The multi-national and multi-sport event known as the Commonwealth Games has a storied past. Much like the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games are held every four years. Dating back to the late 19th century, the event has undergone several format and name changes and has seen tremendous growth during the past 80 years.

History
In 1891, an every-four-year athletic event was proposed by Rev. Astley Cooper as a goodwill effort for nations within the British Empire. Upon approval, the first event, the Inter-Empire Championships, became part of the coronation of King George V in 1911. Teams from the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa and Australia competed in boxing, wrestling, track and field (athletics) and swimming.
After years of organizing an official Olympic-style event based on the format used in 1911, the first of what would become the Commonwealth Games was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario. After almost 30 years of discussion within member countries. Only 400 athletes from 11 countries competed in six sports. Now more than 5,000 athletes from 53 countries compete in 17 sports.

The Commonwealth Games Federation calls them the Friendly Games, celebrating the spirit of mutual co-operation within nations of the former British Empire.

Core sports
Original sports were boxing, lawn bowls, rowing, swimming, track and field, and wrestling. All but rowing and wrestling remain core.

Other core sports are:

• Badminton (added in 1966)
• Weightlifting (1980)
• Field hockey (1998)
• Netball (1998)
• Rugby sevens (1998)
• Squash (1998)

Each Game can include another seven optional sports, but only four team sports in total.

• Archery (first added in 1982)
• Cycling (1934)
• Gymnastics (1978)
• Shooting (1966)
• Table tennis (2002)
• Weightlifting (1980)
• Wrestling (1930) and tennis for the first time

Event Additions
From 1930 to 1994, the Commonwealth Games included only single-competition sporting events. In 1998, team sports of ice hockey, cricket, netball and rugby 7s were added. Basketball was introduced in 2006. Elite athletes with disabilities began competing in full-medal competition in 2002.

Evolution of the Commonwealth Games
The present-day Commonwealth Games have evolved over the past century, keeping pace with the changing times and global realities. The games today reflect a contemporary fabric of the British Empire's current reality. What started as the British Empire games in 1930 have evolved today into the Commonwealth Games. This is the journey of the Games from then till now.

Table showing the growth of the Commonwealth Games from 1930 to 2010

Legacy of the Commonwealth Games 2010
The much coveted Commonwealth Games’ nineteenth edition in 2010 is scheduled to be held in New Delhi, between 3rd October and 14th October 2010.

Hosting a sporting event at a scale such as the Commonwealth Games is a matter of international prestige for the country, and is bound to provide a significant boost to India's global visibility, viability and the overall "Brand India". India is heralded as the next world economic superpower and the 2010 Commonwealth Games will be another opportunity to project the nation on the world stage. Delhi too, as the host city, will get the chance to exhibit a new image for itself – that of a world class city with international standards.

The Games will help to boost urban renewal, create jobs, increase investment and transform the landscape of the city.

However, the games have mired with some controversies, amid of the same, India Post's Philately Bureau has issued two commemorative stamps on the Talkatora Stadium and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to mark the coming event to India.

Logo of the 19th Commonwealth Games
The logo is inspired by the Chakra, India's national symbol of freedom, unity and power. Spiraling upwards, it depicts India's growth into a proud, vibrant nation, its billion people coming together to fulfill their true destinies.

It symbolizes India’s journey from the tradition to the contemporary and its economic transformation into a super power.

Reaching out to the world and leading the way, India enthusiastically embraces all 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth to become one, along with our Official mascot, Shera, the Royal Bengal Tiger wearing a white sporting jersey and blue shorts.

As the true representative of India, Shera embodies values that the nation is proud of: majesty, courage, power and grace and is also a reminder of the fragile environment he lives in.

Shera is the most visible face of the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, its key icon, and exhorts all citizens of India – young and old – to ‘Come Out and Play,’ to participate proactively in making the Games a huge success.

The logo tagline ”Come Out and Play” is an invitation to every person across all divides – Indian and Commonwealth - to let go of themselves and participate in the Games to the best of their abilities, in the true spirit of the Games.

