NATIONAL APRIL 2016
- CJI asks PM to increase judge strength
Chief Justice of India (CJI) T S Thakur broke down at a meeting in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24th April, speaking emotionally at the government’s “inaction” in increasing the number of judges from the present 21,000 to 40,000 to handle the “avalanche” of litigation
“Nothing has moved” since 1987 when the Law Commission had recommended increase in the number of judges from then 10 judges per 10 lakh people to 50, he said.
The CJI said following the Law Commission's recommendation, the Supreme Court in 2002 had also supported increasing the strength of the judiciary. A Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committee on Law then headed by Pranab Mukherjee had also recommended taking the judge to people ratio to 50 from 10.
As of now, the judge to people ratio stands at 15 judges to 1 million people which is way less than as compared to the US, Australia, the UK and Canada.
Justice Thakur said from a munsif to a Supreme Court judge, the average disposal in India is 2,600 cases per annum as compared to 81 cases per annum in the United States. - India revokes Mallya’s passport
India on 24th April revoked the passport of Vijay Mallya, whose Kingfisher Airlines has been accused of defaulting bank loans of over Rs. 9,400 crore, in a step closer to initiating his deportation. The revocation came even as the ministry was exploring legal option regarding deportation of Mallya, who has ignored three summons by the Enforcement Directorate which is looking into charges of alleged money laundering and other financial irregularities.
The Ministry had suspended Mallya’s diplomatic passport on April 15 and issued a show cause notice to him asking him why his passport should not be revoked.
According to sources, once MEA decides to seek the deportation of Mallya, who is believed to be in the UK after leaving India on March 2, the Ministry will ask for its British counterpart’s assistance in the matter.
ED has approached the MEA seeking initiation of deportation proceedings against liquor baron Mallya charged with money laundering in the Rs. 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case. Mallya can approach the British authorities to grant him permission to continue his stay in that country. He can also move Indian courts challenging the revocation of his passport. - Lok Sabha passes Regional Centre for Biotechnology bill
The Lok Sabha on 25th April passed the Regional Centre for Biotechnology bill 2016 to provide statutory status to the existing Regional Centre for Biotechnology, training and education, Faridabad.
The bill also declares it as institution importance. Replying to the debate, the Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan said the institution will produce skilled human resource tailored to drive innovation in biotechnology, particularly in the areas of new opportunities and also fill talent gap in deficient areas.
The Minister said modern biotechnology has been recognized globally as a rapidly advancing science wherein molecular techniques and processes are employed to develop health care solution for human and animals, for agriculture and environment technologies. - Court sets free all eight accused in Malegaon blast case
A Special Mumbai Court on 25th April discharged all 8 accused of 2006 Malegaon blast case. The nine men were arrested in 2006 by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for the Malegaon blasts that killed 37 and injured over 100. In November 2011, they were granted bail. One died during trial.
Later, CBI, which took over the investigations, also confirmed the charges against them. Subsequently, NIA was asked to probe the case and the agency arrested another set of people, who continue to be accused in the case.
Sessions Judge V V Patil while hearing discharge applications said that he was accepting the discharge application filed by the 8 accused as there was no evidence to prove their guilt. - Ethics panel to recommend Mallya's expulsion, gives him one week to explain position
The Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha has decided to recommend expulsion of MP Vijay Mallya who is accused of alleged bank loan default and money laundering. However, the committee has given him one week to explain his position.
The Committee Chairperson Dr. Karan Singh said the panel went through all the details of bank records and other documents and unanimously held the view that he should be expelled from the Upper House. He said the final decision will be taken in the next meeting of the committee on 3rd of May. Mallya represents Karnataka in the House as an Independent MP. The government has already revoked the passport of the liquor baron to ensure his return to the country. - Changes in Cabinet in Telangana
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on 25th April made changes in the portfolios of Ministers as he demoted T Srinivasa Yadav to a less important portfolio. Stripped T Srinivasa Yadav of Commercial Taxes portfolio and department has been taken over by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao himself
He effected a few changes in the portfolios of Ministers after they were approved by Governor E S L Narasimhan. The Governor gave his assent to the changes proposed by the Chief Minister in the portfolios of Ministers which were submitted last week.
Srinivasa Yadav has been made Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries. He would retain Cinematography portfolio.
K T Rama Rao has been given portfolios of Industries, Mining and NRI Affairs in addition to Information Technology and Municipal Administration.
The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development portfolios have been transferred to Minister J Krishna Rao. The Industries Department with Krishna Rao has been transferred to KTR and the Rural Water Supply to the Chief Minister. The Mining Department with Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao has been given to KTR as part of the changes.
However, the Chief Minister has taken over the Rural Water Supply Department, which is the nodal agency to implement Mission Bhagiratha project. The project is being taken up at a cost of Rs 35,000 crore and is the flagship programme of the government. This project would be directly monitored by the Chief Minister as he was keen on completing it in the next two years. - Shyam Benegal panel submits report on Censor Board functioning
The Shyam Benegal committee has recommended that Central Board of Film Certification should only be a film certification body whose scope should be restricted to categorizing the suitability of the film to audience groups on the basis of age and maturity. In its report submitted to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley the committee said, the board can refuse certification when a film contains contravenes the provisions of Cinematograph Act.
It said, certification can also be refused, when content in a film crosses the ceiling laid down in the highest category of certification. It said, the applicant must specify the category of certification being sought and the target audience.
Reacting to the Benegal Committee report, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that things will become simpler now and there will also be a second part of the recommendations.
The panel was set up on January, 2016 to take a relook at the functioning of the board. The committee was asked to take note of the best practices in other parts of the world, especially where the film industry is given sufficient and adequate space for creative and aesthetic expression.
The panel also includes actor-filmmaker Kamal Hassan, filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, adman Piyush Pandey and film journalist Bhawana Somayaa, among others. - Par panel suggests fine, jail for celebrities of misleading ads
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended holding celebrities accountable for misleading advertisements and stringent provisions including jail term up to five years and penalty up to Rs 50 lakh. The committee's report on the Consumer Protection Bill 2015 was tabled in Parliament on 26th April.
It has suggested legal teeth to Advertising Standards Council Of India to curb misleading ads besides proposing severe penalties, jail and cancellation of license of those involved in food adulteration.
The committee headed by TDP MP J C Divakar Reddy also advocated empowering Department of Consumer Affairs to make laws to regulate e-commerce, direct selling and multi-level marketing where consumer complaints are on the rise.
The government introduced the Consumer Protection Bill 2015 in the Lok Sabha in August last year to repeal the 30-year old Consumer Protection Act. The panel's report will be studied before final passage of the bill. - Naxals have close links with groups in Philippines, Turkey: Govt
Government on 26th April said the Naxals have close links with Maoist organisations in the Philippines and Turkey and get support from several organisations in Europe. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said, the CPI(Maoist) has close links with foreign Maoist organizations.
