National
Anna ‘suporters’ show PM black flags
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was shown black flags by supporters of anti – graft crusader Anna hazare at the Golden Temple in Amritser on 1 January 2012, leading the congress to condemn the protests that it said should be directed against the BJP for blocking the Lokpal Bill.
No evidence against Tata Group in 2G scam, says Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata, the Chairman of the Tata Group, has expressed happiness that the Group has come out safely in the “ 2G “ Scam on 2 January 2012 which has involved politicians, bureaucrats and executives of various companies.
Home Min rejects Mundra Port’s bid to develop Vizhinjam Seaport
Adani – promoted co wanted to develop port which could become deepest one in India
The Union home ministry on 3 January 2012 has rejected Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone’s ( SEZ ) bids to develop Kerala’s Vizhinjam International Seaport ( VISL ) and a few other projects raising doubts about the company’s expansion plans.”
Retire on May 31 : MoD to General Singh
Ministry of Defence on 3 January 2012 said to Army Chief General V K Singh to retire by May 31 due to a controversy over his Date of Birth recorded differently in the Adjutant General ( AG ) branch, the keeper of official records, and the Military Secretary ( MS ) branch, which handles postings and promotions. It is ‘ May 10, 1950 ‘ in AG branch, and ‘ May 10, 1951 ‘ in MS branch.
PM asks ministers to fill 50k quota backlogs
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 4 January 2012 instructed key ministers to seriously take up the task of filling backlog vacancies of the SCs, the STs and the OBCs after he was told that the pending seats stand at around 50, 000.
NREGS : 9,000 personnel punished
As many as 9, 000 personnel involved in implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ( NREGS ) for the past six years, have been punished on 6 January 2012 in connection with various irregularities, including simphoning of funds.
10th Pravasi Bharathiya Divas in Jaipur
The 10th Pravasi Bharathiya Divas was commenced on 7 Jan, 2012 in Jaipur, the pink city.
The chief guest, Indian-origin Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad Bissessar, arrived in Jaipur for the 10th Pravasi Bharathiya Divas. The conference took place from 7 Jan – 9 Jan. 2012.
NRIs can vote in Indian polls, says PM
Notification on Registration of Overseas Voters
Reminding non – resident Indians ( NRIs ) of the constitutional provision that allows them to vote in Indian elections, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Jan. 8, 2012 told a gathering of the diasphora from 60 countries that the government has issued notificaton for registration of overseas voters. In other words, NRIs can vote in the upcoming elections in five states.
70% milk in country adulterated
Goa, Puducherry safest places to buy milk; AP too fares well
In the 33-state study, milk was found adulterated with detergent, fat and even urea, besides siluting it with water. Across the country, 68.4% of the samples were found contaminated. Only in Goa and Puducherry did 100% of the samples tested conformed to required standards. At the other end were West Bengal, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Mizoram, where not a single sample tested met the prescribed norms.
Muslim quota : EC show-cause to Khursheed
The Election Commission on January10, 2012 night issued a show-cause notice to Union Law Minister Salman Khursheed, asking him to explain why action should not be initiated against him for his statement 9% sub-quota for backward muslims in the course of an election rally in UP.
2G note isssued with PMO’s approval
FM officials tell JPC Word ‘Perusa’ replaced ‘Approval’ after Pranab’s scrutiny
The controversial 2G note that suggested P Chidambaram as finance minister could have seized the telecom scam, was issued with the approval of the Prime Minister’s Office ( PMO ), top ministry officials told the Joint Parliamentry Committee ( JPC ) on 11 Januray 2012. The committee was also told that the word “perusal” had replaced “approval” in the context of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s scrutiny of the note in an internal noting just two days before the “backgrounder” was readied.
Govt. nod for anti – terror entity
Government on Jan. 12, 2012 finally gave its approval to set up a ‘specialized’ anti – terror body, National Counter Terrorism Centre ( NCTC ), which will work as a single-window entity to pool together and collate terror related intellegence input, draw plans to nuetralize terror modules and coordinate action among different terror agencies to defuse threats.
India asks BBC to apologize for Clarkson’s ‘cheap’ show
India on 12 January 2012 has demanded an apology from BBC over its presenter Jeremy Clarkson mocking Indian culture during a Christmas special while driving around the country, calling it a “breach” of agreement.
No polio in a year, India steps up Line of Control checks
Success in controling spread of the virus hikes global demand for Indian Docs
India has not recorded a single case of polio in 12 months — the longest ever. India has increased survelliance against polio along the Line of Control ( LoC ) bordering Pakistan.
BPL health scheme to be extended to more unorganised workers
The Government on Jan. 11, 2012 reviewed the implementation of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana ( RSBY ), the scheme launched five years ago to ensure health insurance for families living below the poverty line, saying that it will be extended to several segments of unorganised workers.
