The Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) Dr. Rameshwar Oraon and Member, B.L. Meena, on 25th October, presented the Sixth Report on working of safeguard for Scheduled Tribes for 2010-11 to the President of India. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes was constituted w.e.f. 19th February, 2004 consequent to the amendment of Article 338 of the Constitution of India and insertion of a new Article 338A vide the Constitution (Eighty-ninth Amendment) Act, 2003 which, inter-alia, enjoins upon the Commission to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any other order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards. Article 338A of the Constitution, also, mandates the NCST to present to the President annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports on the working of the safeguards extended to the members of Scheduled Tribes and to make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes. The Report is comprised of seven chapters. Adherence to Clause 9 of Article 338A of the Constitution which mandates the Union and every State Government to consult the Commission on all major policy matters affecting Scheduled Tribes is presented in Chapter 6 on Consultation on Policy Related Issues. As per the constitutional provisions, the report of the Commission has to be laid in both houses of the Parliament along with a Memorandum explaining the action taken or proposed to be taken on the recommendations relating to the Union. Similar action has to be taken by the State Governments while laying the Report in the Legislative Assembly of the State concerned, in relation to the recommendations concerning the State.
Harald Sandberg, the Swedish Ambassador on 25th October 2013 inaugurated the Nobel Memorial Wall in Kolkata. The Nobel Memorial Wall has been set up at the Esplanade Metro Station in Kolkata. Seven of the Nobel Laureates from India are portrayed in the metro station along with the Rabindranath Tagore. The Memorial Wall was inaugurated marking the centenary of Tagore reception of the Nobel Prize for Literature. The portraits on the Memorial Wall also carry the information related to the life and achievements in the respective field of the Nobel Laureates with the year when they were awarded the Nobel in three languages, namely English, Hindi and Bangla. Two more memorial walls would be established at metro stations of Gitanjali and Jorasanko. The work on the Nobel Memorial Wall was done as the part of the seventh edition of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial wee.
India was on 25th October, ranked 101 out of 136 countries on a global gender gap index. The index, compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum, ranked the countries on the division of resources and opportunities between men and women in the areas of economy, education, politics, education and health.
The Union Cabinet on 17th October, gave its approval for constitution of the 3-Member Supervisory Committee on the Babhali Barrage to implement the directions of the Supreme Court in its order dated 28.02.2013. The Committee will comprise one representative from the Central Water Commission who will be the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee and one representative each from the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, respectively.
The Centre is set to give the green signal to a vital road-link project in Kashmir that will connect the strategically important region of Kargil and Leh to the rest of India through a 14-km-long all-weather tunnel. Currently, these two regions remain cut off from Srinagar and the rest of the country for about six months during the winter season on account of heavy snowfall and inclement weather. The Union cabinet is likely to approve the proposed Rs. 9,000-crore tunnel project passing through Zojila – one of the highest mountain passes in India – on 15 October. Located at an altitude of about 12,000 feet on National Highway-1, the Zojila tunnel along with another 6.5 km long tunnel at Z-Morh in Sonmarg — cleared for construction last year — will provide road connectivity to these areas round the year.“The twin tunnels once complete will not only usher in much-needed economic development in the region but also bring respite to people living here who get stranded during the treacherous winter months,” a senior road ministry official said. Located at an altitude of about 12,000 feet on National Highway-1, the Zojila tunnel along with another 6.5 km long tunnel at Z-Morh in Sonmarg — cleared for construction last year — will provide road connectivity to these areas round the year.
Seventeen persons were killed as the very severe cyclonic storm, Phailin, hit the Odisha coast near Gopalpur in Ganjam district late on 12th October evening; Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said the press. More than 1.26 crore people were hit by the cyclone that damaged lakhs of thatched and kutcha houses in the coastal districts. Ganjam district was the worst hit. Electricity supply was badly affected in most of the affected areas. Power supply was likely to resume in a day or two. The cyclone, which made its landfall near Gopalpur at 8.30 p.m. on 12th October with a wind speed reaching up to 220 km per hour, moved into the interior parts of Odisha. Train services remained cancelled on the Howrah-Visakhapatnam route. However, services between Howrah and Bhadrak were resumed partially to help passengers stranded at various stations.