The city is all geared up to pull the curtains to the Commonwealth Games with a grand opening ceremony sure to leave memories to cherish.

Source :
http://www.thecommonwealthgames.org/delhi-2010/cwg-delhi-2010/about-delhi-2010/legacy-of-the-commonwealth-games-2010
http://www.thecommonwealthgames.org/delhi-2010/cwg-delhi-2010/about-delhi-2010/logo-of-the-19th-commonwealth-games
http://ezinearticles.com/?Common-Wealth-Games-2010&id=3426602
http://www.ehow.com/about_5427853_overview-commonwealth-games.html
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5184754_commonwealth-games.html
http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/dcwg/index.php?q=node/687
http://www.thecgf.com/games/growth.asp
http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/dcwg/index.php?q=node/687
http://www.thecommonwealthgames.org/delhi-2010/cwg-delhi-2010/about-delhi-2010/shera-the-2010-games-mascot
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-Post-puts-its-stamp-on-CW-Games/Article1-585934.aspx

Raksha Bandhan Recipes

Raksha Bandhan is the bond of protection - an inseparable bond of love and trust between brothers and sisters.

Like all other festivals in India, recipes and sweet dishes also make an integral part of the celebrations of Rakhi festival. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in different parts of India by various names and in myriad ways also, so the ingredients and preparations of Recipes vary from region to region.

In this section, we have included some of the most common assortments of Rakhi Recipes in India.

MALPUA

Ingredients

Sugar Syrup:

For Garnishing

Method Boil sugar and water in a saucepan. Cook it for 8-10 minutes for thick formation of the syrup Mix sifted flour, sugar, water for smooth batter and keep it for 30 minutes. Heat oil in a flat bottomed pan. Pour the mixture in the pan and fry it till golden brown color. Shift the pancake into the sugar syrup. Garnish the Mal Pua with cardamom, rosewater and fresh cream and serve it hot.

Source:
http://www.surfindia.com/recipes/malpua.html

GHEVAR

It is a sweet specialty from Jaipur. It is a round cake made from daal or flour mix soaked in ghee and milk and topped with sliced almonds.

Ingredients

Method Make sugar syrup. Take a large bowl and rub the solidified Ghee with ice cubes into it, till the color of the mix turns white. Add milk, flour and one cup water into a mix for making the batter. Add the food color in water into the batter and after that mix the essence into it. You can add some water to make the batter free flowing. Fill a cylindrical container with ghee and heat it. Pour about 50 ml of batter into the container, after the settlement of the froth add another glassful of batter into the batter. When the froth settles down, take out the Ghevar and put it on a wire mesh to drain the oil. Take a large and flat container to hold the ghevar. After few minutes take out the ghevar and put it on mesh again. Let it cool down for few minutes and spray a few drops of saffron milk, chopped dry fruit and the cardamom powder.

Source:
http://www.surfindia.com/recipes/ghevar.html

PISTA SANDESH

Ingredients

Method Make a mixture of sugar and paneer. Place the mixture over the heat and stir it continuously. After the mixture gets solidi, sprinkle the rose water on it. Divide the mix into various parts and flatten them in required size and shapes. Soak those pieces into the cardamom and pista separately and serve the Sandesh cold.

Source:
http://www.surfindia.com/recipes/pistasandesh.html

Ganesh Chaturthi Recipes

BESAN KE LADDOO

Ingredients

Method Sieve the besan through a fine sieve and set aside. Coarsely grind cashewnuts and almonds and set aside. Melt ghee in a kadai. Add besan and cook on low heat till the besan is fragrant and well done. This normally takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. Add cardamom powder, cashewnuts and almonds. Stir and take it off the beat. Let it cool for a while. Add the powdered sugar and mix well. You may use your hands to mix this. Shape into walnut sized round laddoos and store in an airtight container when completely cooled.