Infosys, HDFC Bank among HBR’s elite 10 growth outliers
Two Indian companies, Infosys and HDFC Bank, along with the US-based company of Indian origin Cognizant, figure in an elite group of 10 companies identified by Harcard Business Review as the companies that have consistently performed better than others around the world over a ten year period. This elite group of 10 companies is called “Growth Outlier”.
Court warns Facebook, Google
The Delhi High Court on 12 January 2012 warned Facebook and Google that their websites could be “blocked” as was done in China if they failed to devise a mechanism to remove objectionable materrials.
Govt. nod to prosecute Facebook, Google, Yahoo
The government on 13 January 2012 granted sanction to prosecute social networking websites, including Google, Facebook and Yahoo and 18 others, for allegedly promoting enmity between classes and causing prejudice to national integration, a trial court in New Delhi was informed.
Govt. supports subsidising Rural Mobile Bills
The Planning Commission has proposed that the government pay 20% of all mobile bills that are less than Rs 300 a month for customers in rural India by dipping into the funds set aside for providing subsided rural telephony. The Planning Commission had sent the proposal to the Prime Minister’s Office, which in turn has asked the telecom department to study the feasibility of the proposal on 13 January 2012.
Army Chief takes Govt to Court over Age row
Army Chief General V K Singh on 16 January 2012 moved the Supreme Court against the government’s rejection of his claim on his date of birth. In a writ petition, he is believed to have questioned the government’s decision to treat his date of birth as May 10,1950, instead of May 10,1951,as claimed by him on the basis of his matriculation certificate and other documents. This is the first time that any Service Chief has dragged the government to the court of law.
NTRO Scam: SC asks CAG report
The Supreme on 16 January 2012 asked for a copy of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report pointing out alleged irregularities in the purchase of intelligence equipment by National Technical Research Organisation (NRTO).
NAC draws up plan for shelters for over 3L urban homeless
The National Advisory Council (NAC) on 16 January 2012 has recommended a Rs. 4,250 crore programme to provide shelters and other amenities to homeless in Class 1 cities in the country. The council has suggested the National Programme for Shelters and other services for Urban homeless to set up 6,800 permanent shelters for around 3 lakh homeless.
The Scheme to be run on a 75-25% cost sharing basis between the Centre and the states with the Union government bearing the entire capital costs.
Centre files a caution against Army Chief
The Centre on 17 Jan. 2012 filed a caveat (caution) in the Supreme Court to prevent Army Chief V.K. Singh from getting any ex parte order in the writ petition filed by him challenging the defence ministry’s order fixing his date of birth on May 10, 1950, instead of treating it as May 10, 1951.
NTPC To Set Up 5MV Solar Farms in Andaman
NTCP is taking decisive steps towords renewable energy projects . it is setting up a 5 mv photovoltaic power generation unit close to port blair airport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands .
India is On 6th Nation To Have a Nuclear Sub
India ‘s long hunt for nuclear submarine is finally over . it will take another 10 – 12 months to get an operational nuclear weapon – triad the capabillity to fire nukes from land , air and water .
New Advisor To P M
Senior Television Journalist Pankaj Pachuri was appointed as communication advisor in Prime Minister’s office on 19 th Jan 2012 .and Mr .Harish Khare resingned as Media advisor to prime minister Manmohan singh . The Union cabinet of India on 24 th Jan 2012 approved renaming of Mana airport at Raipur in Chattisgarh as the Swami Viveka nanda airport.
India First Life To Sell Life Cover Through Auto Dealers
India ‘s first life insurance plans to sell life insurance policies through automobiles . Indian life insurer had tied up with Varun motors to sell the insurance cover including all vehicles .
Eliminating N T D By 2020
Around 17 Neglected Tropical Diseases ( N T D ) many of which affect millions of Indian’s are all set to get the much needed attention .A phrama company Ceo’s , Billgates along with the W H O will loosen their purse string to annouce a range of measures to achieve a common goal . N T D elimination by 2020,over $ 2 billion is needed to prevent and treat all people at risk of contracting a common NTD by 2015, According to a document released on Jan 26 th by WHO .The programme aims to improve the lives of over 1.4 billion people world wide and help them to achieve self sufficiency .WHO identified 17 NTD in149 countries , and found that one -third of 2.7 billion people living in less than $ 2 a day were effected .
Pushing Up Of Inland Waterways
The Government has moved the process to fasttrack the development and use of inland waterways transport involving the private and state run companies . The move is expected to push the high potential of inland waterways in transporting bulk cargo ,such as coal , food grains , fertilizers , project cargo , fly ash over dimensional cargo and container at competive cost for both public and private sectors . It is also expected to ease the burden on rail and road infrastructure .An agreement has been signed between the National Thermal Power Corporation and The Inland Waterways Authority of India and a private developers for the Farakka power project .
Farmer Army Vice Chief Booked
The farmer vice chief of the army , Lt.Gen ,Nobel Thamburaj ,and two other were booked by the C B I on the charges of criminal conspiracy , cheating and misconduct in settlement of land dispute .