He said that the outfit is a member of the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia. The Minister also said, Left Wing Extremist groups have also participated in conferences and seminars conducted in Belgium and Germany.
The Minister informed that so-called 'People's War' being waged by the CPI(Maoist) against the Indian state has also drawn support from several Maoist fringe organisations located in Germany, France, Turkey and Italy. He said, the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking appropriate action as required. - President's rule to continue in Uttarakhand, no floor test on April 29: SC
The Supreme Court has directed to continue the President's rule in Uttarakhand for the while. Hearing on the Centre's plea, the apex court pm 27th April extended the stay on Nainital High Court's order quashing the central rule in the Hill state.
The latest directive implies there will be no floor test on April 29 in the Uttarakhand Assembly. The matter has now been posted for further hearing on May 3rd.
The two- judge division bench also posed seven questions to the Centre asking it to justify imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand. It asked if proceedings in the Assembly can be considered by the President for imposing Central rule.
The court also sought answer to the question as to when the President's role comes in picture with regard to Appropriation bill. It asked, whether a delay in the floor test can be a ground for proclamation of President rule.
Observing that the Speaker is the master of the Assembly, the court asked the Centre whether disqualification of MLAs by the Speaker is relevant for the purposes of invoking President's rule under Article 356.
The Centre had introduced President's Rule in Uttarakhand on 27th March, one day before Chief Minister Harish Rawat was to take a trust vote in the assembly. - NITI AAYOG signs MoU with the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise
NITI AAYOG signs MoU with the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise to tap on Signapore's expertise in Urban Rejuvenation.
The year long Programme would comprise of a series of highly interactive workshops and advisory sessions and focus on Singapore’s and international best practices in areas of Urban Planning and Governance, Water and Wastewater Management, Solid Waste Management and bringing in private sector efficiencies in urban infrastructure and also identify key challenges faced by implementing agencies in these areas.
Urban Management experts from Singapore from Surbana Jurong, CH2M and Pricewaterhouse Coopers would conduct the workshops.
Towards the end of the Programme, advisory sessions would be held to develop Strategic Base line Frameworks to address the key challenges in identified areas of Urban Management. - IC² Institute, AP govt sign MoU for incubation programme
A model business incubation centre in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, has got a shot in the arm with the IC² Institute’s Global Commercialization Group (GCG) signing an MoU on 27th April with AP and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to start a multi-year programme.
A GCG manager will reside in Tirupati for the first 17 months of the programme. During this initial programme period, GCG will train innovators and entrepreneurs, select start-ups for admission to the Tirupati incubator, and provide international business development services to incubating companies.
The GCG will collaborate with the FICCI to recruit programme participants from across India to support Indian start-ups interested in domestic markets.
The AP Information Technology, Electronics, and Communications Department is sponsoring the Centre.
It sees the programme as a model for AP — a State with a goal of an entrepreneur in every family, and the establishment of 100 new incubation facilities.
GCG has carried out a number of programmes in India, including the ongoing DST-Lockheed Martin India Innovation Growth Programme. It utilises the experience and methodologies of IC² Institute to facilitate the growth and development of innovative technology-based businesses in a variety of regions worldwide, a press release from the US Consulate General stated.
IC² Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, the US, has researched the theory and practice of entrepreneurial wealth creation and has been instrumental in Austin’s growth as an innovation and technology centre and in the development of knowledge-based economies in over 30 countries. - Cabinet nod for BPCL’s Oman investment
The Union Cabinet on 27th April approved an increase in investment by Bharat Petroleum Corporation in its Oman arm, Bharat Oman Refineries to a maximum of Rs 3,000 crore.
The investment amount could be enhanced up to a maximum of Rs. 3,000 crore by way of subscription of convertible warrants/other instruments giving right to convert it into equity shares to be issued by BORL , according to the government.
Besides it will enhance the availability of petroleum products in the Northern and Central parts of the country, industrial development of Madhya Pradesh and substantial increase in employment and tax earnings in the state.
The Cabinet also approved the use of 400 hectares of un-cultivable farm land in Rajasthan for the setting up of a solar power plant of capacity exceeding 200 MW. - Supreme Court approves holding of MBBS, BDS entrance through NEET
Supreme Court on 28th April cleared the decks for holding National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), a single common entrance test, for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17.
The apex court approved the schedule put before it by the Centre, CBSE and the Medical Medical Council of India (MCI) for treating All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) fixed for May 1 as NEET-1.
A bench comprising Justices A R Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and A K Goel said that those who have not applied for AIPMT will be given opportunity to appear in NEET-II, which will be held on July 24. The bench said, the combined result will be declared on August 17 and admission process will be completed by September 30.
The order would imply that all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges will be covered under the NEET. Those examinations which have already taken place or slated to be conducted separately stands scrapped. The apex court rejected objections raised by States such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
The court also rejected objections raised by Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges and minority institutions like CMC Vellore which had contended that NEET cannot be imposed on them.
The apex court order also revives the Government's Decemeber 21, 2010 notification for holding single common entrance test through NEET with a clarification that any challenge on the issue would directly come before it and no High Court can interfere in it. - Parliament passes Constitution (SCs) Order Amendment Bill 2106
Parliament has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016 with Rajya Sabha approving it on 28th April. The Lok Sabha had passed it in the last session. The Bill seeks to give effect to proposals of Chhattisgardh, Haryana, Kerala, Odisha and West Bengal to modify the list of Scheduled Castes. The proposal relates to the inclusion of certain communities, modification and removal of area restriction in respect of certain communities and exclusion of certain communities in the case of State of Odisha. - 25 declassified files on Netaji released
Scholars, researchers on Netaji will now be able to better understand the circumstances of his disappearance and death. After demands from Netaji 's family and the general public , Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma released the third set of files on the INA Chief .
These 25 files procured from the PMO, the Home Ministry and Foreign Ministry have been uploaded online on www.netajipapers.gov.in
The Minister also said that as per the Prime Minister vision , a memorial will be built in the memory of Netaji and it would also contain artefacts from the mysterious Gumnami Baba.
India is trying to procure files from several foreign countries including Russia, Japan and Britain.
UK has promised 62 files and Japan says that it is ready to share 2 out of 5 files on Netaji. Russia has denied possessing any file on Netaji Bose.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released the first set containing 100 files on 23rd January this year on the 119th Birth Aniversary of Netaji Bose in the presence of his family members.
The second set containing 50 files was made public by the Minister for Culture on 29th last month . The documents pertaining to the 2 Commissions Khosla and Mukherjee Commission are already in the public domain. - Swachh Bharat Mission loses its momentum: Parliamentary Panel
A Parliamentary Panel has observed that the Swachh Bharat Mission has lost its momentum though drive had begun with great enthusiasm.
