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Can’t change reservation policy without panel’s nod, SC to states
Govt notifies change in civil services prelims
PM to launch Jan Dhan Yojana on August 28
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Fire scare on IndiGo flight on landing at Delhi airport
Gujarat police asks women to follow dress code
Cabinet clears Digital India programme
Benefits of veterans’ quota in govt jobs up
Rape of Badaun victims doubtful, says CBI
Judge suspended after sexual harassment complaint
money laundering
Sonia calls for unity, attacks BJP for ‘repackaging’ Cong policies Cong to its CMs: Don’t attend Modi
functions Yoga guru BKS Iyengar dead SIT has made progress on foreign bank accounts: SC Communal violence on the rise: Cong
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Can’t change reservation policy without panel’s nod, SC to states
A Bench headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha was taking exception to Punjab granting half of the quota meant for the SCs to Mazhabi Sikhs and Valmikis and the Haryana Government restricting the reservation to Chamars to 50 per cent without taking permission from the Commission. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had struck down the two state governments’ notifications on the sub-classification of the SCs for the purpose of reservation, forcing them and other affected communities to come to the apex court in appeal. The Bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and RF Nariman pointed out that the Commission was a constitutional body and the states were not free to classify the quota policy without taking its nod. The states could either ask the Commission to devise a mechanism to ensure that all communities in the category of SCs got proportional benefit under the quota policy or frame their draft policies and then approach the Commission for its consent. Haryana’s Additional Advocate General (AAG) Manjit Singh Dalal said Haryana had restricted the quota for Chamars to 50 per cent as they were garnering 95 per cent of the reservation meant for SCs which was disproportionate to their population. Punjab’s AAG Ajay Bansal and Additional Solicitor General Nageswara Rao contended that the state had earmarked 50 per cent sub-quota for Mazhabi Sikhs and Valmikis within the reservation for SCs in proportion to their percentage within the SCs. Earlier, they were unable to avail of the quota for various reasons. After hearing the arguments, the SC referred the batch of appeals to a larger Bench, possibly of seven judges, to decide the dispute as it involved interpretation of the Constitution as well as a verdict by a five-member Bench of the apex court.
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Govt notifies change in civil services prelims
“The merit on the basis of preliminary examination shall be drawn using aggregate marks obtained in Paper-I out of 200 and marks obtained in Paper-II out of 200 minus the total of the marks allocated to the questions on English language comprehension skills,” the notification said. There are two compulsory papers of 200 marks each in the civil services preliminary examination. These papers are also known as CSAT I and CSAT II. This year’s civil services preliminary examination is scheduled to be held on Sunday. The notification, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, makes it clear for the candidates not to attempt nine questions of 22.5 marks asked in the English section of the prelims’ second paper. “Questions relating to English language comprehension skills of class X level, which are printed in English only, shall not be evaluated for gradation or merit and therefore, need not be attempted by the candidates,” it said. A controversy had recently erupted over the pattern of civil services preliminary examination as students demanding change in the pattern of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT), Paper II had taken to the streets waging a violent agitation. — PTI
No need to attempt
The notification, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, makes it clear for the candidates not to attempt nine questions of 22.5 marks asked in the English section of the prelims’ second paper.
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PM to launch Jan Dhan Yojana on August 28
New Delhi, August 20 The scheme was announced by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day address and is geared towards providing unbanked poor families with bank accounts, debit cards and insurance cover. A person opening an account under the scheme will be provided with a debit card and insurance worth Rs 1 lakh. This will be the first scheme announced by the PM on August 15 to be officially launched. Modi had said: “I have come here with a pledge to launch a scheme on this festival of Freedom. It will be called Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. I wish to connect the poorest citizens of the country with the facility of bank accounts through this yojana.” He had said that there were millions of families who had mobile phones but no bank accounts. “We have to change this scenario. Economic resources of the country should be utilised for the wellbeing of the poor. The change will commence from this point. This yojana will open the window,” he had said. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced that the new financial inclusion programme would provide 7.5 crore households with facilities of savings, credit, remittances, insurance and pension among others. The government had sought inputs for a logo, name and tagline for the initiative on financial inclusion through the MyGov website. The Financial Inclusion Mission has two phases starting from August 15 this year.
PPF limit raised to Rs 1.5 lakh
New Delhi: The government has issued a notification raising the annual Public Provident Fund (PPF) deposit limit from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. The interest rate on PPF deposit for 2014-15 fiscal is 8.7 per cent. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had increased the investment limit in line with the hike in cumulative tax exemption limit under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. — PTI .
