Uttar Pradesh Selected as Best State tableau of Republic Day Parade 2022
Uttar Pradesh was selected as the best state tableau at the Republic Day parade this year and the Indian Navy marching contingent has been adjudged as the best marching contingent among the three Services.
Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of the marching contingents from the three Services, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), other Auxiliary forces and tableaux from various states and Union Territories (UTs) and Central Ministries and Departments.
On the basis of the assessment of the panels, the Indian Navy marching contingent was adjudged as the best marching contingent among the three Services.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was named as the best marching contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary forces.
The second place went to Karnataka for its tableau based on 'Cradle of Traditional Handicrafts'. The third position went to Meghalaya for its tableau on 'Meghalaya's 50 years of Statehood and its tribute to women-led cooperative societies & SHGs'.
Arunachal Pradesh: CM Hoists 104 ft National Flag; Second Highest in India
The state of Arunachal Pradesh now has the second highest national flag in the country.
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu hoisted a 104 ft tall National Flag at Ngangpa Natme (Buddha Park) in Tawang.
Pema Khandu congratulated the Army, the Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Tawang district administration and MLA Tsering Tashi for the feat.
Belagavi or Belgaum Fort in Kote Kere, Karnataka, has the tallest Indian flagpoles measuring 361 ft.
Feb 04, 2022
Centre Approves Renaming of Three Places in Madhya Pradesh
The Centre approved renaming of three places in Madhya Pradesh namely Hoshangabad Nagar as "Narmadapuram", Shivpuri as "Kundeshwar Dham" and Babai as "Makhan Nagar". Babai was renamed after the renowned journalist and poet Makhanlal Chaturvedi.
The MP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan had in 2021 proposed the renaming of these 3 places.
India Press Freedom Report, 2021
The India Press Freedom Report, 2021 was released by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group. According to the report, 13 media houses and newspapers were targeted in the country, 108 journalists were attacked, and 6 journalists were killed.
The highest number of journalist attack was in Jammu and Kashmir. J&K faced more than 25 attacks. The second highest was in Uttar Pradesh with 23. UP was followed by Madhya Pradesh (16), Tripura (15), Delhi (8), Bihar (6), Assam (5), Haryana(4) and Maharashtra (4), Goa (3), Manipur (3), Karnataka (2), West Bengal (2), Tamil Nadu (2), Andhra Pradesh (1), Kerala (1), Chhattisgarh (1).
Sonali Singh Given Charge of Controller General of Accounts
The centre gave the charge the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance to Sonali Singh, Additional Controller General of Accounts, after superannuation of Dipak Dash.
She shall look after the routine administrative duties in respect of the post of CGA till regular appointment to the post of CGA or till further orders, whichever is earlier.
A 1987 batch officer of Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), Singh had joined CGA as Additional Controller General of Accounts in October 2019. Prior to that, she had also served as Additional Secretary at Central Vigilance Commission.
CGA is responsible to maintain account of the government. Apart from consolidating monthly accounts, preparing trends of revenue realization and expenditures it reconciles cash balance of the centre with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and annual accounts of the central government.
Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi Joins as Director General, NIELIT
Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi joined as Director-General of the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT). Before joining NIELIT, Dr. Madan Mohan Tripathi was working as Professor at Delhi Technological University (DTU), New Delhi. In DTU he also worked as Director Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and Coordinator of Intellectual Property Rights Cell.
National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
Feb 03, 2022
TMC to Contest in Uttar Pradesh in 2024 Lok Sabha Polls
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that Trinamool Congress (TMC) will not contest the Uttar Pradesh elections but will field candidates in the state in the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Mamata Banerjee, who was re-elected as TMC chairperson at a party event on Wednesday, said Trinamool Congress will support Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav in the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
Chhattisgarh Government Implements 'One Nation One Ration Card' Plan
Chhattisgarh implemented 'One Nation One Ration Card' (ONORC) plan, enabling the people of the state to lift their foodgrains quota entitled under the food law from any ration shops across the country.
With the integration of Chhattisgarh, the ONORC plan is now operational in 35 States/UTs covering almost 96.8 per cent NFSA population (about 77 crore NFSA beneficiaries) in the country.
The ONORC is a technology driven distribution system which makes food security portable across the country and is very beneficial for migratory NFSA beneficiaries, who frequently change their place of dwelling in search of temporary employments, etc.
Indian Envoys and Mission Officers to be Judged on 3Ts
Keeping up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target of achieving USD 400 billion in merchandise exports, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) directed all its missions abroad to evaluate all the officers only on basis of 3Ts. The three Ts are trade, technology, and tourism.
While it is expected that India will be achieve the USD 400 billion target by March 31, 2022, foreign secretary Harsh Shringla has sent a letter to all ambassadors and heads of missions stating that the entire mission should be functioning like a team rather than leave the job of enhancing the 3Ts to the officers concerned.
India has already crossed USD 334 billion in mercantile exports, highest ever on annualised basis. It is also higher compared to past achievement in any 12 month period.