Source:
http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe.aspx?RecipeId=965&Header=Searched%20Recipe&MenuId=0

MOONG DAL HALWA RECIIPE

Ingredients:

Method
Wash and soak the moong dal for 6 hours. Grind coarsely using little water. Set aside. Prepare one string sugar syrup by using 1 cup sugar and 1 1/2 cups of water. Keep aside. Soak saffron in hot milk, crumble mawa (khoya) into fine granules. Blanch almonds in boiling water for 5 minutes. Cool and peel them, slice them. Set aside. Heat ghee in a thick bottomed pan, add the ground moong dal paste. Keep stirring over a low flame till the dal turns brown. Add sugar syrup and saffron milk, stir well till they are thoroughly incorporated and the halwa is dropping consistency. Add mawa and cook till it dissolves. Garnish with sliced almonds. Serve hot.

Source:
http://www.awesomecuisine.com/recipes/1276/1/Moong-Dal-Halwa/Page1.html

3D TVs are All the Rage

3D seems to be the buzzword in the TV segment

All major TV manufactures are busy strutting their latest TV creations with one common theme, 3D! Let's have a look at what has been unveiled so far.

Panasonic 103" FHD Plasma Display

Panasonic has launched a 103" FHD Plasma display, today. This edition of 103" PDP (103PF12) is based on Neo-PDP technology that achieves twice the luminous efficiency in comparison to other models. Neo PDP enhances the brightness and contrast while improving moving picture performance.

This plasma variant has the ability to be upgraded at any given point of time and comes with Triple function slots, which allow terminal boards to be swapped according to the video source. The display also comes with features like portrait zoom, external control inputs like RS 232 and LAN Port and flexible set up of the display panel and has a dynamic contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1.

The Panasonic’s FHD Plasma Display TH – 103 PF12 comes with a service life of 1,00,000 hours and is available, in white and black varieties.

LG Launched Full LED 3DTVs in India

LG Electronics has unveiled LX9500, a full LED 3D TV.

The LX9500 uses a backlight structure to deliver a high-resolution picture. The device is illuminated by LED panels directly behind the screens. The TruMotion 400Hz LED panel has a 400 refresh rate per second — good enough to accelerate the advent of ultra high-speed images without sacrificing picture quality. The LX9500’s 3D technology comes with a 10,000,000:1 dynamic ratio.

The experience in entertainment includes LX9500’s regular programming and content in high-definition 2D, and also has localized spot control for picture quality. In addition, the Wireless AV Link provides the TV connectivity to other AV devices, while NetCast delivers instant streaming via a broadband connection.

The device has a depth of 22.3mm, and a 16mm bezel.

Samsung Launched the World’s Slimmest HD 3D LED TV

Samsung Electronics today launched the world’s slimmest Full HD 3D LED TV- Series 9000 in the Indian market.

The Samsung 9000 has a 7.98 mm form with a built-in tuner and a touch remote control with display ‘Touch Control’. Its stainless-steel bezel and back cover have a built in tuner, speakers being embedded in the stand, translucent neck, and an auto-sliding touchpad. The 9000 series also comes equipped with four HDMI ports, including a USB port to play various multi-media files directly from the flash drive or USB HDD.

The 9000 series comes with a touch-screen remote control with three-inch, color display, an earphone jack and Twin View, which lets you watch TV or Blu-ray DVD titles simultaneously. Other than this Twin View option, the remote has a ‘one click play’ feature which means if you play the DVD connected to the TV, the TV turns on automatically. The remote includes AllShare and a QWERTY keyboard, and at 2.4 Ghz, its integrated Wi-Fi and infrared technology controls the TV, STB and AV devices with on-screen buttons.

The 9000 series TV comes with built-in 3D processors’ auto-conversion technology that has the ability to automatically convert 2D content into 3D. When not watching programming in 3D, content plays in HD.

Source :
http://www.lakesparadise.com/mygadgets/category/lcd-led-tv/
http://www.techtree.com/India/News/CES_2010_3D_TVs_are_All_the_Rage/551-108549-893.html

2010 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R

Ever since Suzuki introduced the Hayabusa, it’s had only one competitor: Itself. That’s why the latest Hayabusa is so impressive – compared to the original.

Building on an impeccable pedigree, the Hayabusa features a number of major developments to cement its place at the forefront of sportsbike styling, engineering and performance.
Effortlessly delivering broad, muscular torque, the new Hayabusa is powered by a 1,340cc, DOHC, liquid-cooled, four-cylinder, 16-valve engine, offering 11% greater performance and smoother running than its predecessor.