Co-operative societies do not fall within the ambit of Right to Information Act, the Supreme Court has said while quashing a Kerala government circular to bring all such societies within the scope of the transparency law. A bench of justices K. S. Radhakrishnan and A. K. Sikri said mere supervision or regulation of a body by government would not make that body a public authority and quashed the Kerala High Court's order holding the circular valid."Societies are, of course, subject to the control of the statutory authorities like Registrar, Joint Registrar, the Government, etc. but cannot be said that the State exercises any direct or indirect control over the affairs of the society which is deep and all pervasive."Supervisory or general regulation under the statute over the co-operative societies, which are body corporate does not render activities of the body so regulated as subject to such control of the State so as to bring it within the meaning of the State or instrumentality of the State," the bench said.
The largest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower of India was inaugurated outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai on 18 October 2013. The tallest ATC tower stands at the length of 84 meters or around 30 storey building. The tower was inaugurated by the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Because of its height, the ATC tower will enable all the controllers in having easy and nonstop view of complete operational area. It will also help in optimizing the separation of the air traffic, while enhancing the traffic handling capacity at the same time. The ATC tower is spread over an area of 2800 square meter area and is also equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as electronic flight strips that can reduce the workload of controllers and enhance safety and capacity of the airport. It is important to note that India is the 9th largest aviation market of the world and has the traffic increasing at 10 percent annually. The designing of the ATC was done by Hong Kong-based architectural firm HOK as well as the international engineering designer ARUP. These were chosen after the global competition.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Courts cannot impose a fine of more than twice the amount in bounced cheques on 16 October 2013. A bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Vikramajit Sen while ruling this direction explained that even in a case where the court may be taking a lenient view in favor of the accused by not sending him to prison, it cannot impose a fine more than twice the cheque amount. That statutory limit is inviolable and must be respected. The Supreme Court of India ruled this direction in the backdrop of the case where a person was asked by the Trial Court as well as the High Court of Calcutta to pay more than twice the amount of the cheque bounced, which is against the statutory provisions.
The HRD Ministry will soon launch 50 DTH educational channels. This was stated by the Secretary (HE) Ashok Thakur in New Delhi on 8th October. He said these channels will be different from the existing programmes on air including Gyan Darshan as new one will be more interactive. He said these channels will air programmes which will be live and not pre recorded. Saying that the new initiatives will be one of the largest anywhere in the world of its kind, Sh. Thakur said later on the number of the channels will be increased to one thousand. He said that the Ministry has spent more than one billion dollars for ICT. Over 400 universities and twenty thousand colleges have been linked with bandwidth. He said there is a great potential to increase its usage. Highlighting the potential of the National Programme on National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT), the Secretary said that the entire country can be made into a big classroom which will help improve quality of instructions in engineering colleges particularly belonging to the remote areas. He said that the Ministry may approach AICTE to make on-line education mandatory and integral part of education system. Asking to promote virtual lab, Sh. Thakur said it should be possible to share classes from IITs to other engineering colleges by making the system more user friendly.
The Supreme Court of India on 8th October 2013 directed the Union and all state governments to provide 3 percent job reservation to disabled persons in all their departments, companies and institutions. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam clarified that the principle of not exceeding more than 50 percent reservation would not be applicable while granting quota for disabled persons. Supreme Court of India also directed the authorities to compile the number of vacancies in all their departments to give jobs to disabled persons under 3 percent reserved quota within 3 months. While giving this direction the bench also said that Government has categorical obligation to protect the right of disabled persons and passed a slew of directions for providing jobs to the Disabled Persons.
With the Supreme Court on 8th October, declining to modify its order that the Aadhaar scheme was not compulsory for availing benefits of government schemes, the Union Cabinet has cleared a bill granting statutory status to UIDAI and providing legal backing to the Unique Identity numbers to Indian residents. Sources said the Union Cabinet approved the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, with some amendments, which will now be placed before the Rajya Sabha for discussion and passing in the Winter Session. In a setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court on 8th October, Tuesday stuck to its stand on the Aadhar card saying it is not mandatory. The Centre had moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an earlier order which said Aadhar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any government schemes for want it. Earlier, the Supreme Court had said that the Aadhar card, being issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), was not mandatory for availing any government services and nobody should be deprived of any such facilities for the want of the card.
