Govt. Appoints V. Anantha Nageswaran as New Chief Economic Advisor
The government appointed V. Anantha Nageswaran as its chief economic advisor (CEA) days before the tabling of the 2021-22 Economic Survey (on January 31) and the presentation of the 2022-23 Union Budget (on February 1).
He replaced Krishnamurthy Subramanian, who returned to academia in December after a three-year tenure as CEA.
Nageswaran, who has worked with UBS, Credit Suisse and Julius Baer, among others, is also a co-founder of a venture capital firm and the think-tank Takshashila Institution. He has authored three books.
First Round of India-UK free Trade Agreement Negotiations Complete
India and the United Kingdom concluded the first round of negotiation, as part of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations.
The negotiations were held virtually for over weeks and saw the coming together of technical experts from both countries for discussions in 32 separate sessions covering 26 policy areas.
It included areas such as trade in goods and services—including financial services and telecommunications, investment, intellectual property, customs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, gender, sustainability, geographical indicators, among others.
Republic Day: 939 Police Personnel Awarded Medals
A total of 939 police personnel were awarded medals, including Police Medal for Gallantry, on the occasion of Republic Day 2022. Police personnel from Jammu and Kashmir were awarded 115 Police Medals for Gallantry, the highest number from any police force this year, followed by CRPF with 30, Chhattisgarh Police with 10, Odisha Police with nine, and Maharashtra Police with seven.
As many as 134 personnel were awarded for their gallant action in Jammu and Kashmir region, 47 personnel for their gallant action in Left Wing Extremist affected areas and one for gallant action in North-East Region. While 88 police personnel were awarded President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, 662 were awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
Tamil Nadu Becomes 26th State to Align with Centre's Telecom RoW Rules
Tamil Nadu became the 26th state to issue Right of Way (RoW) rules for easing telecom infrastructure rollout in the state, in line with the guidelines issued by the Centre in November 2016, as per telecom industry bodies.
Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala and the union territory of Daman and Diu are yet to align their rules with the guidelines issued by the Centre to facilitate expeditious rollout of telecom networks.
Telecom industry body COAI appreciated the notification of the Tamil Nadu Telecom Infrastructure Policy 2022 and said the bye-laws are applicable to all city areas, municipal councils, town municipal councils, town panchayats, etc and include telecom towers and OFC (aerial and underground).
Jan 28, 2022
Kerala: Ordinance to Dilute Lokayukta Powers
Kerala government decided to bring an ordinance for amending the "Kerala Lokayukta Act", so that it would have the powers of rejecting report of anti-corruption body.
State cabinet recommended to the governor to issue ordinance for amending Kerala Lokayukta Act, 1999.
The amendment seeks to give powers to the government for either accepting or rejecting the verdict of Lokayukta, after providing an opportunity of being heard.
According to proposed amendment, Lokayukta would have only the powers of making recommendations or sending reports to the government.
Lokayukta is the Indian Parliamentary Ombudsman. He is executed into power for each of the State Governments in India. It is brought into effect through the Lokayukta Act. A person of reputable background is nominated for the post, which is created to address grievances quickly, against working efficiency and integrity of the government or its administration. Lokayukta cannot be dismissed or transferred by the government, once he is appointed. He can only be removed by passing an impeachment motion by state assembly.
Jagan Govt. Carves Out 13 New Districts in Andhra
The Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government carved out 13 new districts from the existing 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh by delimitation of their boundaries for better administration and development of the areas.
According to a notification, the reorganisation of the districts was done under the Section 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Districts (Formation) Act, 1974. It has called for objections or suggestions in writing on the proposal from the people, who are likely to be affected by this decision, to be submitted to the district collector within 30 days.
The new districts and their headquarters (in brackets) are: Srikakulam (Srikakulam), Vizianagaram (Vizianagaram), Manyam (Parvathipuram), Alluri Sitharama Raju (Paderu), Visakhapatnam (Visakhapatnam), Anakapalli (Anakapalli), Kakinada (Kakinada), Konaseema (Amalapuram), East Godavari (Rajamahendravaram), West Godavari (Bheemavaram), Eluru (Eluru), Krishna (Machilipatnam), NTR (Vijayawada), Guntur (Guntur), Bapatla (Bapatla), Palnadu (Narsaraopeta), Prakasam (Ongole), SPS Nellore (Nellore), Kurnool (Kurnool), Nandyal (Nandyal), Ananthapuram (Ananthapuram), Sri Satyasai (Puttaparthy), YSR Kadapa (Kadapa), Annamayya (Rayachoty), Chittoor (Chittoor) and Sri Balaji (Tirupati).
Parliament Launches Digital Sansad App
The Lok Sabha secretariat launched a new app, Digital Sansad that would make it easier for people to follow proceedings in Parliament, and also their own lawmakers. In addition, it would also help members of parliament access services such as checking personal updates like status of their notices, House bulletins, etc. As MPs are barred from using laptops inside the House, the app comes handy for parliamentary information for MPs during a debate in the House. In future, the MPs can log in for attendance, give questions for the Question Hour or submit notices for debates or adjournment motions.