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture in its report on demands for grants of Tourism Ministry for 2016-17 tabled in Parliament on 29th April said the general public did not give up their habit of littering in public places and throwing garbage here and there at tourist places. The Committee recommended creation of awareness and imposition of mild penalties on offenders to make the drive a success.
On campaign for encouraging domestic tourists, the Committee said that the ministry has not made any concrete plan for the activities undertaken on the overseas promotion. The Committee felt that India has vast potential of domestic tourist market which should be given top priority. - Madhya Pradesh High Court terms reservation in promotions in the State as unconstitutional
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on 30th April termed reservation in promotions in the state as unconstitutional. The division bench chaired by Chief Justice A M Khanwilkar stated in its order that the reservation to underprivileged during appointments is logical but reservation in promotions frustrate talented people.
The court said that giving priority to reserved categories over general classes in promotions is not justice. Several employee associations and social organisations had filed petitions against reservation in promotions in the court.
Petitioners had challenged the rules of the state government which provided reservation in promotion for Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes. Petitioners urged that these rules are against provisions of the constitution. All the reservation based promotions after 2002 will be cancelled after the court’s judgement. - National Mission for Clean Ganga in collaboration with IIT Kanpur
National Mission for Clean Ganga in collaboration with IIT Kanpur on 17th April announced the formal launch of Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies, CGRBMS in New Delhi.
The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation signed a 10 year Memorandum of Agreement with IIT, Kanpur for provision of continual scientific support in the implementation and dynamic evolution of the Ganga River Basin Management Plan.
According to the Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, Government is trying to make a framework where opinions from all the people across the globe who are interested in the rivers should be invited.
She said, her Ministry is focusing on cleaning the Ganga by setting up Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants. Ms Bharti said, issues can be solved by procuring the technologies around the world, but the most important thing is to ensure continuous flow in the rivers. She said, efforts need to be done by each and every one which includes government authorities, academicians, researchers etc.
According to the Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar the government has decided to implement Sewage Treatment Plants using a specific Public Private Partnership framework called hybrid annuity model.
He said, the government shall be technology agnostic and neutral but it doesn’t have the capacity to evaluate the technologies. He said, the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management must take this up as one of its task.
In his address, IIT Kanpur Proffesor Dr. Vinod Tare said, the Centre will act as a think-tank to the government as well as knowledge hub to coordinate all activities within the Ganga river basin and these activities will include science, technology, research, innovation, social, economics, finance and investment related aspects. He said that centre will collaborate with many national and international bodies. - Mumbai court issues non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya in money laundering case
A special court on 18th April issued a non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya in a money laundering case involving alleged defrauding of IDBI Bank of 950 crore rupees. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai also rejected the application moved by now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines challenging the claim by Enforcement Directorate (ED) that 430 crore rupees was siphoned off from the 950 crore and used to acquire properties abroad.
The arrest warrant comes within days of suspension of Mallya's diplomatic passport. The ED had sought the warrant against Mallya in connection with the loan fraud case. Vijay Mallya, who is in UK, has skipped three summons issued by the ED. He had also sought time till May to depose before the officials. - Kohinoor given to East India by Punjab rulers: Govt tells Supreme Court
Government on 18th April told the Supreme Court that Kohinoor diamond was neither forcibly taken nor stolen by British rulers but given to the East India Company by the rulers of Punjab.
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur that it was given by the successors of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to East India Company in 1849 as compensation for helping them in the Sikh wars.
The apex court then asked whether the government was willing to stake a claim to the Kohinoor, one of the most valuable diamonds in the world.
The Solicitor General told the apex court that the demand to get back Kohinoor have been raised time and again in Parliament. The bench, asked the Solicitor General to file a detailed reply within six weeks. The apex court had asked the government to clarify its stand on a PIL seeking return of Kohinoor diamond to the country. - Beti Bachao Beti Padho Scheme extended to 61 more districts with low child sex ratio
Government has extended the Beti Bachao Beti Padho Scheme in additional 61 districts across 11 States and Union Territories with low Child Sex Ratio. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year from Haryana in 100 districts of the country to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio.
According to the Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, out of hundred, 49 districts are doing extremely well. She said, the child sex ratio of the other districts remain stable.
The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme is designed to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio and related issues of disempowerment of women through a life cycle continuum.
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi emphasised on the need for compulsory registration of pregnant women by village panchayats to curb female foeticide. She said, for the monitoring of pregnancy cases, the Sarpanch of the village will be the Nodal person and district collectors have been asked to display the data of sex ratio in every village. - NTPC-Simhadri, forest dept ink pact to save Olive Ridley Turtles
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Simhadri has joined hands with Andhra Pradesh Forest department for conservation of Olive Ridley sea turtles along the AP coast. The initiative is part of its corporate social responsibility and sustainable development initiative.
NTPC-Simhadri and the Forest department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for conservation and protection of Olive Ridley turtles.
The NTPC is contributing 4.6 crore for the five-year conservation project, including inventory mapping of breeding sites of sea turtles, identification of nesting and breeding habitats along the shoreline and migratory routes taken by sea turtles, development of guidelines to safeguard and minimise turtle mortality, development of local and national cooperative and collaborative action for sea turtle conservation.
The AP beaches are important nesting places for the sea turtles. Sporadic nesting occurs on these beaches. Of the three species recorded in the state Olive Ridley is common and Green Turtle occurs occasionally and Hawksbill is also sighted.
The conservation project envisages involvement of local communities, NGOs, the forest department and other stakeholders in the protection and conservation of IN-Situ and Ex-Situ of nests thus providing livelihood, construction and repairing of hatcheries, awareness campaigns and knowledge sharing in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore. - President decision is subject to judicial review: Uttarakhand High Court
The Uttarakhand High Court on 20th April said that the legitimacy of President's decision to suspend the state assembly is subject to judicial review as even he can go wrong.
A bench of Chief Justice K M Joseph and Justice V K Bist made the observation when the Centre argued that the President took the decision to impose Article 356 of the Constitution in his political wisdom.
The bench was hearing arguments on the petition filed by the ousted Chief Minister Harish Rawat and related pleas challenging imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand.
The High Court also questioned whether the allegation that former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was hitting out at the nine Congress rebel MLAs would constitute material for imposing Article 356.
The court, during the hearing, also noted that the Governor in his reports to the President never mentioned that 35 MLAs sought division of votes on the passage of the Appropriation Bill in the state assembly.
While noting that the Governor has to be personally satisfied, the court said that there was absolute absence of material that would create an apprehension in the mind of the Governor that, President's rule needs to be imposed.
The Centre had imposed President's Rule in Uttarakhand on March 27, a day before Chief Minister Harish Rawat was to prove his majority in the state assembly. - President's rule back in Uttarakhand after Supreme Court stays High Court order
The Supreme Court on 22nd April stayed till April 27 the judgement of the Uttarakhand High Court quashing the imposition of President's rule. The High Court judgement will be kept in abeyance till the next date of hearing. With this the Central rule is restored in Uttarakhand.