Suzuki’s Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) fuel injection system, with dual injectors per cylinder, improves power delivery for a more linear response, better fuel economy and reduced emissions.

Idle Speed Control (ISC) improves cold starts and maintains a stable idle, while the Suzuki Pulsed-secondary AIR-injection (PAIR) system and large-volume catalyser reduce emissions. The new Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) delivers a choice of three different engine power characteristic settings to suit riding conditions and preferences.

A new 4-2-1-2 exhaust system includes dual, large-volume, tapered mufflers for increased banking angle, cornering clearance, enhanced power and reduced noise.

The slick-shifting six-speed transmission works in conjunction with the innovative Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) back-torque-limiting clutch to deliver smooth and controlled downshifts. Featuring fully-adjustable spring preload, compression and rebound damping on the front suspension and link-type rear shock absorber, the Hayabusa’s inverted cartridge forks use Diamond-Like Coating (DLC) surface treatment to reduce static friction and improve rider feel. New, race-proven, aluminum piston, radial-mount front brake calipers combined with smaller 310mm dual-floating-discs reduces unsprung weight and improves handling.

The original Hayabusa was the best. With today’s Hayabusa, you’re looking at better than the best.

• Redesigned instrument cluster now features four analog meters for speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and water temperature with a new S-DMS mode indicator, gear position indicator and adjustable engine rpm indicator.
• 1340cc engine, DOHC liquid-cooled engine with 16-valves, Twin Swirl Combustion Chambers provides 11% higher performance and smoother operation.
• Suzuki SDTV fuel injection system with dual injectors per cylinder and ram air intake with large volume airbox.
• S-DMS (Suzuki Drive Mode Selector) allows the rider to choose from three different engine settings depending on riding conditions or rider preferences.
• Lightweight titanium intake and exhaust valves with narrow 14 degree valve angle for high combustion chamber efficiency.
• Lightweight aluminum alloy pistons feature a revised shape and a higher compression ratio of 12.5:1 for maximum performance in all conditions.
• SCEM (Suzuki Composite Electro-chemical Material) plated cylinders minimize cylinder size and improve heat dissipation and new hydraulic cam chain tensioner for reduced mechanical noise.
• Ventilation holes at the cylinder skirt for reduced pumping losses and increased performance.
• High efficiency curved radiator now features dual electric fans controlled by the ECM for increased cooling capacity. Oil cooler now has 10 rows cores for increased heat dissipation.
• Large volume 4-2-1-2 exhaust system with a large capacity catalyzer, dual triangular canisters and closed loop system that meets Euro 3 and Tier 2 regulations.
• Shot-peened chrome-moly steel connecting rods for maximum durability Ion plating treatment utilizing PVD (physical vapor deposit) method is applied to piston rings providing a smoother surface treatment for increased durability, reduced friction loss and reduced oil consumption.
• Slick shifting 6 speed transmission working in conjunction with an innovative back torque limiting clutch for smooth and controlled downshifts.
• Aggressive aerodynamic fairing design with low drag coefficient retains it’s signature Hayabusa look and features an updated, muscular look to work with the new more powerful engine and updated chassis.
• Fully adjustable inverted front fork featuring DLC coated inner tubes for minimal friction resistance and outstanding suspension performance over a variety of riding conditions.
• Fully adjustable rear shock absorber with a 43mm piston and 14mm rod diameter.
• Lightweight and rigid twin-spar aluminum frame minimizes weight while maintaining high torsional strength.
• Radial-mount front brake calipers for maximum braking performance and allows for smaller 310mm front brake rotors resulting in reduced unsprung weight and improved handling.
• Lightweight single piston rear brake caliper working in conjunction with a new larger 260mm rear brake disc.
• Newly designed wheels mounted with high performance Bridgestone BT-015 tyres for unmatched handling and control.
• Passenger seat and rear subframe are lowered for improved passenger comfort.
• Fuel tank height is lowered to allow riders helmet to tuck in and windscreen height is increased for improved wind protection and optimum aerodynamic efficiency with the rider in place.
• LED taillight utilizes a double lens structure with a clear inner lens and a red outer lens for maximum visibility and a high quality finish.
• Newly designed vertically stacked twin headlights provide increased light intensity, improved light distribution and match the elegant flow of the new Hayabusa styling.