The Digital Sansad app is available in both android and IOS platform and carries nearly all major content of the interlinked portal of Indian Parliament. A senior official claimed that the Digital Sansad is one of the few apps of a parliament internationally that offer a 360-degree view of legislative activities as well as services for members. It is a brainchild of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla who has sought to make parliamentary proceedings more accessible to people.
Jan 27, 2022
IAF's Fly-past Formations on 73rd Republic Day
India is celebrating its 73rd Republic Day. The Republic Day parade at the Rajpath this year witnessed the "grandest and largest" fly-past ever with the participation of 75 aircraft from the IAF to mark the 'Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav' celebrations.
Vintage as well as current modern aircraft, like Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, Mi-17, Sarang, Apache and Dakota displayed different formations -- including Rahat, Meghna, Eklavya, Trishul, Tiranga, Vijay and Amrit -- at the fly-past.
For the first time, viewers had the feel of a cockpit while watching the flypast on Republic Day on their TVs, smart phones or laptops.
Mesmerising footage from cameras fitted onboard aircraft that took part in the fly-past gave a glimpse of what the pilots saw from their cockpit. This was a whole new experience for the viewers and a welcome change from the past.
RPN Singh Quits Congress, joins BJP Ahead of UP Assembly Elections
Just weeks ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Congress leader RPN Singh quit the party and joined the BJP, in a setback to the grand old party, which is already battling for its existence in the state.
Singh, who was named as a star campaigner by the Congress for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, posted his resignation to party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Singh was also the Congress in charge for Jharkhand, where the party is in power along with the JMM.
Avinash Pande Made Jharkhand Congress Head
The Congress appointed veteran leader Avinash Pande the AICC general secretary in-charge of Jharkhand. Pande was AICC general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan when former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot led a rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in 2020.
Jan 26, 2022
India, Israel Launch Commemorative Logo to Mark 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties
India and Israel launched a commemorative logo to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The logo features the Star of David and the Ashoka Chakra- the two symbols that adorn the national flags of both countries- and forms the numeral 30 depicting the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations. This special logo symbolises the strong friendship, love and admiration that exists between the people of Israel and the people of India. It also depicts the growing strategic partnership between the two sides.
The logo was unveiled virtually at an online event in the presence of Ambassador of Israel to India Naor Gilonand and Ambassador of India to Israel Sanjeev Singla.
Budget Session Part I: Different Timings for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will meet at separate times of a day for five hours each to ensure Covid distancing norms during the Budget Session beginning January 31.
Lok Sabha will meet at 11 am on February 1 for the presentation of the Union Budget and it will meet from 4 pm to 9 pm from February 2 to February 11, when the first part of the session concludes.
During sittings of the Lower House of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers and their galleries will be used for sitting of members in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The second part of the session will be from March 14 to April 8. But the timings of sittings are not yet clear for the Part II of the session.
Chanchal Kumar is New MD of NHIDCL
Chanchal Kumar was appointed as the Managing Director, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH). He is appointed in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary. He is a 1992 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also approved the extension in the central deputation tenure of Ashutosh Jindal, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat for 1 year beyond February 16, 2022 to February 16, 2023.
Under-bridge in Gujarat's Rajkot Named after General Bipin Rawat
The Gujarat government named an under-bridge in Rajkot after General Bipin Rawat to honour the country's first Chief of Defence Staff who died in a chopper crash in December.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the under-bridge located in Laxmi Nagar area virtually.
Earlier, Rajkot Mayor Pradeep Dav had asked the CM to suggest a name for the structure, which was built at a cost of Rs. 48 crore.
Jan 25, 2022
J&K LG Approves 15% Reservation for Women in Non-gazetted Police Posts
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha approved 15 per cent reservation for women in non-gazetted police posts.
Sinha announced the reservation coinciding with the National Girl Child Day, asserting that this is just the beginning.
"For women and girls to be agents of change, J&K government is committed to ensure Nari Shaktis' social and economic empowerment while redressing long-standing inequalities to build a more just and resilient society", Sinha said.
Punjab polls: BJP Announces Seat-sharing with Amarinder
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced its seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Punjab assembly election.
According to the division, the BJP is set to contest the Punjab polls on 65 seats, while the Punjab Lok Congress, led by former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, will field candidates on 37 constituencies.
Jerri Hamlet First 'Milk Village' of J&K
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the administration declared Jerri settlement in Reasi district as the first 'Milk Village' of the Union Territory and sanctioned 57 more dairy farms under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) for the hamlet. The village, which houses 73 individual dairy units with 370 cows, will give the local farmers financial security.
The scheme also has a provision for milking machine, bulk milk cooling unit at 50 per cent subsidy (maximum Rs. 5 lakh), paneer making machine, khoya making, Dahi making, cream separator, ice cream making machine, butter and ghee making machine (max subsidy Rs. 3. 5 lakh), milk van (maximum subsidy Rs. 2 lakh), milk ATM subsidy of Rs. 5 lakh.
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