Before passing a brief order this afternoon, a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh recorded an undertaking given by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the Centre shall not revoke the Presidential proclamation till the next date of hearing.
The apex court clarified that it was keeping in abeyance the judgement of the High Court till the next date of hearing on April 27 as a measure of balance for both the parties as the copy of the verdict was not made available to the parties. The Supreme Court's stay has the effect of undoing the revival of the Congress government led by Harish Rawat by the High Court judgement 21st April.
The apex court issued notice to Harish Rawat and Chief Secretary of the state on the petition by Centre challenging the quashing of Presidential proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution in the state.
The apex court order came after the Centre today moved the Court against the Uttarakhand High Court verdict quashing President's rule in the state. - Cabinet approves signing of Paris agreement on Climate Change
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing the Paris Agreement on climate change adopted at the 21st Conference of Parties held in Paris in December last year. The decision was taken at a meeting of Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The Paris Agreement on climate change is a milestone in global climate cooperation. It acknowledges the development imperatives of developing countries and also recognizes the developing countries' right to development and their efforts to harmonize development with environment. Under the agreement, the developed country parties have been urged to scale up their level of financial support with a complete road map to achieve the goal of jointly providing 100 billion dollars by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation. - Govt decides Chandigarh to host International Yoga day
Govt has decided Chandigarh to host the International yoga day. The first International Day of Yoga was observed world over by millions on June 21, 2015. Last year PM Modi led about 35,000 people, including a large number of dignitaries from 84 countries, who performed 21 yoga Asanas for 35 minutes at Rajpath in New Delhi. 18 major yoga schools of country are participating in the mega event. - India ranked low in Press Freedom Index
India ranks an abysmally low at 133 among 180 countries in the latest annual World Press Freedom Index. The 2016 ‘World Press Freedom Index’ released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is led by Finland, which retained its top spot for the sixth consecutive year, followed by the Netherlands and Norway. India jumped three spots from the 136th position it had in 2015.
Among India’s neighbouring countries, Pakistan ranks 147, Sri Lanka (141), Afghanistan (120), Bangladesh (144), Nepal (105) and Bhutan (94). China is ranked 176. The United States is ranked 44th and Russia is placed at the 148th place.
The report shows that there has been a deep and disturbing decline in respect for media freedom at both the global and regional levels. - Vijay Mallya found guilty in fraud case
A Hyderabad court on 20th April convicted industrialist Vijay Mallya in a cheque-bouncing case filed against him by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. The court, however, did not pronounce the quantum of punishment as Mallya, who left the country last month, was not present in the court. The quantum of punishment is expected to be pronounced on May 5 by the court.
Meanwhile, on 21st April is the deadline by the Supreme Court for the liquor baron to disclose the total assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad. Mallya is facing legal proceedings for alleged default of loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore from various banks. - Tata Trusts signs pact with Odisha for Malaria elimination
Tata Trusts has signed a pact with the Odisha government to achieve elimination of Malaria from the state by 2030.
As per the MoU, Tata Trusts will be taking mass screenings twice a year in 557 villages in five selected blocks including Bissamcuttack and Muniguda blocks of Rayagada district, Lanjigarh, Thuamulrampur blocks of Kalahandi district and Kotgarh block of Kandhamal district in southern Odisha.
The Centre has committed to eliminate malaria from the country by 2030. If the partnership between Odisha government and Trusts can demonstrate reduction in mortality in Odisha, it will bring down overall prevalence of malaria and incidence in the country.
Therefore, the vision of the partnership is to reduce malaria deaths by 50 per cent in five years and incidence by 40 per cent. - Centre notifies rules for amended SC/ST Act
Four months after Parliament amended the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 to tighten provisions to ensure speedier justice to SCs and STs, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry notified the Rules to give effect to the changes on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14.
The 1989 Act was amended by Parliament on December 21, 2015, after the Rajya Sabha gave assent . Earlier, in August 2015, the Lok Sabha had cleared it.
The object of the amended provisions is to speed up the process of dispensation of justice, liberalise and expedite access to relief for victims of atrocities, ensuring special sensitivity in cases of offences against women.
These amendments were the subject of one of the last ordinances promulgated in 2014 during the Congress-led UPA government’s tenure.
The new provisions now provide for an increase in the existing quantum of relief from between Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 7, 50,000 to Rs. 85,000 to Rs. 8, 25,000, depending on the nature of the offence.
It also provides for admissible relief to SC/ST women for offences of grievous nature, on conclusion of trial, even though they may not have ended in conviction.
The changes in the law also make provision for regular reviews of the scheme for the rights and entitlements of victims and witnesses in accessing justice at the State, district and sub-division level committees in their meetings.
Other important provisions include completing investigation and filing a charge sheet within 60 days and provision of admissible relief in cash or kind or both within seven days to victims, their family members and dependents. For the first time, there is provision of relief for rape and gang rape.
No medical examination will be necessary to seek relief for non-invasive offences against women such as sexual harassment, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of women. - Hyderabad is the third noisiest metro in India
Hyderabad is the third noisiest metro in India after Mumbai and Lucknow as per a report by the Central Pollution Control Board.
The CPCB gathered data from 35 noise monitoring systems installed by it in nine metro cities for the period 2011-14. The findings were published in its report, Status of ambient noise levels in India.
As analysed by the CPCB, in the four years, Hyderabad had the third highest cases of noise levels going beyond the prescribed standards at its noise monitoring systems. During the same period Bengaluru and Kolkata had the least number of violations.
The noise monitoring systems in Hyderabad are at two commercial zones of Abids and Punjagutta, the Jeedimetla industrial zone, the silence zone at the zoo and the Jubilee Hills residential zone. The noise at Abids, Punjagutta and the zoo reached industrial levels. At all these places, the noise levels exceeded the prescribed limits of the CPCB in every reading. This is the fallout of government departments like the Pollution Control Board, traffic police and transport, not acting to curb noise pollution in the city. - Over 100 killed in temple fire in Kollam
Around 107 people were killed and scores injured when an unauthorised fireworks show at a temple in Kerala set off blasts and a blaze early on 10th April, in yet another accident blamed on safety norms violations at places of worship in India
The tragedy at Puttingal Devi temple in Kollam district's Paravur, 70 KM south of capital Thiruvananthpauram, occurred around 3:10am when more than 10,000 people were present. The incident happened during a display of fireworks for which there was no permission from the authorities.
Thousands of people had gathered at the temple to witness the display of fireworks which was underway since midnight when the blaze erupted. The mishap occurred as sparks of the fireworks fell on the store room and the fire crackers kept there exploded with a deafening noise.
The state govt has ordered a judicial enquiry on the Kollam temple tragedy and it will submit report within 6 months. Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has assured all medical facilities for the injured.