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Fire scare on IndiGo flight on landing at Delhi airport
New Delhi, August 20 The smoke possibly started because of the harsh braking of the Indigo Airbus A-320, which had landed on the shortest runway of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, according to sources. The harsh braking may have led to the overheating of the brake disks. Indigo Airlines, in an official statement, said that there was no fire in the aircraft. The incident took place when the aircraft, 6E-176, landed at the IGI Airport. There were 148 passengers, including an infant and six crew members on board. An Air Traffic Control (ATC) official said, “The plane was moving towards terminal 1D when air traffic controllers at the ATC tower saw thick smoke billowing from the left side of the plane. The fire fighting staff of the airport also saw the smoke. The ATC instructed the pilot to stop the aircraft and evacuate the passengers because there was a fear of a fire.” The pilot ordered the crew to de-plane all the passengers. “The evacuation was done on the taxi way in approximately 75 seconds,” said IndiGo’s statement. Sources said that during this process, 30 passengers suffered minor injuries. They were administered first aid. After the evacuation was complete, the officials learnt that there was no fire. The left brake assembly of the front wheel was overheated, causing smoke to arise from it.
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Gujarat police asks women to follow dress code
Ahmedabad, August 20 According to reports, the Porbandar police have released posters in the city appealing to young girls not to wear jeans, short skirts and such other “offensive dresses” in the public. The posters were prepared by the police as part of the “women’s empowerment fortnight” celebrated at the behest of Chief Minister Anandiben Patel from August 1. The police advised the women that they should refrain from wearing “offensive dresses” in the public without making any reference about threat to law and order situation. Earlier, a committee appointed by the Patel administration to suggest measures for improving the quality of primary education in the state had recommended that the female teachers in the primary schools should be strictly made to follow a dress code, wearing only sarees or salwar suit in schools. While the government is yet to take a decision on the committee’s recommendation, women’s organisations in the state have raised objections against the women were being targeted to observe restrictions instead of the police dealing firmly with the eve-teasers. It is the first time that suggestions about the women follow a dress code has started coming from different sectors in Gujarat.
No ‘offensive’ dresses
Appeal to girls not to wear jeans, short skirts and such other ‘offensive dresses’ in public
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Cabinet clears Digital India programme
New Delhi, August 20 This programme has been envisaged by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY). The Digital India is transformational in nature and would ensure that government services are available to citizens electronically. It would also bring in public accountability through mandated delivery of government's services electronically, a Unique ID and e-Pramaan based on authentic and standard based interoperable and integrated government applications and data basis. — TNS
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Benefits of veterans’ quota in govt jobs up
In a move that would benefit retired armed forces personnel seeking reemployment with civilian government departments under the ex-servicemen’s quota, rules have been relaxed enabling them to avail benefits of reservation multiple times.
Earlier, once an ex-serviceman took up a government job, his ex-serviceman status for the purpose of reemployment in the government would cease. For example, if a person applied for several jobs of varying status and seniority and got selected for a job of a lower seniority for reasons such as early declaration of results, he could not avail of the quota for a better placed job even if he qualified for the same. A circular issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) sated that the earlier rules were affecting the chances of ex-servicemen in the case of direct recruitment for subsequent suitable employment. The DoPT has now directed that if an ex-serviceman applies for multiple vacancies before joining any civilian employment, he can avail the benefits of reservation for any subsequent employment, provided that he furnishes details of all his applications on joining the first appointment. Reservation to ex-servicemen is available at 10 per cent of vacancies in Group-C posts and 20 per cent in Group-D posts. A 10 per cent reservation is also extended in vacancies up to the level of assistant commandant in all paramilitary forces to be filled by direct recruitment.
5 Guards Raising Day
August 25 marks a historic day for Brigade of The Guards as well as the Indian Army. It was on this day that 5 Guards — the first infantry battalion with an “All-India All-Class” composition — was raised. The Guards was conceived by India’s first Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal KM Cariappa soon after Independence, as a “bold new experiment”, where unlike other infantry regiments being based on religious or ethnic lines, recruitment would be open to all castes and battalions would have companies of mixed ethnicity. The Guards was raised in 1949 with the first four battalions being drawn for other regiments. These units, among the oldest and most highly decorated, were 2 Punjab (1 Guards), 1 Grenadiers (2 Guards), 1 Rajputana (3 Guards) and 1 Rajput (4 Guards). It was in 1960 that the first Guards battalion on the all-class concept, which has proved to be highly successful, was raised at Kota. Currently based in the Western Sector, the battalion has taken part in all wars and operations with the exception of the Sri Lanka campaign and was awarded the Battle Honour Burkee in 1965 and Theatre Honour East Pakistan in 1971. The Guards now has 19 battalions, all of which are fully mechanised and comprise troops from all over the country.
DRDO fetes centenarian scientist
On the eve of Independence Day, the Defence Research and Development Organisation honoured a new entrant into its club of centenarians. Born on August 11, 1914, Brij Lal Perti, a witness to the Second World War and the freedom struggle, received a congratulatory message and a felicitation certificate from Dr Avinash Chander, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and DRDO chief, at a special function attended by senior DRDO officials. Perti acquired a Masters degree in science from Allahabad University and in 1939 joined a Kanpur-based defence laboratory that came under DRDO post-Independence, serving for 33 years before retiring in 1972.