Source:
http://www.suzuki-bikes.com/2010-suzuki-hayabusa-gsx1300r/

Safety Tips For Passionate Tourers

Riding a bike is a fun, exciting and practical way to get around. It is also a risky activity. Always remember one thing: Touring is for Joy not for Records. When ever you go for Records, it always includes some kind of risks. These risks can be minimized/ avoided if you care to follow a few safety norms. Here are a few points that just may save you some trouble down the road. Follow these guidelines and drive safely while you are on long tour.

Get in gear: A helmet, eye protection, boots and gloves best protect you against injury in case of an accident. Be sure to wear them every time you ride.

Get insured: Make sure you and your bike are both properly licensed before you head out. Get insured so that you and your passengers are adequately protected. Also make sure you are aware of the current road conditions.

Ride smartly: Use your headlight, avoid other drivers’ “blind spots,” don’t make rapid lane changes and be prepared to use your horn so you can be certain other drivers see you.

Ride defensively: Three-fourths of all two-wheeler accidents involve collisions with automobiles. They happen because the driver of the car did not see the two-wheeler. That is why it pays to be aware of what the other vehicle operators are doing: or might do: when you ride. Be extra aware of drivers waiting to turn left across your path at intersections since this is the most frequent problem in India.

Keep your distance: Don’t ever stop directly behind another vehicle. If you leave enough space, you’ll be able to maneuver around the vehicle in front of you in case an approaching vehicle doesn’t see you and can’t stop in time.

Don’t drink and ride: About half of fatal two-wheeler accidents involve alcohol. That is because alcohol and other drugs impair your ability to make sound judgments. So when you’re drinking, let someone else do the driving.

Have your bike checked regularly: Follow the recommended service schedules for your bike and have all repairs made by an authorized dealer because they are having good service station equipped with good tools and better workers. What’s more, always check your bike’s tyres, suspensions and controls before hitting the road.

Learn to share: Having someone on the back of your bike is a big responsibility. After all, weight has a tremendous effect on handling. So before you give someone a ride, instruct them on proper riding techniques on various kinds of roads and make sure they have appropriate protective gear.

Helmet: A helmet protects your head, and is the only thing that keeps you from a fatal head injury. It is supposed to break on impact. Only a good quality helmet should be bought. The jaw covered is the safest. Also it provides protection from drag force caused by wind.

Brakes: Remember to check your brakes every time you take your bike for a drive. Also remember to do this when you collect it from the garage. In the rainy season water goes into the shoes and brakes may not work: Drive slow. This may also happen at steep slopes -don’t speed up at the slopes. In the case of disk brakes, always check the oil leakage before starting your journey. If you find anything wrong, please go to the authorized service station because a single small air drop can make your disk brake ineffective.

Air pressure: Always remember to check the pressure in the tyres periodically. It is especially important to keep the correct tyre pressure when going on a long drive. This helps you to travel safely on rough terrain. There is also less wear ‘n’ tear for both the tyres and the bike, and it gives more fuel efficiency.

Carrying loads: Unlike a four-wheeler that has ample space for any luggage you might want to transport from one place to another, your bike is not equipped for any such function. If the load is too heavy, imbalance is always a possibility. However, small loads can be carried with caution. Proper positioning and fastening of the load is a must. The load should not be kept behind the rear wheel to avoid affecting the centre of gravity and balancing of the vehicle.

Choosing Eye Protection: The use of a helmet is the best mode to keep particulate matter (like dust and dirt), rain, insects and debris away from your eyes, besides providing safety to your head and face, in case of an accident.

Brake properly: To start with the basics, a two-wheeler has two brakes; both are needed to stop effectively. However, in an emergency, or even otherwise, you should apply both the brakes simultaneously, not one at a time. If you apply the front brake first, it will assist you in slowing down, and immediately, the rear one can be applied.