This year’s World Egg Day falls on 11th October. The second Friday of October has been declared as World Egg Day by the International Egg Commission to help raise awareness about nutritional benefits of egg. India is the third highest producer of egg in the world but the per capita availability of eggs in India is only around 55 per person per year as against the National Institute of Nutrition recommendation of 180 eggs per capita per year. The egg is a wholesome, nutritious food with high nutrient density because, in proportion to its calorie count, it provides 12% of the daily value of protein and a wide variety of other nutrients such as vitamins, essential amino acids and minerals. While protein itself is an important constituent of healthy diet, the egg has been found to have two newly-recognized nutrients - lutein and zeaxanthin - that has put the egg in the "functional food" category. A functional food is one that provides health benefits beyond its basic nutrient content. Recent studies have shown that consuming lutein and zeaxanthin can significantly lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness affecting people over the age of 65. In addition, these reduce the likelihood of cataracts.
Approximately, 60 people were feared killed and over 100 injured in a stampede on 13th October 2013 near a temple at Ratangarh in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district. The stampede was caused by rumors that a bridge they were crossing was about to collapse. The unfortunate incident occurred when a large number of devotees arrived from Datia and neighboring Uttar Pradesh at the Durga temple at Ratangarh, about 60 kms from the district headquarters. Nearly 100 people have been injured in the mishap and they have been admitted in close by hospitals.
The Union Cabinet on 8th October 2013 approved a notification for issuing Presidential order to establish a separate development board for Hyderabad-Karnataka region in Karnataka. Article 371-J of the Constitution grants special status to six backward districts in Hyderabad- Karnataka region, with provision for reservation in education and jobs for locals. Under the Article 371-J, the President is empowered to entrust the state Governor to establish a separate board to ensure equitable allocation of funds in the state's budget to meet the development needs of the region. Six backward districts of North Karnataka - Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Bellary - fall in the region. The Development Board will ensure1) Equitable allocation of funds to meet the development needs of the region from the State Budget. 2) Promote employment from the region by providing for local cadres in service. 3) Provide for reservation in educational and vocational training institutions. Hyderabad-Karnataka region was given a special status under Article 371 J of the Constitution by the parliament on 20 December 2012. A new Article 371 J was inserted in the Constitution through the Constitution (Ninety-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2012.
The Supreme Court of India proposed a three-member panel on 7th October 2013 headed by former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal to examine the IPL spot-fixing scandal. The other members of the panel are senior advocate and Additional Solicitor General N. Nagehswar Rao and Assam Cricket Association member Nilay Dutta. The panel would conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations and examine the IPL spot-fixing scandal. It will submit its report to the Supreme Court.
The Union Government on 8th October 2013 reconstituted the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana, reducing the number of ministers from ten to six. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram have been retained. The new entrants are Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, who was part of the GoM, will now be a special invitee to the new GoM. The Union Ministers dropped from the GoM are Human Resource Development Minister M. Pallam Raju, Law Minister Kapil Sibal, Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, Road Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes, Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. The Union Cabinet on 3rd October 2013 approved the creation of a new State of Telangana by bifurcating the existing State of Andhra Pradesh. The Union Cabinet also approved the setting up of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to work out the various legal and administrative measures to ensure the safety and security of the residents of all the regions of the State including the guarantee of the Fundamental Rights.
Forced by Rahul Gandhi's open trashing of the government, the Union Cabinet on 2nd October, decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers as well as a related bill in the face of mounting public opinion against the measure. In a 20-minute meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet overturned its earlier decision of September 24 to provide immunity to convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification. The reversal by the Cabinet is seen as a rare instance of the government being forced to take back a measure that was cleared after many deliberations in the ruling party and the Council of Ministers after resistance from within. The decision came on a day of hectic consultations at the highest levels in the Congress party, allies and the government on how to bring a closure to the raging controversy after Rahul's denunciation of the ordinance as "complete nonsense" that deserved to be "torn and thrown away". Sources said the Cabinet also decided to withdraw Representation of the People (Second Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013 as the proposed legislation has no relevance after the withdrawal of the ordinance. After the decision to withdraw the bill and the ordinance, the July 10 Supreme court ruling on immediate disqualification of convicted MPs, MLAs and MLCs is the law of the land. A request now will be placed before the President to allow the government to withdraw the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Amendment) Ordinance (Second), 2013. As regards to the bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, government will move a resolution in the upper house during the Winter session. Meanwhile, Chairman Rajya Sabha and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee before which the measure is pending will be informed about the decision of the Cabinet.
