A.P.J. Kalam in Kochi.

OCTOBER

105. Alison Richhard takes over as the first women Vice Chancellor of the Cambridge University breaking an 800 year old barrier.
106. John Maxwell Coetzee ( South African Writer ) wins the 2003 Nobel Prize for literature, Alexei, A. Abrikosov, Vitaly. L. Ginzburz ( Russians) and Anthony. J. Legett ( British ) share the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in Quantum Physics concerning Super conductivity and super fluidity. Peter Agre and Roderick Mackinnon ( US) win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Robert F. Engle and Clive W. J. Granger ( U.K. ) share the Noble Prize in Economics for their work on value markets. Shrin Ebadi ( Iranian lawyer and activist ) wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
107. India and Thailand sign a frame work accord for a free trade area.
108. Pope John Paul-II beatifies Mother Teresa at a grandiose ceremony in Saint Peter's square, Vatican City.
109. Abdul Gayoom ( Maldivian President ) wins a sixth five year term in a referendom.
110. The worlds oldest person Kamato Hango of Japan dies.
111. The Union Cabinet gives its nod to amend to statute to Provide quota for Economically Backward Classes.
112. R. A. Mashelkar ( CSIR Chief ) presented the Lalbahadur Shastri National Award for excellence in Public Administration and Management Sciences for 2002.
113. Anupam Kher ( actor ) appointed as CBFC, Chairman.
114. The Central Vigilance Commission Bill takes affect conferring stautory powers on the Commission to Supervise the working of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
115. Liv Ulman is presented the life time achievement award at 37th International Film Festival of India.
116. Yogendra Kumar Modi, is elected FICCI, President.
117. Ratan Tata is chosen Ernst and Young entrepreneur of the year 2003. Verghese Kurien gets the life time achievement award for making the milk cooperative movement a reality.

NOVEMBER

118. Afghanistan unveils a post Taliban draft constitution.
119. Srilankan President, Chandrika Kamaratunga declares a short term emergency.
120. India and Tajikistan sign an extradition treaty.
121. Tamil Nadu Assembly sentences the Editor of Hindu and four others for 15 days simple imprisonment for breach of privilege. Supreme Court stays the arrest and issues notice to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker.
122. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly is dissolved 11 months earlier than the end of the tenure.
123. India and Mauritius sign an extradition treaty.
124. Union Minister Murasoli Maran dies of multiple organ failure.
125. India and Pakistan agree to a formal ceasefire. Guns fall silent along the Line Of Control.

DECEMBER

126. Rosanna David Son of Ireland is declared Miss World 2003.
127. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin's United Russia sweeps the Parliamentary poles.
128. Zimbabwe pulls out of the Commonwealth.
129. Air Indias first ever commercial flight to China arrives in Shanghai.
130. Jean Chretien steps down as Canadian premier and Paul Martin takes over.
131. U.S. troops capture the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussain from his hideout near his home town of Tikrit.
132. India and Pakistan agreed to resume simultaneous air links and over flights from January 1st, 2004.
133. Uma Bharati, Vasundhara Raje, Sheila Dikshit and Raman Singh take office as Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chhatisgarh.
134. Dev Anand is chosen for the Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2002.
135. Lok Sabha passes the POTA amendment bill 2003 providing for safegaurd against misuse.
136. Raj Kumar ( Kannada Thespian ) selected for the N.T. Rama Rao National Film Award 2002.
137. Rajya Sabha passes the Dual Citizenship Bill.
138. Prafulla Roy, Sara Joseph and Vairamuthu are among the 22 selected for the Sahitya Academy Award 2003.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - DEVELOPMENTS 2003

139. Photographs have proved that the universe is only 4% ordinary matter, 23% dark matter and 73% dark energy.
140. Mental illnesses like Schizophrenia, Dipression and Bi-polardisorder have been linked to specific genes.
141. Astronomers have confirmed the connection between Gama-ray bursts and explosion of Massive stars ( Supernovas).
142. Research teams have confirmed that certain hightech materials can bend light and electromagnetic radiations in the wrong direction.
143. The causivtive agent of Severe and Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the corona virus has been identified.

OBITUARY - 2003

144. B.C. Sanyal ( Doyen of Indian Art ) Harivanshrai Bachchan ( Poet ) Adam Osburn ( who produced the first portable computer ), Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah (veteran freedom fighter ), Walter Sisule ( South Africa's anti-apartheid icon), Gregory Peck (Hollywood star ), Katherime Hepburm (four time Oscar winner ), Bhishm Sahni ( author of Tamas ) Idi Amin ( Ugadan President ), Charles Bronson ( Actor ), Edward Teller ( father of the H. Bomb), Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer (Carnatic, Musician).
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