Brake gently and with caution when you need to take a turn while braking. Use both the brakes.

Position yourself: Balancing is an art that has to be mastered while driving a motorbike. Proper positioning is one of the related points that come to mind while on the subject. To make motorbike riding safe, it is advisable that the handgrips are held firmly so that you do not lose control if you happen to skid or have to stretch while driving. Try not to sit at a distance from the handle as it will impede quick reaction when you need to veer away in the opposite direction, or make other directional changes. An erect body while driving helps in better driving.

Tool Box: Before starting your journey, get through knowledge about tool box and also keep basic medicals with you while touring.

Consciousness: Always drive with conscious mind. Keep observing on road and off road happenings. Stop when ever you find appropriate place to refresh. Also keep a check on fuel indicator, engine trouble indicator (if available), and Battery voltage indicator (if available).

Source:
http://bikeadvice.in/twenty-safety-tips-passionate-tourers/

Five Quick Tips When Starting Yoga

Yoga is a fantastic gift, and special because it is one that you give to yourself. So take your time, learn well and enjoy your wonderful self gift to the max.

Here are five tips that will help you to make your start on this wonderful, gentle yet powerful, lifelong exercise regime for mind and body.

1. Be happy and smile. You are about to make a significant investment in your future wellbeing. You may be a bit uncertain at first, that's quite natural. But the point of yoga is to instill peace, quiet and control to aid your happiness. So, throw away that frown and smile because you are already on your way.
2. Dress appropriately. Loose clothing such as shorts and T shirt or a track suit are great. Shoes are left off for yoga exercise. The clothes you select should allow you full freedom of movement.
3. You only need one piece of equipment, a decent yoga mat. It should be long enough for you to lie on and a bit wider than your shoulders. They are not expensive, so if you find you need something different after a while it's no big deal.
4. Leave an hour or so after a full meal before undertaking yoga exercises. Your digestion will preoccupy your body to allow you to concentrate fully. After you have completed your yoga session reward yourself with a light snack.
5. Plan your week so that you can fit in your yoga practice into regular time slots. Making a time commitment makes it more likely that you will stick with it in those important early days. That you will take your new activity seriously, and so derive the greatest benefit.

An extra tip for you. Take your yoga studies at an easy pace. Do not be tempted to strain your body to reach too far. If an exercise hurts, then you are probably trying a bit too hard. Do a few more repetitions of a simpler move first, then try the more difficult one again.

You can study yoga with a teacher through classes or, if you are time constrained, then you can opt for self study. If you can sign up for yoga classes then that's a great way to develop your skill. You will receive help with getting to understand more about yoga, and have the fun of shared experiences with your class mates.

Source:
http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Five-Quick-Tips-When-Starting-Yoga/1080268

Eco- Friendly Idols for Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is an important festival on the Hindu calendar which is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. As per Hindu mythology Ganesha is considered to be the 'Vigana Harta' (remover of obstacles) for his many devotees. The festival starts with the installation of beautifully sculpted Ganesha idols in homes and mandaps. These idols are decorated beautifully and show religious themes.

These celebrations stretch across 10 days, throughout these days of Ganesh Chaturthi, the idol is worshipped with simple recitations of the devotional songs, offering of flowers and lamps, along with the sweets. On the 11th day, the procession ceremony of the immersion of the idol in a water body is performed to see-off the lord and praying him to take away all misfortunes and come again next year.

But, did you know that the paints used to beautify our beloved Lord Ganesha are highly poisonous? In fact, about 180-200 grams of paint is used for an idol weighing about 2 kgs. Of this, four to eight per cent is lead, which is a slow poison.

Even Ganesha’s made of plaster of paris are not advisable, as it clogs lakes and acts as a pollutant.

This year, before you select an idol for your home, take a moment to think about the harmful effect the paint can have on the surroundings. Clay Ganesha is the way to go.

The advantages of purchasing small, clay Ganesha’s is that, it is a win-win for all. There is less work for artisans, it takes lesser time to dissolve in water and it does not harm the environment.