Amaravati Remains the Capital City of Andhra Pradesh
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Rajya Sabha that Amaravati remains the capital city of Andhra Pradesh and that the State government has withdrawn a law to create three capital cities.
The Minister also said that the division of assets between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, can be speedily undertaken with mutual agreement and the Centre can only act as a coordinating agency.
Feb 02, 2022
Fifteen Former Bureaucrats Appointed EC's Special Observers
Fifteen former bureaucrats with experience in the electoral process were appointed as special observers for the assembly polls in five states.
They will be supervising and monitoring the work being done by the electoral machinery in their assigned states and ensure that stringent and effective action is taken based on intelligence inputs and complaints.
The 15 officers will work as special general, police and expenditure observers in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
Mamata Banerjee Re-elected TMC Chief Unopposed
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was re-elected as the TMC chairperson.
The ruling Trinamool Congress held its organisational elections after a gap of five years.
Banerjee was declared elected without a contest as no other leader entered the fray.
A total of 48 proposers and seconders had submitted nominations in favour of Mamata Banerjee, as there was no other nomination for the post of chairperson.
Mamata Banerjee had founded the party in 1998 after breaking away from the Congress, and has headed it ever since.
Senior Leader Amarjeet Singh Tikka Quits Party
In a big jolt to Congress in Punjab, senior leader Amarjeet Singh Tikka resigned from all posts in the party. Amarjeet Singh Tikka holds the office of Punjab Medium Industry Development Board Chairman.
The development comes a day after the Congress announced the candidature of Ishwarjot Singh Cheema from Ludhiana South, a seat Tikka wanted to contest.
Lalpura Resigns as NCM Chief
Former IPS officer Iqbal Singh Lalpura resigned as the chairman of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) after being fielded by the BJP from Punjab's Rupnagar constituency in the upcoming assembly polls.
The BJP is contesting the polls in alliance with former chief minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).
Lalpura was a BJP spokesperson and had also been an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in the past.
Feb 01, 2022
Punjab's CEO Unveils Election Mascot
To increase voter awareness and participation in the February 20 Punjab Assembly polls, the state Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office unveiled its election mascot, "Shera".
Five persons with disabilities (PwDs) were specially invited on the occasion as the guests of honour.
Promoted under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) project, the mascot aims to increase voter awareness and participation in the upcoming polls and promote ethical voting.
SC Collegium Recommends Justice Munishwar Bhandari as Madras High Court CJ
The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice N. V. Ramana recommended to the Centre that Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.
The collegium, which also comprised senior most judges Justices U. U. Lalit and A. M. Khanwilkar, held deliberations on December 14, 2021 and January 29, 2022, recommended 17 names for appointment as judges in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa High Courts.
Justice Bhandari, whose parent High Court is the Rajasthan HC, has been serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.
Usha Sharma is Rajasthan Chief Secretary
Senior bureaucrat Usha Sharma was appointed the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan following the retirement of Niranjan Arya, who was made an adviser to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Ms. Sharma is the second woman to hold the top bureaucratic post in the State.
Ms. Sharma, a 1985-batch IAS officer, was on the Central deputation in New Delhi since 2012. She was the Secretary of the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry and she earlier served as the Additional Director General of Tourism and Director General of Archaeological Survey of India.
The first woman Chief Secretary of Rajasthan was Kushal Singh, who served in that position from February 2009 to October 2009 during the Congress regime. She was appointed Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in 2013 following her retirement.
Andhra Pradesh Brings in Ordinance to Raise Retirement Age of Govt. Employees
The Andhra Pradesh government enhanced the retirement age for its employees by two years to 62. Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan promulgated the AP Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2022 to this effect.
On January 21, the state Cabinet approved the proposal to amend the AP Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) Act, 1984 in line with the announcement made by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The amendment to the Act would come into effect from January 1, 2022.
The Act was previously amended in 2014 increasing the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.
Rajesh Verma Given Additional Charge of Finance Secretary
Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Secretary Rajesh Verma was given the additional charge of the Finance Secretary.
This comes in as the current Deputy Financial Services (DFS) Secretary, Debasish Panda, was not given an extension of tenure. Panda's term ended on January 31, 2022.
Panda, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, was appointed as the Finance Secretary in February 2020. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) had approved his appointment as secretary, department of financial services, in place of Rajiv Kumar.
Verma, who is currently the Corporate Affairs Secretary, is a 1987-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre. He was appointed as MCA Secretary in April 2020. In the same year, he was also appointed as the chairman of the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA). He shall be the head of authority as long as he holds the post of secretary at the ministry of corporate affairs.
India and Russia Agree to Deepen Cooperation at the UN Security Council
India and Russia agreed to deepen cooperation at the UN Security Council after the two sides held wide-ranging talks on issues before the global body.
Russia is set to assume the presidency of the UN Security Council in February.
The two sides held bilateral consultations on UN-related issues at a meeting in Delhi.
The Indian delegation was led by Reenat Sandhu, Secretary (West) in the MEA, while the Russian delegation was led by Ambassador Sergey Vasilyevich Vershinin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
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