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the proposal to establish a Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFILMS), along with a 500-bed General Hospital, a 300-bed Super Specialty Hospital, a Nursing College and a School of Paramedics. The Institute shall be registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and shall have a Governing Body and a Governing Council, under the Ministry of Home Affairs The creation of the Institute will facilitate attraction of talented professionals in the Central Armed Police Forces and their retention, besides providing in-house training/ specialization/Post Graduate /Super Specialty Post Graduate courses to in-service health care professionals. This will not only boost the morale of the force personnel, but also provide required trained technical hands in the medical set up of CAPFs for the benefit of their personnel and families. The total project cost is Rs. 1366.53 crore and is expected to be completed over a period of five to six years. About 48 acres has already been purchased at Maiden Garhi, New Delhi through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility that recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities as well as to facilitate equal access to electronics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This policy has been prepared after incorporating comments and suggestions from various stakeholders. The policy will facilitate equal and unhindered access to electronics and ICTs products and services by differently-abled persons (both physically and mentally challenged) and to facilitate local language support for the same. This shall be achieved through universal access to electronics and ICT products and services to synchronize with barrier free environment and preferably usable without adaptation. Differently-abled persons all over the country will benefit from this policy. The following strategies are envisaged for the implementation of the policy:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3rd October, has approved the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for reforming the state higher education system. During the 12th Plan period, 80 new universities would be created by converting autonomous colleges/colleges in a cluster to State universities. 100 new colleges, including professional/technical colleges would be set up and 54 existing colleges would be converted into model degree colleges. Infrastructure grants would be given to 150 universities and 3,500 colleges to upgrade and fill critical gaps in infrastructure especially libraries, laboratories etc. RUSA would also support 5,000 faculty positions. In the 12th Plan period, RUSA would have a financial outlay of Rs. 22,855 crore, of which Rs.16, 227 crore will be the Central share. In addition, allocation of Rs. 1,800 crore in the 12th Plan for the existing scheme Sub-Mission polytechnics would also be subsumed in RUSA. Thus the total central share, including the existing scheme of polytechnics will be Rs. 18,027 crore during the 12th Plan. Centre-State funding would be in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and 65:35 for other States and Union Territories. RUSA will be a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme spread over two plan periods, for improving access, equity and quality in the state higher education system. With over 96 percent of students enrolled in the state higher education system, there is a need for State colleges and universities to be strengthened through strategic Central funding and implementing certain much needed reforms. RUSA also aims to incentivize States to step up plan investments in higher education. The National Development Council (NDC) approved RUSA as part of the 12th Plan. It was subsequently included in the list of 66 schemes approved by the Cabinet on 20th June 2013, as part of the restructured CSSs for implementation in the 12th Plan.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken the initiative to constitute a Council of National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) to facilitate better coordination and synergy between the four NITTTRs located at Chandigarh, Bhopal, Calcutta and Chennai. The Council shall be chaired by the Minister of Human Resource Development (ex-officio) with Chairman and Directors of the four NITTTRs and other academicians as members. The Council has been envisaged as an advisory body to the Central Government on matters relating to Central policies, administration, development of plans and rules, curriculum and institutional resources for the NITTTRs. The Council shall meet at least two times a year. The four NITTTRs were established as resource institutes in the year 1964 with the mandate to train technical teachers, develop curriculum and institutional resources, assist Central and State Governments and technical institutes towards improving related process and products.
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the creation of a new State of Telangana by bifurcating the existing State of Andhra Pradesh.