Wish you all a Very Happy Eco Friendly Ganesh Chaturthi

Source:
http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_this-ganesha-chaturthi-go-green-with-clay-idols_1281704
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/ganesh-chaturti/
http://www.surfindia.com/festivals/ganesh-chaturathi.html

Company Highlight: Bharat PetroResources Ltd.

Established: 2006

Headquarters: Mumbai

Blocks:

• India:
1. Krishna-Godavari Basin: 3 deepwater blocks
2. Cauvery Basin: 3 onland blocks
3. Rajasthan Basin: 2 onland blocks
4. Mahanadi basin: 1 onland block
• Brazil: 10 deepwater blocks
• UK: 2 offshore blocks in the North Sea
• Australia: 2 offshore blocks

Other Foreign Assets:

• Indonesia: 1 offshore block
• Mozambique: 1 offshore block
• East Timor: 1 offshore block

The dismantling of the administered price mechanism in 2003 permitted state owned refining companies to expand their operations into upstream activities. Bharat Petroleum was one of the first companies to take advantage of the change, establishing Bharat PetroResources (BPRL) in October, 2006. The firm aims to ultimately source 20-25 percent of Bharat Petroleum’s crude oil demand, which is expected to reach 40 million metric tonnes by 2015. In addition to providing the mother company with an element of supply security, the exploration and production wing acts as a hedge against volatile oil prices and represents a major step towards forming a vertically integrated oil company.

BPRL has been involved in Indian exploration and production projects since its creation in 2006 but its most notable projects are now located overseas. 17 of the company’s 26 blocks are outside of India and of the firm’s total 81,000 square kilometres of acreage, 73,000 square kilometres are offshore. A strong focus is Brazil, where BPRL acquired Encana’s minority stake in ten deepwater blocks in the country’s promising major pre-salt fields. In partnership with renowned operators including Petrobras and Anadarko, BPRL drilled 5 wells in 2009 and plans to drill a further 12 in 2010 of which 8 are to be in deep water. So far the exploration initiative has unearthed two significant finds, an oil find in Brazil Campos basin and a gas find in the Mozambique offshore block. The latter a 555 feet net gas payzone and has been rated as the number 1 hydrocarbon discovery in Q1 2010 by IHS Energy.

At present BPRL is an active non-operator in the blocks where it holds participating interest, and is working to add value to the operator’s activities. It is progressing dynamically, working towards high grading its portfolio, and expediting the monetization process of its discovered assets. It has significantly augmented its inhouse expertise over the past couple of years, acquiring state of art hardware and software, and strengthed its skilled manpower base. Also, today, BPRL is a Joint Operator in an onland block in India. Using this experience as a learning process, BPRL has aspirations to become an operator in 2013-2014. Following the firm’s recent rapid expansion in acreage, BPRL plans to consolidate its current activities and focus on developing/monetizing its existing assets. Over the past few years, BPRL has been very successful in establishing strong relations with operating partners, and is today a preferred partner for many established operators. This often enables BPRL to be the ‘first company of recall’ when an Operator or JV partner is looking for a partner to farmout part of an asset.

Hence, BPRL has successfully been able to leverage preferential relationship to gain access to new opportunities.

D. Rajkumar, Managing Director – BPRL :

QUOTE: "The greatest danger is not that you aim too high and do not achieve your goals but that you aim too low and achieve them without stretching yourself. At BPRL we have set high targets in terms of future crude production and we intend to reach them. We hope to generate our own revenue streams by 2013-14 and proceed with new initiatives. As a young exploration and production company we are fortunate to have a strong downstream company who can support us and believes wholeheartedly in this venture. We have, over the years built up our strengths, and focused on value in our assets. This has rewarded us with 2 world class finds. Our core teams of G&G are also functioning effectively and consistently adding value to Operators’ suggestions.

So, though BPRL is in a business where inputs are deterministic, and outputs are probabilistic, it has, through application of its learnings, and effective business skills, enabled a significant reduction in the ‘probabilistic’ component in many of the output areas of its business, thereby bringing value to BPRL’s stakeholders"