The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs. 2 lakhs each from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the fire in Kollam and 50,000 rupees will be provided to those injured in the fire. The state govt has announced Rs 10 lakh to kin of those killed in accident, free treatment to all injured.
Puttingal Temple was in the coastal town of Paravur, the temple was founded after the presence of the goddess was experienced on an ant hill; "Puttu" being the Malayalam word for ant Hill.
The festival of this temple is on the "Bharani" star of Malayalam month Meenam. Fireworks (Matsara Kambam) and other events associated with the festival (Aswathi vilakku, Kathakali, Kampadikali, Marameduppu) take place along with other cultural events. Various poojas are performed and offerings are made daily for the fulfillment of desires and redressal of various grievances of devotees.
"Thottampattu", the most important offering in this temple, starts on the 21st day of Vrischikam (a Malayalam month falling in between mid November and mid December) and lasts till the principal festival of the Goddess. - Gender justice endangered by ban on women in Sabarimala: Supreme Court
Supreme Court on 11th April said gender justice is endangered by ban on entry of women of menstrual age group in the historic Sabarimala temple in Kerala.
The Apex court said women cannot be denied entry into the temple as long as the Constitution permits it. The court was hearing a PIL, filed by Indian Young Lawyers' Association (IYLA), seeking entry of women in the Sabarimala temple. The court will resume hearing on the plea on April 20.
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which runs the historic temple, does not allow girls after attaining puberty to enter the premises. However, women who have crossed menopause are allowed.
The bench said it would examine the question as to whether a public religious place can pass such an order. The bench had also taken note of Kerala government's recent stand and termed it as a somersault. Kerala government, in its recent affidavit, had said the prohibition of women was a matter of religion and it was duty-bound to protect the right to practice the religion of these devotees. - TRS wins in Siddipet municipality
The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) continued its winning spree by capturing Siddipet municipality on 11th April. TRS secured 16 wards out of 28 wards, for which elections were held as against total seats of 34. TRS candidates were elected in six wards unanimously taking its total majority of 22 wards in Siddipet municipality.
Independents captured 7 wards, while Congress and BJP secured two wards each and MIM won in one ward. TRS has strength of 22 seats against required 18 seats to capture the municipal chairman post. Independent candidates, who won the election are likely to extend their support to the ruling TRS. - Centre to provide mid-day meals during summer holidays
The Centre has approved providing mid-day meals during summer holidays for students from Class I to VIII in 231 drought-affected mandals in seven districts. Mid-day meals will be provided on all working days. This will not be applicable in Hyderabad, Adilabad and Khammam districts. The Centre has provided 36.62 crore for the purpose. The scheme will benefit about 11 lakh students.
The Centre has sent a circular to the state government to make the scheme available from April 23 to June 11 in the absence of head masters and other teaching staff. The circular directed the state government to depute cooking agencies under the supervision of the panchayat secretaries, local officials and anganwadi workers during this period.
It said the menu would be flexible. The district level implementation committee under the chairmanship of collectors would have the liberty to fix the menu for the district or for various parts for different days of the week.
The only criteria to be satisfied shall be to supply 450 calories and 12 grams of protein content for primary school students, a minimum of 675 calories and 18 grams of protein content for upper primary and high school students. Invariably they have to provide egg or banana twice a week to all children. - India Meteorological Department forecasts above-normal monsoon this year
In a major relief to farmers across India, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on 12th April predicted country would receive good rainfall this year. According to the department, the southwest monsoon rainfall will be above normal in 2016.
This year the rainfall will be six percent more than normal which was 14 percent deficient last year. India's agriculture is mainly dependent on monsoons. The information from IMD has come as a harbinger of hope for farmers in several states that are facing severe drought and acute shortage of water. Several states in India are currently under the grip of intense heatwave. The soaring temperatures have claimed over 100 lives in southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Temperatures have risen unusually in the first week of April with several parts of the country (Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, eastern Rajasthan, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal) recording deviations of more than 5 degrees Celsius.
Authorities have ordered closure of schools in several parts and advised people to avoid exposure to the sun during the afternoon.
Weather officials attribute the early onset of heat to after-effects of the weather phenomenon El Nino (an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes) that caused poor monsoon last year.
Two successive poor monsoons have triggered drought like situation in the western state of Maharashtra's Marathwada region, causing scarcity of drinking water and failure of crops. Officials say dams in the region are left with just five percent of water ahead of the summer season.
Last year, 3228 farmers in Maharashtra committed suicide, the highest since 2001, according to information provided by a minister in Indian parliament recently.
Authorities brought half a million liters of drinking water to the worst affected Latur in Maharashtra using special train. - Bombay HC directs BCCI to shift IPL matches out of Maharashtra after April 30
The Bombay High Court has ruled that drought hit Maharashtra will not host any IPL matches that are scheduled after 30th of April.
A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and M S Karnik today directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India- BCCI to shift all the 13 matches scheduled across Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur after 30th of April.
The Court observed that even though shifting IPL matches won’t solve the problem; but if water is diverted to drought hit areas, it can offer some respite. The bench added that shifting of IPL matches to another state can mark a beginning towards addressing drought situation in Maharashtra.
Earlier on 13th April, the Board of Control for Cricket in India- BCCI informed the court that it was not feasible to shift IPL matches out of Maharashtra. BCCI said the two franchises Mumbai and Pune are willing to contribute Rs 5 crore towards CM’s drought relief fund.
It also said that cricket associations in the state will ensure 60 lakh litres of treated sewage water is supplied free of cost to any region selected by the government.
The court has instructed Maharashtra Government to monitor that the water promised by BCCI is supplied to affected areas. The Court also rapped the government for its lax attitude towards the issue and for passing the buck to municipal corporations. Stating that the Court can't close its eyes from the plight of millions, the bench proposed to monitor the state water policy. - Maharashtra passes law against social boycott
The Maharashtra legislature on 13th April unanimously passed the Prohibition of Social Boycott Bill to end the menace of extra-judicial institutions like caste and community panchayats. The Bill, an initiative of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, makes Maharashtra a leader among the states in the country to adopt a comprehensive law to root out oppression carried out in the name of age old traditions, caste and religion.
Fadnavis said, “The Act was required in the backdrop of prevailing atrocities inflicted on people in the name of tradition, caste and community which cannot be allowed in Maharashtra. Social boycott will be dealt with an iron hand in my government.
The atrocities inflicted by a handful of people in the name of ‘jaati panchayats’ or groups citing caste and community traditions will not be tolerated if it questions the dignity of a human being.”
