Union Minister of Power Launches Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center
As part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Program, Union Minister for Power R.K. Singh launched the Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center (SGKC) and Innovation Park.
POWERGRID established the Smart Grid Knowledge Center (SGKC) to demonstrate and advance cutting-edge smart grid technologies.
SGKC aspires to be one of the world's top centres of excellence for smart grid technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and research, as well as building capacity in the power distribution industry.
The Virtual SGKC, which was introduced, allows for a digital footprint of the real SGKC, which was needed during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Mar 12, 2022
Why Congress May Lose 'Leader of Opposition Status' in Rajya Sabha
Congress Party might lose the leader of the opposition status in Rajya Sabha owing to its poor performance in the five assembly elections 2022.
The possibility arises as the number of Congress MPs in the upper house is expected to be at its historic low and likely to be close to the minimum strength required to maintain the Leader of the Opposition status.
The party's only hope to maintain its leader of opposition status in Congress is to do well in the upcoming Gujarat and Karnataka Assembly Polls or it could lose this status in the subsequent biennial elections to the Upper House next year.
Congress currently sits as the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha with 34 members but is on course to lose at least seven seats this year to hit a record low.
SC Appoints Sikri as Chairperson of Committee on Chardham Project
The Supreme Court appointed its ex-judge A.K. Sikri as chairperson of the High Powered Committee (HPC), which would consider the cumulative and independent impact of the Chardham project on the entire Himalayan valley.
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant accepted the resignation of Professor Ravi Chopra as chairperson of the committee.
Chopra was appointed as chairperson of the HPC by the top court in August 2019.
Govt. Appoints Ajay Bhushan Pandey as NFRA Chief
The government appointed former finance secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey as chairman of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) for a period of three years. Pandey, a 1984-batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, retired as revenue secretary in February 2021.
Prior to becoming revenue secretary, he was chief executive of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
The NFRA acts as an independent regulator for the auditing profession. The body has powers to review financial statement of companies, can seek explanations and probe irregularities with respect to accounting and auditing issues. The setting up of the NFRA, envisaged under the Companies Act, 2013, was approved by the Cabinet in May 2018.
Mar 11, 2022
Channi Steps Down as Punjab CM
A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the assembly elections in Punjab, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi met governor Banwarilal Purohit and tendered his resignation. He also recommended the dissolution of the 15th assembly following a virtual meeting of the state cabinet.
The governor asked Chani and the cabinet ministers to continue till the new government is formed.
Meanwhile, newly elected AAP MLAs are scheduled to meet in Mohali to elect Mann as the leader of the legislature party.
The AAP had on January 18 declared Mann as the chief ministerial face of the party for the assembly elections.
AAP Storms to Power in Punjab
The Aam Aadmi Party stormed Punjab, winning 92 of the 117 Assembly seats, decimating the Congress and the SAD-BSP combine and making leaders like CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Parkash Singh Badal and Amarinder Singh bite the dust.
While AAP bagged three-fourth of the seats, the Congress won 18, SAD 3, BJP 2 and BSP 1. An Independent also emerged victorious.
AAP will now form its second government in the country after the one led by Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi.
Election Results Show a Tighter Race in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur
The results of the Assembly elections in five states saw the BJP securing power in three states, falling one short of the majority in Goa, and the Aam Aadmi Party winning Punjab. An analysis of seats across these states showed that the race was won on tighter margins than five years ago, except for Punjab and Uttarakhand.
Mar 10, 2022
Andhra Pradesh Retains Top Rank in Skoch State of Governance Ranking in 2021
The Andhra Pradesh government once again bagged the top rank in the Skoch State of Governance rankings.
The second rank was bagged by West Bengal and Odisha was ranked 3, Gujarat was ranked 4 and Maharashtra was ranked 5. Neighbouring Telangana was ranked 6.
In the ranking assessment by Skoch, a New Delhi-based think tank, Andhra Pradesh also bagged the top position in police and safety, agriculture, district administration and rural development.
Cabinet Approves Amendment in MMDR Act to Fix Royalty of Certain Minerals
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Second Schedule to the MMDR Act to specify the royalty rates of certain minerals, including potash, emerald and platinum group of metals.
The approval would ensure auction of mineral blocks in respect of glauconite, potash, emerald, platinum group of metals, andalusite and molybdenum thereby reducing imports of these minerals.
The approval will help generating empowerment opportunity in the mining sector as well as the manufacturing sector which will further help in ensuring inclusive growth of a large section of the society.
Congress Veteran A.K. Antony to Hang Boots
Former Defence Minister and Congress veteran A.K. Antony is all set to hang his boots after 52 years in active politics. Antony said that he would not seek reelection once his Rajya Sabha term ends in April.
The former Kerala CM, Antony currently heads the Congress' disciplinary committee and is also part of the party's core committee.
Antony was Defence Minister in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government between 2004 and 2014. He started out as an MLA in Kerala in 1970 and remained CM of the state thrice in 1977, 1995 and 2001.
Cabinet Approves National Land Monetisation Corporation
The Union Cabinet approved the formation of National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) as a wholly owned government of India company to fast track the monetisation of land and non-core assets of public sector entities. For setting up NLMC, the Centre allocated an initial authorised share capital of Rs. 5,000 crore and paid-up share capital of Rs. 150 crore.
National Land Monetisation Corporation will undertake monetisation of surplus land and building assets of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other Government agencies. So far, the CPSEs have referred 3,400 acres of land and other non-core assets for monetisation from CPSEs comprising Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), B&R, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), BEML Limited, HMT Ltd among others, the Eco Survey mentioned.
Mar 08, 2022
Odisha's Ganjam Tops Districts in Providing Jobs under MGNREGS
Odisha's Ganjam again topped districts in providing jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). As per officials, till March 7, 103,000 households in the district were provided at least 100-day work this financial year under the flagship programme.
Rajasthan's Barmer and Nagaur followed Ganjam with 94,586 and 82,731 households getting work under the scheme. Ganjam also topped the list of districts in 2020-21 when 77,275 households were employed under MGNREGS. The highest ever, 392,000 households got jobs under the scheme in Odisha this financial year. In Sundargarh, 32,422 households were provided work followed by Bolangir (32,234).
Thirty of 36 Disputed Villages along Meghalaya-Assam Border to Remain in Meghalaya: Sangma
Thirty of the 36 disputed villages along the Meghalaya-Assam border were recommended by regional committees of the two states to remain in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma informed the assembly.
The 36 villages cover a 36.9 sq. km area, while the 30 villages are spread over 18 sq. km area.
Ownership of land, however, will not be affected after demarcation of the boundary.
As per Sangma, discussions, visits and surveys were conducted by regional committees of the two states headed by cabinet ministers, and special technologies were used in the exercise. The areas will be more accurately determined by the Survey of India in the presence of representatives of both the states.
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