Harald Sandberg, the Swedish Ambassador on 25th October 2013 inaugurated the Nobel Memorial Wall in Kolkata. The Nobel Memorial Wall has been set up at the Esplanade Metro Station in Kolkata. Seven of the Nobel Laureates from India are portrayed in the metro station along with the Rabindranath Tagore. The Memorial Wall was inaugurated marking the centenary of Tagore reception of the Nobel Prize for Literature. The portraits on the Memorial Wall also carry the information related to the life and achievements in the respective field of the Nobel Laureates with the year when they were awarded the Nobel in three languages, namely English, Hindi and Bangla. Two more memorial walls would be established at metro stations of Gitanjali and Jorasanko. The work on the Nobel Memorial Wall was done as the part of the seventh edition of the Sweden-India Nobel Memorial wee.
India was on 25th October, ranked 101 out of 136 countries on a global gender gap index. The index, compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum, ranked the countries on the division of resources and opportunities between men and women in the areas of economy, education, politics, education and health.
The Union Cabinet on 17th October, gave its approval for constitution of the 3-Member Supervisory Committee on the Babhali Barrage to implement the directions of the Supreme Court in its order dated 28.02.2013. The Committee will comprise one representative from the Central Water Commission who will be the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee and one representative each from the State Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, respectively.
The Centre is set to give the green signal to a vital road-link project in Kashmir that will connect the strategically important region of Kargil and Leh to the rest of India through a 14-km-long all-weather tunnel. Currently, these two regions remain cut off from Srinagar and the rest of the country for about six months during the winter season on account of heavy snowfall and inclement weather. The Union cabinet is likely to approve the proposed Rs. 9,000-crore tunnel project passing through Zojila – one of the highest mountain passes in India – on 15 October. Located at an altitude of about 12,000 feet on National Highway-1, the Zojila tunnel along with another 6.5 km long tunnel at Z-Morh in Sonmarg — cleared for construction last year — will provide road connectivity to these areas round the year.“The twin tunnels once complete will not only usher in much-needed economic development in the region but also bring respite to people living here who get stranded during the treacherous winter months,” a senior road ministry official said. Located at an altitude of about 12,000 feet on National Highway-1, the Zojila tunnel along with another 6.5 km long tunnel at Z-Morh in Sonmarg — cleared for construction last year — will provide road connectivity to these areas round the year.
Seventeen persons were killed as the very severe cyclonic storm, Phailin, hit the Odisha coast near Gopalpur in Ganjam district late on 12th October evening; Special Relief Commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said the press. More than 1.26 crore people were hit by the cyclone that damaged lakhs of thatched and kutcha houses in the coastal districts. Ganjam district was the worst hit. Electricity supply was badly affected in most of the affected areas. Power supply was likely to resume in a day or two. The cyclone, which made its landfall near Gopalpur at 8.30 p.m. on 12th October with a wind speed reaching up to 220 km per hour, moved into the interior parts of Odisha. Train services remained cancelled on the Howrah-Visakhapatnam route. However, services between Howrah and Bhadrak were resumed partially to help passengers stranded at various stations.
Co-operative societies do not fall within the ambit of Right to Information Act, the Supreme Court has said while quashing a Kerala government circular to bring all such societies within the scope of the transparency law. A bench of justices K. S. Radhakrishnan and A. K. Sikri said mere supervision or regulation of a body by government would not make that body a public authority and quashed the Kerala High Court's order holding the circular valid."Societies are, of course, subject to the control of the statutory authorities like Registrar, Joint Registrar, the Government, etc. but cannot be said that the State exercises any direct or indirect control over the affairs of the society which is deep and all pervasive."Supervisory or general regulation under the statute over the co-operative societies, which are body corporate does not render activities of the body so regulated as subject to such control of the State so as to bring it within the meaning of the State or instrumentality of the State," the bench said.
