The Centre approved a new Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) for Ladakh. The Board will be an effective link between the Centre and the Ladakh Administration. Rajya Sainik Board will play an advisory role on the matters relating to the ex-servicemen, war widows, widows and non-combatants, including serving soldiers and their dependents. Zila Sainik welfare offices of Leh and Kargil will function under the newly constituted Rajya Sainik Board.
The board provides access to the welfare schemes under the Raksha Mantri Ex-servicemen Welfare Fund and welfare and resettlement of ex-servicemen.
Approximately sixty thousand retired and serving army personnel would get benefit from the establishment of the Rajya Sainik Board in Ladakh.
Ladakh Scouts Regiment Center will avail maximum benefit from the welfare schemes extended through the Rajya Sainik Board.
A. K. Antony to Head Congress Disciplinary Panel
The Congress reconstituted the party's disciplinary committee with veteran leader and former Defence Minister A. K. Antony being appointed as its chairman.
The five-member All India Congress Committee (AICC) panel includes former Union Minister Ambika Soni and senior leader Tariq Anwar.
Former Delhi MP Jai Parkash Aggarwal and G Parameswar are the other members of the all-important panel.
PM Narendra Modi's Big Announcement: Three Contentious Farm Laws to be Rolled Back
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Friday during which he made a major announcement that his government has decided to repeal the three controversial farm laws.
PM Modi said that the three laws were for the benefit of farmers but "we couldn't convince a section of farmers despite best efforts". The goal of the three farm laws was to empower farmers, especially small farmers.
Rajnath Inaugurates Revamped War Memorial in Eastern Ladakh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a revamped war memorial in eastern Ladakh's Rezang La, the site of an epic battle where Indian troops bravely fought the Chinese soldiers in 1962.
Singh described the monument as an example of the determination and indomitable courage displayed by the Indian Army that he said is not "only immortal in the pages of history, but also beats in our hearts".
The Battle of Rezang La is considered one of the ten greatest and most challenging military conflicts in the world.
Nov 18, 2021
Congress Appoints New Secretary for Himachal, Chief of Punjab Women's Unit
The Congress appointed Bodhraj Bhardwaj as secretary of the party's Himachal Pradesh unit and Balbir Sodhi as president of Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi also approved a proposal for appointing Perpeet Brar, Shahnaz Yasmin Haque and Pratima Singh as general secretaries and Sai Anamika Jha, Sashmita Behera, Shamima Raina, Priyanka Singh and Jansirani M as secretaries of the All India Mahila Congress.
Central Bureau of Investigation Gets 3 New Joint Directors
Senior IPS officers Vidya Jayant Kulkarni, Ghanshyam Upadhyay and Nawal Bajaj were appointed as Joint Directors in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Kulkarni, a 1998-batch IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, was appointed for a period of five years on a deputation basis.
Upadhyay, a 1999-batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre, would have his tenure till June 29, 2026.
Bajaj, who is from a 1995 batch and belongs to the Maharashtra cadre, will have a combined tenure of five years, i.e. up to June 6, 2026.
Indian Railways Gets First Pod Hotel at Mumbai Central Station
Passengers of Indian Railways and even common people can now avail of modern resting facilities at comparatively cheaper rates thanks to the first-of-its-kind pod hotel which has come up at the Mumbai Central station.
According to a senior Western Railway (WR) official, one has to pay Rs. 999 for 12 hours and Rs. 1,999 for 24 hours for staying in this pod hotel where facilities like WiFi, TV, a small locker, adjustable mirror, and reading lights etc. will be provided.
A pod hotel has several small bed-sized capsules and provides affordable overnight accommodation.
Nov 17, 2021
AIMIM to Make Foray into Rajasthan
The All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is set to make its political debut in Rajasthan.
It will be launching its state unit within the next two months. It is set to contest the 2023 Assembly election as the third political front in a possible alliance with regional parties.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who visited Jaipur to analyse the political situation in the state, said that the party would focus on Muslims and Dalits in an attempt to evolve an independent and credible leadership for them. The party would shortly establish its organisation and appoint office-bearers at various levels.
Ahead of Himachal Assembly Polls, BJP May Carve more Districts out of Kangra
As per reports, the BJP facing anti-incumbency in Kangra, the largest district of Himachal Pradesh in terms of population having 15 Assembly segments, the ruling party may carve out new districts out of it. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur gave an indication to this affect.
This is not for the first time that the BJP is contemplating creation of new districts. During the tenure of then CM Prem Kumar Dhumal, the party had posted ADCs in Palampur, Nurpur and Dehra as an indication of creating new districts.
AAP Begins Expanding Itself in Several States to be a National Party before 2024 General Election
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has begun moves to expand itself in several states so as to get status as a national political party before the 2024 general election.
The party wants to register its presence electorally across states, and in the immediate context other than the National Capital Territory of Delhi where it is in power, it has focused on Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa where Assembly elections will be held in February-March, 2022.
The party has started preparations in earnest for the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, which will be held in the latter half of the next year.
The party has started working in Haryana,Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
Nov 16, 2021
UN Secretary General Guterres Appoints Shombi Sharp as UN Resident Coordinator in India
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed Shombi Sharp of the United States as the UN Resident Coordinator in India.
Sharp has devoted more than 25 years of his career to promoting inclusive and sustainable development internationally, bringing experience he has acquired at the United Nations and externally to this new position.
Within the world organisation, he most recently served as United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia.
Sharp has held several leadership positions at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Kaiser-i-Hind: Arunachal's State Butterfly
State Cabinet of Arunachal Pradesh, headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, approved "Kaiser-i-Hind" as state butterfly.
Kaiser-i-Hind' is a large and brightly coloured butterfly.
It is an elusive swallowtail butterfly, which carries 'India' in its name.
It is found in China and now it has been approved as the State butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.
Kaiser-i-Hind is scientifically known as Teinopalpus imperialis. In literal terms, it means Emperor of India.
It is found across six States along Eastern Himalayas at the elevations from 6,000-10,000 feet in a well-wooded terrain. They also flutter in Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, southern China and Vietnam.
Nov 15, 2021
Tenure of ED, CBI Chiefs Extended
Days before the winter session of Parliament, the government passed two Ordinances extending the tenures of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) chiefs to up to five years.
The chiefs of the central agencies currently have a two-year tenure. The Ordinance is clearly aimed to ensure the continuance of current ED chief S. K. Mishra, who is already on an extension, having reached 60 in 2020. His term would have come to an end on November 17.
Both Ordinances have been signed by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The chiefs of the top agencies can be given extensions, according to the Ordinances, every year for up to three years after they complete the two-year term.
West Bengal to Get Seven New Integrated Check Post
The government of India has decided to establish seven new Integrated Check Post (ICP) in West to ensure better connectivity and security.
This decision comes after a high-level meeting that was held in Kolkata between the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and other senior officials of the West Bengal government. The meeting was convened to discuss pending land acquisition cases for construction of border fence and road projects, Border Out Posts and Integrated Check Posts.
Of these seven ICPs, five will be established on the Indo-Bangladesh border and one each on the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border by the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI).
Mahua Moitra Appointed TMC's Goa Unit in-charge ahead of Assembly Polls
The TMC, which is looking to expand its footprints nationally, appointed firebrand Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra as the state in-charge of the party's Goa unit, months ahead of the assembly polls there.
The party had earlier nominated former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro for bypoll to a Rajya Sabha seat in West Bengal.