The Act terms social boycott as a crime and says anybody indulging in it would face stern action. While asserting that existing laws were not adequate to tackle social boycott, Fadnavis said, “The comprehensive new legislation defining terms of stringent punishment, including imprisonment and penalty against those indulging in social boycott, would help us to effectively tackle the menace
Citing the reasons why a separate law was needed in the state, he said, “It came to our notice there were 42 cases of social boycott in the district of Raigad alone, which was alarming.” The draft bill framed a year ago was approved by the Cabinet on March 1, 2016. The Bill disallows social boycott of any individual or groups by caste panchayats or groups of individuals. Social boycott for reasons like inter-caste marriage, rituals of worship or any connection to lifestyle, dress or vocation will invite stringent punishment, according to the Bill. It prohibits social boycott and says that it shall be an offence, inviting imprisonment upto seven years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh or both.
The victim or any member of the victim’s family can file a complaint either to police or directly to the magistrate. To ensure time-bound results, it indicated speedy trial within six months of filing chargesheet. To ensure monitoring, social boycott prohibition officers will be recruited to detect offences and assist the magistrate and police officers in tackling cases. - Hamid Ansari gives approval to CBI to prosecute JD(U) MP in LTC Scam
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has given his approval to the Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI to prosecute JD(U) MP Anil Sahani against whom the agency had filed a charge sheet for alleged cheating and corruption in LTC Scam. The Bihar MP is reportedly the first from the Elders' House who will be prosecuted by CBI after sanction in this regard was given by the Chairman.
The agency had filed a charge sheet against Sahani alleging that he, in conspiracy with other persons, used forged e-tickets and fake boarding passes to defraud Rajya Sabha to the tune of 23.71 lakh rupees as travel and dearness allowance reimbursement without undertaking the actual journey.
Besides Sahani, others named in the CBI charge sheet were Anup Singh Panwar, an employee of Delhi-based Air Cruise Travels Private Limited, N S Nair, then Office Superintendent (Traffic), Air India and one Arvind Tiwari.
JD(U) leader K C Tyagi has said party will summon its MP Anil Sahani and ask him to clear his stand. Talking to a news channel, Mr Tyagi said, the party is in constant touch with the Vice President's Office. He expressed concern over the development and said inquiry is being made into the charges. - Vijay Mallya's passport suspended
Diplomatic passport of industrialist Vijay Mallya has been suspended by the External Affairs Ministry. This has been done on the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, ED. Mr Mallya's passport has been suspended for a period of four weeks, under Section 10 (A) of the Passports Act.
According to the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup, Mr Mallya has been asked to respond within one week as to why his passport should not be impounded or revoked. Mr Swarup said, if Mr Mallya fails to respond within the stipulated time, it will be assumed that he has no response to offer and the MEA will go ahead with the revocation.
Earlier, the ED sought revocation of Vijay Mallya's passport in connection with money laundering probe in the Rs 900 crore IDBI bank loan fraud case. The ED had said Mr Mallya turned out to be un-cooperative with investigators probing the money laundering case against him.
Mr Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines has defaulted on loans of over Rs 9,400 crores. The liquor baron has been defying Enforcement Directorate summons. - Panagarh airbase renamed after former IAF chief Arjan Singh
In a rare honour to the nation’s oldest soldier, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, the Panagarh Air Force Base in West Bengal was on 15th April named after him. Air Officer Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal C. Harikumar unveiled the rechristening plaque at a ceremony held at the Panagarh Air Base today. He announced that the crucial Air Force Base in the eastern theatre will now be called Air Force Station Arjan Singh.
Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, who turned 97 on 14th April, had led the Indian Air Force in the 1965 India-Pakistan war. Chief of Air Staff Arup Raha had announced the renaming of the Air Force Station at a function in New Delhi to mark the birthday of the Marshal Arjan Singh. Military installations are not usually named after individuals, especially when they are alive. - Delhi: Chewable Tobacco products banned
Sale and purchase of all forms of chewable tobacco banned in Delhi; Manufacturing, storage and distribution also banned; One-year ban comes into effect on gutka, paan masala or any other product, containing chewable tobacco.
The Delhi government has banned for one year the sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco, including "guktha, pan masala, khaini and zarda", in the national capital. The Department of Food Safety on 13th April issued a notification in this regard.
According to the notification, un-packaged products of chewable tobacco, too, are covered under the ambit of the ban.
Health department officials said a notification was issued by Delhi government in September, 2012, in pursuance of a series of directions from Supreme Court for a ban on 'gutkha' in the city. But since the term 'gutkha' was used in that notification, tobacco retailers started selling the components of 'gutkha' in separate pouches, thus defeating the purpose behind the ban on gutkha. The health department had, therefore, come up with a new proposal for banning all raw chewable tobacco products in Delhi. - Govt releases new rules for management of hazardous wastes
The government has released new rules for management of hazardous wastes. The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 included a separate category of items like tyre, metal scrap, paper and certain electronic goods that can be recycled and reused.
Import of metal scrap, paper waste and various categories of electrical and electronic equipments for re-use purpose has been exempted from the need of obtaining Environment Ministry's permission.
As per rules, basic necessity of infrastructure to safeguard the health and environment from waste processing industry has been prescribed as Standard Operating Procedure.
It has to be complied by the stakeholders and ensured by State Pollution Control Board while granting such authorisation. Releasing the new rules, Prakash Javadekar said in New Delhi that they are environment and industry friendly and in line with this Government's priority for ease of doing business and Make in India, but with responsible concerns for sustainable development. - NIA officer Mohammed Tanzil Ahmed shot dead
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer, who had handled several cases related to the Indian Mujahideen (IM) including the arrest and probe against its India chief Yasin Bhatkal, was shot dead past midnight 2nd April by unidentified men at Sahaspur in Bijnor district of western UP. Police said his body bore 22 bullet injuries.
The officer, Mohammad Tanzeel Ahmed (49), was returning from a family wedding along with his wife and two children when the attack took place.
An Assistant Commandant with the BSF on deputation to the NIA, Ahmed had proceeded on leave on April 1 after completing his job as the liaison officer for the five-member Pakistan Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that was in Delhi to probe the Pathankot attack
Shortly before 1 am, two men on a motorcycle stopped Ahmed’s Wagon R car near the Sahaspur police post and opened fire. His wife too sustained serious injuries. She was shot four times. His teenaged son and daughter were on the rear seats. - HRD Minister releases 'India Rankings 2016'
Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on 4th April released the 'India Rankings 2016' for various private and government institutions and gave away awards to the top institutions. The ranking evaluates higher educational institutions in Engineering, Management, Universities & Pharmacy categories.
Smriti Irani also said that objectives of rankings are to sensitise educational institutes, empower students and parents, data processing and verification process.
The top three institutions in Management are IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmdabad and IIM Calcuta. The top three institutions in Engineering are IIT Madras, IIT Mumbai and IIT kharagpur.
IISC, Bengaluru ranked 1st, ICT Mumbai ranked second and JNU reserves the third spot under university ranking. - Rungtas get four year jail term in first coal case verdict
In the first conviction and sentencing in the multi-crore coal blocks allocation scam, a special court on 4th April sent Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL) Directors R C Rungta and R S Rungta to jail for four years.
Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also imposed a total fine of five lakh rupees each on both of them who were convicted on March 28 for offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy.
The judge slapped a fine of 25 lakh rupees on the company, JIPL which was also held guilty along with the Rungtas, who were taken into custody after being convicted by the court. In its 15-page order on sentence the court said, it is on account of such kind of unscrupulous businessmen and industrialists that despite 69 years of independence, our country is still lagging behind than most of the countries in the world in industrial development.
Besides this, 19 other cases investigated by the CBI are pending before the court, which was set up to exclusively deal with all coal scam matters. - PM Modi launches Stand up India scheme in Noida
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5th April launched Stand up India scheme in Noida. The scheme aims at promoting entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women by facilitating loans in the range of 10 lakhs to one crore rupees.
According to Modi, stand up India will help in creating 2.5 lakh entrepreneurs as every bank branch will provide two such loans without collateral for setting up a new enterprise. He said, the scheme will transform the lives of people from dalit and tribal communities.
The Prime Minister also unveiled a web portal for the Stand up India initiative to enable online registration and support services. The scheme creates a corpus of 5 thousand crore rupees for credit guarantee through National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited.
Handholding support for borrowers with comprehensive support for pre loan training needs, facilitating loan etc are also part of the scheme. RuPay Debit Card for drawal of working capital will be given to the aspiring entrepreneurs.
The whole process would be led by SIDBI with involvement of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and various sector specific institutions. On the occasion Prime Minister also distributed 5100 E-Rickshaws under the Mudra Yojna. In addition the recipients are also covered under social security schemes.
The customers will be able to book E Rickshaws through Ola mobile apps and make online payment via Freecharge under the Digital India initiative. Charging and service station will also be set up, which will help the growth of emergence of small and micro enterprises along with creating many opportunities for entrepreneurs. - Supreme Court slams BCCI for not checking how hefty sums are being spent
The Supreme Court on 5th April came down heavily on the Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI, saying the members have created a mutually beneficial society and have done nothing to encourage the game.
Hearing BCCI's affidavit on the implementation of the Lodha Committee's recommendations, the bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur slammed the cricket board over allocation of funds to state associations. Noting that funds have been distributed without any rationale, the court observed that 11 of the 29 states have been allocated practically zero funds.
The top court also slammed the BCCI for opposing to implement the recommendations suggested by Justice RM Lodha's panel, saying that they are not trying to change the rules of the game, but only attempting to make it better.
The Lodha committee was set up by the Supreme Court to clean up cricket administration in the country after a corruption scandal hit the Indian Premier League in 2013. It had recommended a one-state-one-vote policy, legalising of betting and age-limit for BCCI office-bearers among others. Supreme Court has now adjourned the case to 8th April. - Centre forms panel to suggest ways to strengthen security along the border with Pakistan
The Centre has set up a high-level committee to suggest ways to strengthen the security along the border with Pakistan and address the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border fencing. The committee will be headed by former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta.
The mandate of the Committee is to study all types of gaps in fencing and all other vulnerabilities in the International Border on Indo-Pakistan Border.
It will suggest comprehensive approach to fix the gaps in fencing and other vulnerabilities on interim and permanent basis. The Committee has been asked to submit its report in three months. The government's move comes three months after terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed had breached the Indo-Pak border in Punjab and attacked the Pathankot airbase killing seven security personnel. - First semi-high speed train Gatiman Express flagged off for Agra from Delhi
India’s First Semi-High Speed Train Gatimaan Express has reached Agra on time in 100 minutes. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off the much-awaited train from Nizamuddin Railway station this morning. The Nizamuddin-Agra Gatiman Express runs at a speed of 160 kilometer per hour and cover the 200 km distance in one hours and 40 minute. - Nadda launches new logo for Family Planning awareness campaign
Union Health Minister J P Nadda on 5th April launched the new revamped logo for Family Planning awareness campaign along with communication plan. Inaugurating a National Summit on Family Planing in New Delhi, Mr Nadda pointed out that a comprehensive strategy has been worked out where maternal and child health have been placed at the centre point.
The promotion of family planning is essential for securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities. Family Planning helps reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, because many pregnancies in quick succession put mother and child at risk. - Bihar imposes complete ban on alcohol
Bihar government has taken a decision on 5th April to completely ban on all types of liquor throughout the state. This decision was taken by the state cabinet which was chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Later talking to reporters, Mr. Nitish Kumar said, earlier the government has taken decision to ban country made liquor in the state from 1st April. Now, foreign liquor will also be banned with immediate effect.
He said production, sale and business of all types of liquor have been banned in the state. Mr. Kumar said about 13 lakh litres of liquor have been destroyed so far throughout the state and many persons have been arrested following violation of law in this regard. - Govt approves implementation of NHP
The Cabinet on 6th April approved implementation of National Hydrology Project, NHP and National Water Informatics Centre. It will cost around 3 thousand 6 hundred 80 crore rupees. According to the Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, implementation of NHP will ensure improvement in Data storage, exchange, analysis through National Water Informatics Centre and it will increase lead time in flood forecast from one day to at least three days.
Mr Prasad said, it will also facilitate mapping of flood inundation areas for use by disaster management authorities. It will also help improve Reservoir operations through seasonal yield forecast and drought management. The Cabinet also gave its nod for changes in policy, for liberalisation of administratively allotted spectrum, where market determined prices not available.
The decision will facilitate optimal utilisation of spectrum by introducing new technologies, sharing and trading. The most recent recommended reserve price will be taken as provisional price where auction determined price not available. Based on recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, a sum of 1300 crore rupees is likely to be accrued by this process.
Cabinet also gave its approval to replace the existing policy on crude oil import by Oil PSUs and vest the oil PSUs with the power to evolve their own policies. It will provide a more efficient, flexible and dynamic policy for crude procurement, eventually benefiting the consumers. This measure will increase the operational and commercial flexibility of the oil companies and enable them to adopt the most effective procurement practices for import of crude oil.
Cabinet also cleared raising framework agreement to 3 thousand crore rupees from 900 crore rupees between Exim Bank and Iranian banks for goods and services from India.
The Cabinet also approved Andaman and Nicobar Islands Anatomy Regulation, 2016 for procedures for availability of unclaimed bodies to Medical College. Cabinet also gave ex-post facto approval to MoU signed last month with Sweden on Technical Cooperation in Railway Sector. - 2002-03 Mumbai blasts: Court sentences 10 convicts; 3 get life term
A special POTA court pronounced quantum of punishment for ten convicts in multiple blasts in Mumbai between 2002 and 2003. The verdict came on 6th April. Court awarded life imprisonment to three. Four were awarded 10 years imprisonment. Another three got 2 years' imprisonment each. On March 29, the court had held guilty ten out of the thirteen accused in the case.