The largest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower of India was inaugurated outside the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai on 18 October 2013. The tallest ATC tower stands at the length of 84 meters or around 30 storey building. The tower was inaugurated by the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Because of its height, the ATC tower will enable all the controllers in having easy and nonstop view of complete operational area. It will also help in optimizing the separation of the air traffic, while enhancing the traffic handling capacity at the same time. The ATC tower is spread over an area of 2800 square meter area and is also equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as electronic flight strips that can reduce the workload of controllers and enhance safety and capacity of the airport. It is important to note that India is the 9th largest aviation market of the world and has the traffic increasing at 10 percent annually. The designing of the ATC was done by Hong Kong-based architectural firm HOK as well as the international engineering designer ARUP. These were chosen after the global competition.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Courts cannot impose a fine of more than twice the amount in bounced cheques on 16 October 2013. A bench of Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Vikramajit Sen while ruling this direction explained that even in a case where the court may be taking a lenient view in favor of the accused by not sending him to prison, it cannot impose a fine more than twice the cheque amount. That statutory limit is inviolable and must be respected. The Supreme Court of India ruled this direction in the backdrop of the case where a person was asked by the Trial Court as well as the High Court of Calcutta to pay more than twice the amount of the cheque bounced, which is against the statutory provisions.
The HRD Ministry will soon launch 50 DTH educational channels. This was stated by the Secretary (HE) Ashok Thakur in New Delhi on 8th October. He said these channels will be different from the existing programmes on air including Gyan Darshan as new one will be more interactive. He said these channels will air programmes which will be live and not pre recorded. Saying that the new initiatives will be one of the largest anywhere in the world of its kind, Sh. Thakur said later on the number of the channels will be increased to one thousand. He said that the Ministry has spent more than one billion dollars for ICT. Over 400 universities and twenty thousand colleges have been linked with bandwidth. He said there is a great potential to increase its usage. Highlighting the potential of the National Programme on National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT), the Secretary said that the entire country can be made into a big classroom which will help improve quality of instructions in engineering colleges particularly belonging to the remote areas. He said that the Ministry may approach AICTE to make on-line education mandatory and integral part of education system. Asking to promote virtual lab, Sh. Thakur said it should be possible to share classes from IITs to other engineering colleges by making the system more user friendly.
The Supreme Court of India on 8th October 2013 directed the Union and all state governments to provide 3 percent job reservation to disabled persons in all their departments, companies and institutions. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam clarified that the principle of not exceeding more than 50 percent reservation would not be applicable while granting quota for disabled persons. Supreme Court of India also directed the authorities to compile the number of vacancies in all their departments to give jobs to disabled persons under 3 percent reserved quota within 3 months. While giving this direction the bench also said that Government has categorical obligation to protect the right of disabled persons and passed a slew of directions for providing jobs to the Disabled Persons.
With the Supreme Court on 8th October, declining to modify its order that the Aadhaar scheme was not compulsory for availing benefits of government schemes, the Union Cabinet has cleared a bill granting statutory status to UIDAI and providing legal backing to the Unique Identity numbers to Indian residents. Sources said the Union Cabinet approved the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010, with some amendments, which will now be placed before the Rajya Sabha for discussion and passing in the Winter Session. In a setback to the Centre, the Supreme Court on 8th October, Tuesday stuck to its stand on the Aadhar card saying it is not mandatory. The Centre had moved the Supreme Court seeking modification of an earlier order which said Aadhar card is not mandatory and no person should be deprived of any government schemes for want it. Earlier, the Supreme Court had said that the Aadhar card, being issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), was not mandatory for availing any government services and nobody should be deprived of any such facilities for the want of the card.
This year’s World Egg Day falls on 11th October. The second Friday of October has been declared as World Egg Day by the International Egg Commission to help raise awareness about nutritional benefits of egg. India is the third highest producer of egg in the world but the per capita availability of eggs in India is only around 55 per person per year as against the National Institute of Nutrition recommendation of 180 eggs per capita per year. The egg is a wholesome, nutritious food with high nutrient density because, in proportion to its calorie count, it provides 12% of the daily value of protein and a wide variety of other nutrients such as vitamins, essential amino acids and minerals. While protein itself is an important constituent of healthy diet, the egg has been found to have two newly-recognized nutrients - lutein and zeaxanthin - that has put the egg in the "functional food" category. A functional food is one that provides health benefits beyond its basic nutrient content. Recent studies have shown that consuming lutein and zeaxanthin can significantly lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness affecting people over the age of 65. In addition, these reduce the likelihood of cataracts.
Approximately, 60 people were feared killed and over 100 injured in a stampede on 13th October 2013 near a temple at Ratangarh in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district. The stampede was caused by rumors that a bridge they were crossing was about to collapse. The unfortunate incident occurred when a large number of devotees arrived from Datia and neighboring Uttar Pradesh at the Durga temple at Ratangarh, about 60 kms from the district headquarters. Nearly 100 people have been injured in the mishap and they have been admitted in close by hospitals.
The Union Cabinet on 8th October 2013 approved a notification for issuing Presidential order to establish a separate development board for Hyderabad-Karnataka region in Karnataka. Article 371-J of the Constitution grants special status to six backward districts in Hyderabad- Karnataka region, with provision for reservation in education and jobs for locals. Under the Article 371-J, the President is empowered to entrust the state Governor to establish a separate board to ensure equitable allocation of funds in the state's budget to meet the development needs of the region. Six backward districts of North Karnataka - Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal and Bellary - fall in the region. The Development Board will ensure1) Equitable allocation of funds to meet the development needs of the region from the State Budget. 2) Promote employment from the region by providing for local cadres in service. 3) Provide for reservation in educational and vocational training institutions. Hyderabad-Karnataka region was given a special status under Article 371 J of the Constitution by the parliament on 20 December 2012. A new Article 371 J was inserted in the Constitution through the Constitution (Ninety-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2012.
The Supreme Court of India proposed a three-member panel on 7th October 2013 headed by former Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal to examine the IPL spot-fixing scandal. The other members of the panel are senior advocate and Additional Solicitor General N. Nagehswar Rao and Assam Cricket Association member Nilay Dutta. The panel would conduct an independent inquiry into the allegations and examine the IPL spot-fixing scandal. It will submit its report to the Supreme Court.
The Union Government on 8th October 2013 reconstituted the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana, reducing the number of ministers from ten to six. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram have been retained. The new entrants are Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, who was part of the GoM, will now be a special invitee to the new GoM. The Union Ministers dropped from the GoM are Human Resource Development Minister M. Pallam Raju, Law Minister Kapil Sibal, Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, Road Transport Minister Oscar Fernandes, Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. The Union Cabinet on 3rd October 2013 approved the creation of a new State of Telangana by bifurcating the existing State of Andhra Pradesh. The Union Cabinet also approved the setting up of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to work out the various legal and administrative measures to ensure the safety and security of the residents of all the regions of the State including the guarantee of the Fundamental Rights.
Forced by Rahul Gandhi's open trashing of the government, the Union Cabinet on 2nd October, decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers as well as a related bill in the face of mounting public opinion against the measure. In a 20-minute meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet overturned its earlier decision of September 24 to provide immunity to convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification. The reversal by the Cabinet is seen as a rare instance of the government being forced to take back a measure that was cleared after many deliberations in the ruling party and the Council of Ministers after resistance from within. The decision came on a day of hectic consultations at the highest levels in the Congress party, allies and the government on how to bring a closure to the raging controversy after Rahul's denunciation of the ordinance as "complete nonsense" that deserved to be "torn and thrown away". Sources said the Cabinet also decided to withdraw Representation of the People (Second Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013 as the proposed legislation has no relevance after the withdrawal of the ordinance. After the decision to withdraw the bill and the ordinance, the July 10 Supreme court ruling on immediate disqualification of convicted MPs, MLAs and MLCs is the law of the land. A request now will be placed before the President to allow the government to withdraw the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Amendment) Ordinance (Second), 2013. As regards to the bill pending in the Rajya Sabha, government will move a resolution in the upper house during the Winter session. Meanwhile, Chairman Rajya Sabha and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee before which the measure is pending will be informed about the decision of the Cabinet.