DGR gets a twitter handle
With the social media bug biting the uniformed fraternity, the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) is the latest in line among military establishment to log into cyberspace to reach out to its clientele. Its twitter handle, @dgrindia, was launched by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley at a conclave organised by the DGR in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industries at New Delhi to explore reemployment opportunities in the corporate sector for retired armed forces personnel. With a single tweet that the “Raksha Mantri conveys his greetings to all ESM and extends his best wishes to DGR and DESW in their effort to serve our veterans,” the handle has 130 followers so far. The DGR is an inter-service organisation functioning directly under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the Ministry of Defence.
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Rape of Badaun victims doubtful, says CBI
New Delhi, August 20 After going through the DNA forensic report from the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in Hyderabad, the CBI has formed the opinion that the claim that the two girls were raped seems doubtful. Sources in the CBI said on Tuesday that the agency may drop the idea of exhuming the bodies now as the report from CDFD has given them enough forensic evidence which could help them crack the case. They also said that the report confirms contradictions in the theory of rape. The sources said the five accused — Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh Yadav (brothers) and constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav — would be allowed to get bail as there are no clear evidence against them. According to the law, an accused can get bail if the CBI fails to file a chargesheet against them within 90 days that ends on 28 August. The report has been sent to the three-member medical board which has been formed in New Delhi to look into the forensic and medical evidence related to the case. The board has been asked by the agency to give its opinion this week after which the CBI may announce cracking of the case. Without revealing the findings, CBI sources said the report was a crucial evidence for the investigating team and the case may be cracked anytime now. — PTI
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Judge suspended after sexual harassment complaint
Mumbai, August 20 The decision to suspend him was taken after a preliminary inquiry indicated that the complainant had a strong case against the judge, sources said. Gaikwad, who was a judge in the town of Parbhani in Maharashtra before his transfer to Mumbai, was appointed to the NDPS court only a few months ago. In her complaint, the court employee alleged that the judge used to ask her to stay back late and made some personal remarks against her. After she filed a complaint with the court registrar, she was asked to file a formal complaint. As per procedure, a charge sheet will be issued to the judge after which he will be asked to appear before an inquiry committee. If he is found guilty the judge's services could be terminated, sources said.
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money laundering New Delhi, August 20 The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Common Cause seeking a probe by the CBI and the I-T Department into allegations of money laundering, corruption and possession of assets disproportionate to known sources of income against Virbhadra. The court will hear the case again on September 1. On August 6, the Centre had told the court that there was a prima facie case against the CM. The petitioner claimed that the CBI had conducted a preliminary inquiry for 18 months without registering an FIR despite overwhelming evidence. The PIL has cited the revised income tax returns filed by Virbhadra for assessment years 2009-12, raising his agriculture income from just Rs 47 lakh to Rs 6.5 crore and the LIC policies purchased by an individual for Rs 5 crore in the names of Virbhadra, his wife and children. The case
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Sonia calls for unity, attacks BJP for ‘repackaging’ Cong policies New Delhi, August 20 "The road to our struggle may be long but if we work together, the day is not far when the Congress will once again reach its zenith…," Sonia said in her first address to workers since the party's rout in the LS polls. Her appeal for unity has come at a time when party leaders are questioning her for failing to feel people’s pulse. At the All India Mahila Congress convention, Sonia said: "Those in the government are doing what they know the best — repackaging our policies and misleading people." She countered Modi's Independence Day comments, especially his announcement of a sanitation drive where MPs would be encouraged to clear their villages of dry latrines. "Who launched Nirmal Gram scheme? Who provided toilets under MNREGA? Who gave women a right in paternal property? Who gave India the first woman President and LS Speaker since Independence? The Congress did …," Sonia said. About the Congress' poll debacle, she said: "People fell for BJP's honey trap, they fell for BJP's false promises." Mahila Congress chief Shobha Oza said: "When Indiraji lost in 1977, the Youth Congress restored the party's pride. This time, Mahila Congress will do that job." Rahul predicts women’s ‘tsunami’ in party Taking a backseat at the function, Rahul reiterated Sonia's comments that the "BJP was recycling Congress policies". Admitting organisational weaknesses in the Congress, he promised a "women's tsunami" in the party. "Congress mein Mahila Congress ki Tsunami aane waali hai…I will let you fight whichever election you want,” he said.