Twelve people were killed in a blast that occurred in a suburban train near Mulund station in March 2003. On December 6, 2002, many people were injured in a blast at McDonald's opposite Mumbai Central station, while a person had died in a blast that took place in Vile Parle market on January 27, 2003. - Supreme Court asks Vijay Mallya to deposit substantial amount with Court to prove his bona fides
Consortium of 17 banks, led by State Bank of India has rejected a modified proposal given by beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya and his firms. The Consortium of banks said Vijay Mallya should personally negotiate with them on proposal and a substantial amount should be deposited in the Supreme Court. Kingfisher has sought two weeks time from Supreme Court for a new proposal.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has asked Vijay Mallya to disclose his assets belonging to his wife and children. The Apex Court also asked Mallya to file response by 21st of this month. The court has fixed April 26 as the next date of hearing. - Shani Shingnapur allows women to enter inner sanctum
Yielding to a high voltage campaign by activists, the Shani Shingnapur temple trust in Ahmadnagar district of Maharashtra on 8th April allowed women to enter the inner sanctum, breaking the tradition followed for several years. Significantly, lifting of all gender barriers for access to the core area The agitation for women’s entry gained momentum over the last few months, even as the temple authorities barred men also from entering the inner sanctum. On April 1, the High Court held that it is the women’s fundamental right to go into places of worship and the government is duty-bound to protect it. - Centre gives nod to country’s first Metrino Pod Taxi project for Gurgaon
The Central Government has approved country’s first Metrino Pod project for Gurgaon. Giving this information at Chandigarh Haryana Public Works (Building and Roads) Minister, Rao Narbir Singh said that the state government would not have to pay anything for the project.
The Minister, who was replying to questions of media persons in Gurgaon said that the National Highway Authority of India has also submitted the feasibility report for this Metrino Pod taxi project. The fare of Metrino Pod taxi would be similar to that of the Metro.
The Union Minister for Surface Transport and Highways, Mr Nitin Gadkari has said that work on this project would start by June 1, this year, added Rao Narbir Singh. - 3rd phase of Mission Indradhanush begins
The third phase of Health Ministry's vaccination drive Mission Indradhanush began on 7th April. 216 Districts across several States including Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh will be covered in this phase.
Under the last two phases nearly 39 lakh children have been fully immunised. The Mission Indradhanush, depicting seven colours of the rainbow, aims to cover all those children by 2020 who are either vaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases. The diseases include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B. - Telangana to partner with China for building irrigation projects
The Telangana government will partner with Chinese companies to facilitate irrigation projects in the state, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao announced on 9th April. The chief minister also said that a team of irrigation engineers from the state would visit China soon to study construction of irrigation projects and technologies being used in that country.
KCR's announcement came at a meeting at his camp office with representatives of Gezhouba Group Company Limited, a Chinese firm specialising in engineering and construction.
The meeting was attended by irrigation minister T Harish Rao, chief secretary Rajiv Sharma and senior irrigation department officials. On the second day of meetings with the company representatives, KCR invited Gezhouba to take part in the tender process for Kaleswaram, Tupakulagudem, Seetarama and other irrigation projects in the state. In response, Gezhouba chief representative Huang Wanlin informed the chief minister that his company was ready to invest Rs 10,000 crore in the state.
Further details of the partnership with the firm will be discussed and finalised after the team of engineers from Telangana will visit China. KCR said that the state could gain from the Chinese expertise in construction of major irrigation projects including lift irrigation projects.
In a significant decision, the chief minister instructed Harish Rao and the department officials to start work on project components such as construction of pump houses, laying of pipelines, digging of canals and putting in place infrastructure for lifting of water.
KCR said that these works should begin at the earliest without waiting for the beginning of construction of dams and barrages so that the associated infrastructure could be in place by the time the major construction was completed. - Cabinet nod to ordinance for Uttarakhand expenditure
Union Cabinet has cleared an ordinance to authorize use of funds by state administration beyond 1st of April in centrally-ruled Uttarakhand.
According to the Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, an appropriation ordinance for the state has been recommended for consideration of President so that valid withdrawal of revenue can be done.
On 30th March, the Budget session of Parliament was prorogued to enable the Centre to issue an ordinance for authorising expenditure in Uttarakhand. Both the houses were adjourned on 16th of this month to meet on 25th of April in the second part of the session. The Cabinet also approved re-promulgation of an ordinance to amend Enemy Property Act.
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs had given its nod for prorogation of the Rajya Sabha to enable re-issuing the Ordinance bringing changes in the Enemy Property Act which is pending in the Upper House after being passed by the Lok Sabha.
The Enemy Property Bill seeks to amend a 48-year-old law to guard against claims of succession or transfer of properties left by people, who migrated to Pakistan and China after the wars. - Bombay High Court directs Maharashtra govt to take proactive steps to protect fundamental right of women
The Bombay High Court on 1st April said that entry to places of worship is the fundamental right of a woman and it is the government’s duty to protect this right. The court was hearing a PIL challenging the bar on entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of Shani Shingnapur temple in the Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district.
While the court refused to pass any specific orders regarding the Shani Temple; it did pass a general direction asking the government to take pro-active steps to ensure there is no gender discrimination at places of worship. In a landmark judgement, the Bombay High Court today ruled that women cannot be barred from entering into any temple as it is their fundamental right.
While hearing a PIL challenging the ban on entry of women in temples like Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra; a division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice M S Sonak asked the state government to ensure that there is no gender discrimination at places of worship.
Earlier on 1st April, the state government informed the court that it will fully implement the Maharashtra Hindu Place of Worship (Entry Authorisation) Act, 1956 that prescribes a six-month jail term for any temple authority or person who imposes such restrictions.
Stating that it was completely against gender discrimination, the Maharashtra Government assured the court that it will direct all district authorities to ensure compliance with the Act.
Meanwhile disposing off the petition; the court said that it cannot issue orders into individual or specific cases; but can only pass general directions." - I&B Ministry gives nod for National Film Heritage Mission
Information and broadcasting Secretary has said that the Government has approved the Rs 598 crore National Film Heritage Mission to preserve and promote India’s rich film and cultural heritage
According to I & B Secretary Sunil Arora, a National Museum of Indian Cinema is coming up in Films Division Complex on Pedder Road with several interactive exhibits.
Focusing on ease of doing business, Mr. Arora informed that a Film Facilitation Office has opened in the National Film Development Corporation, NFDC to function as a single window service for film related clearances. The Secretary said an award has been instituted as part of the National Film Awards, to honour the states that are most film friendly. In 2016, Gujarat has been adjudged the most film friendly state, followed by UP and Kerala.
FICCI Frames is the annual conclave of media & entertainment industry attracting policy makers, producers, distributors, media and entertainment industry professionals in large numbers. The theme for 2016 is “Year of the Digital : Change or Perish”.
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