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the proposal to establish a Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFILMS), along with a 500-bed General Hospital, a 300-bed Super Specialty Hospital, a Nursing College and a School of Paramedics. The Institute shall be registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and shall have a Governing Body and a Governing Council, under the Ministry of Home Affairs The creation of the Institute will facilitate attraction of talented professionals in the Central Armed Police Forces and their retention, besides providing in-house training/ specialization/Post Graduate /Super Specialty Post Graduate courses to in-service health care professionals. This will not only boost the morale of the force personnel, but also provide required trained technical hands in the medical set up of CAPFs for the benefit of their personnel and families. The total project cost is Rs. 1366.53 crore and is expected to be completed over a period of five to six years. About 48 acres has already been purchased at Maiden Garhi, New Delhi through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the National Policy on Universal Electronic Accessibility that recognizes the need to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities as well as to facilitate equal access to electronics and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This policy has been prepared after incorporating comments and suggestions from various stakeholders. The policy will facilitate equal and unhindered access to electronics and ICTs products and services by differently-abled persons (both physically and mentally challenged) and to facilitate local language support for the same. This shall be achieved through universal access to electronics and ICT products and services to synchronize with barrier free environment and preferably usable without adaptation. Differently-abled persons all over the country will benefit from this policy. The following strategies are envisaged for the implementation of the policy:
- Creating awareness on universal electronics accessibility and universal design.
- Capacity building and infrastructure development.
- Setting up of model electronics and ICTs centres for providing training and demonstration to special educators and physically as well as mentally challenged persons.
- Conducting research and development, use of innovation, ideas, technology etc. whether indigenous or outsourced from abroad.
- Developing programme and schemes with greater emphasis for differently-abled women/children.
- Developing procurement guidelines for electronics and ICTs for accessibility and assistive needs.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 3rd October, has approved the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for reforming the state higher education system. During the 12th Plan period, 80 new universities would be created by converting autonomous colleges/colleges in a cluster to State universities. 100 new colleges, including professional/technical colleges would be set up and 54 existing colleges would be converted into model degree colleges. Infrastructure grants would be given to 150 universities and 3,500 colleges to upgrade and fill critical gaps in infrastructure especially libraries, laboratories etc. RUSA would also support 5,000 faculty positions. In the 12th Plan period, RUSA would have a financial outlay of Rs. 22,855 crore, of which Rs.16, 227 crore will be the Central share. In addition, allocation of Rs. 1,800 crore in the 12th Plan for the existing scheme Sub-Mission polytechnics would also be subsumed in RUSA. Thus the total central share, including the existing scheme of polytechnics will be Rs. 18,027 crore during the 12th Plan. Centre-State funding would be in the ratio of 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and 65:35 for other States and Union Territories. RUSA will be a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme spread over two plan periods, for improving access, equity and quality in the state higher education system. With over 96 percent of students enrolled in the state higher education system, there is a need for State colleges and universities to be strengthened through strategic Central funding and implementing certain much needed reforms. RUSA also aims to incentivize States to step up plan investments in higher education. The National Development Council (NDC) approved RUSA as part of the 12th Plan. It was subsequently included in the list of 66 schemes approved by the Cabinet on 20th June 2013, as part of the restructured CSSs for implementation in the 12th Plan.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken the initiative to constitute a Council of National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) to facilitate better coordination and synergy between the four NITTTRs located at Chandigarh, Bhopal, Calcutta and Chennai. The Council shall be chaired by the Minister of Human Resource Development (ex-officio) with Chairman and Directors of the four NITTTRs and other academicians as members. The Council has been envisaged as an advisory body to the Central Government on matters relating to Central policies, administration, development of plans and rules, curriculum and institutional resources for the NITTTRs. The Council shall meet at least two times a year. The four NITTTRs were established as resource institutes in the year 1964 with the mandate to train technical teachers, develop curriculum and institutional resources, assist Central and State Governments and technical institutes towards improving related process and products.
The Union Cabinet on 3rd October approved the creation of a new State of Telangana by bifurcating the existing State of Andhra Pradesh.
- The city of Hyderabad will function as the common capital for both the States for a period of ten years. The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of a Group of Ministers (GoM) to work out the various legal and administrative measures to ensure the safety and security of the residents of all the regions of the State including the guarantee of the Fundamental Rights.
- The Union Cabinet further approved that the GoM will go into the various issues which concern both the States and suggest appropriate measures to address them.
- The GoM will also work out the modalities for the provision of special financial disbursements required for the setting up of a new capital for the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh and to meet the special needs of the backward regions and districts of the two States.
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