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Cong to its CMs: Don’t attend Modi functions New Delhi, August 20 Senior party leaders have taken a strong view of yesterday’s hooting of Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda at PM’s event in Kaithal. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also learnt to have been sounded on the matter. “The CMs of Congress-ruled states are not obliged to share stage with the PM if the event he is addressing is not strictly official,” said top party sources. The Congress has told its CMs, including Prithviraj Chavan (Maharashtra), to desist sharing stage with the PM who is scheduled to visit the state tomorrow for a series of events. The PM will first go to Nagpur where he is to dedicate the NTPC’s thermal power station to the nation. He will be accompanied by Cabinet colleagues Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Minister (Independent) for Power and Coal Piyush Goyal. The message for Chavan is – don’t share the dais with Modi and just simply honour the protocol by receiving the PM at the airport. Justifying the party’s decision, sources said, “The PM’s functions ahead of Assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra seem clearly political. Congress Chief Ministers are not obliged to attend such functions. They can receive the PM at the airport and that should suffice. Such functions take shape of political rallies with BJP and RSS workers using the platform to denounce our leadership. This is what happened in Haryana and it’s not fair.”
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Yoga guru BKS Iyengar dead Mumbai, August 20 His mortal remains were consigned to the flames this afternoon at the Vaikunth crematorium in Pune. His son Prashant lit the pyre amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns. Among those who came to pay their respects included several of his Indian and foreign disciples. Local politicians, including local member of the state legislative council Mohan Joshi and MLA Ramesh Bagwe, were among those in attendance. State government officials here clarified that the mortal remains of Iyengar were not cremated with state honours. It is not clear why his family did not inform the authorities. Iyengar is survived by a son and daughter.
According to doctors at the Prayag Hospital in Pune, Iyengar was admitted nearly a week ago following breathing problems. After tests indicated renal failure, the yoga guru was put under dialysis. However, the functioning of his kidneys showed no signs of improvement and, on Tuesday, doctors put Iyengar on intravenous nutrition after he lost his appetite. At the time of admission, Iyengar’s family had told the hospital that he had been ill for three weeks and under the care of his personal physician. Known for his trademark Iyengar yoga, the guru had got thousands of people in the Western world interested in the ancient form of exercise. He had been awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to condole the death of Iyengar. “Generations will remember Shri BKS Iyengar as a fine guru, scholar and a stalwart who brought yoga into the lives of many across the world. I am deeply saddened to know about yogacharya BKS Iyengar’s demise and offer my condolences to his followers all over the world,” Modi said in his message on social networking sites. In his recent interviews, Iyengar said he had taken to yoga at the age of 16 and went on to develop newer techniques. Having been a sickly child, Iyengar recovered from several illnesses through his practice of yoga. Iyengar moved to Pune in 1937 and after mastering yoga, began teaching from 1950. He has written several books on yoga including ‘Light on Yoga’, “Light on Pranayama’, and ‘Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’. Yoga helped him recover
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SIT has made progress on foreign bank accounts: SC New Delhi, August 20 A three-judge Bench headed by Justice HL Dattu, however, refused to divulge details as these were “confidential.” Nevertheless, it asked the SIT to go after those holding such secret bank accounts. The Bench comprising Justices Ranjana Desai and Madan Lokur made the remark after going through the first report of the SIT. “They are doing their work. That is what we can say,” the Bench told PIL petitioner Ram Jethmalani, who had estimated the black money in overseas tax havens at $1.4 trillion (~84 trillion) and sought the court’s directive to the government to take steps to seize it and use it for economic development. Jethmalani and his senior counsel Anil Divan pleaded with the Bench to direct the government to share the SIT report with them. The Bench, however, said it was not advisable as the information was confidential. Nevertheless, the Bench asked the SIT to interact with Jethmalani and Divan and take their suggestions for effectively getting all black money back home.
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Communal violence on the rise: Cong
New Delhi, August 20 Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the presentation of the Rajeev Gandhi Sadbhavna Award-2013 to filmmaker Muzaffar Ali today, Sonia said: “Peaceful coexistence is the best quality a human being can have and malice is the worst. Malice is to be blamed for all that’s wrong with the world. I remember how Rajivji had launched sadbhavna yatras ahead of his demise. Even in those times, like in the present, communal violence was on the rise.” Former PM Manmohan Singh took Sonia’s message further by mentioning that accommodation and harmony were the two most important virtues of the Indian society. — TNS
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New Delhi, August 20
In a move that would benefit retired armed forces personnel seeking reemployment with civilian government departments under the ex-servicemen’s quota, rules have been relaxed enabling them to avail benefits of reservation multiple times.
Earlier, once an ex-serviceman took up a government job, his ex-serviceman status for the purpose of reemployment in the government would cease.
New Delhi, August 20
New Delhi, August 20
New Delhi, August 20
The Centre had on August 6 told the Delhi HC that there was a prima facie case against HP CM Virbhadra Singh
Known for his trademark Iyengar yoga, BKS Iyengar had got thousands of people in the Western world interested in the ancient form of exercise. He had been awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan