Friday, February 28, 2014

Eminent Telugu litterateur Hanumath Shastry expires

Eminent Telugu litterateur Hanumath Shastry expires
  • The renowned Telugu writer Janamaddhi Hanamachhaastri died on 28th February 2014 in Kapada town of Andhra Pradesh. 
  • He was 90 years old. 
About Janamaddhi Hanamachhaastri:
• He wrote over 30 books in Telugu, which includes Maa seema Kavulu, Vidurudu, Tyaagamoorthulu and Mahasoudham
• For his contribution to Telugu literature, he was conferred with a doctorate by Telugu University Hyderabad
• In memory of CP Brown, he established a library in Kadapa. Brown was a British officer who helped to preserve ancient Telugu manuscripts
• He was born on 5 September 1926 in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Sony Music Launches A R Rahman and Kapil Sibal’s Album Raunaq


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  • Music album entitled Raunaq, written byKapil Sibal, the Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology was launched on 27th February 2014. 
  • It was launched by Salman Khan. This album was composed by music maestro AR Rahman. 
  • Raunaq is a video album with seven songs, all songs have been penned down by Kapil Sibbal. Songs sung by artists from the music industry including Lata Mageshkar (Laadli), Shreya Ghosal (Kismat se), Jonita Gandhi (Aa Bhi Jaa) and Rahman (Laadli and Boondein). 
  • As per Kapil Sibal, "these songs are a reflection of the current social scenario of India and reflects his view of the world that how things touched him."

Surface-to-air Akash missile successfully test-fired


Akash missile system from the Integrated Test Range test fired at Chandipur in Odisha. These were part of a series of tests being conducted in various engagement modes from the first of Production Model system produced to equip two regiments of the Army.
Akash is India’s first indigenously designed, developed and produced air defence system missile capable of engaging aerial threats up to a distance of approximately 25 km.
The multi-target, multi-directional, all-weather air-defence system consisting of surveillance and tracking radars is designed to enable integration with other air defence command and control networks through secured communication links
Developed by DRDO, Akash is being produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) as the nodal production agency with the involvement of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and a large number of other industries.
The total production value of Akash air defence systems cleared for induction by Indian Army and Indian Air Force is more than Rs. 23,000 crore.
The missile was developed under DRDO’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme using state-of-the-art technology. It could be launched to engage and destroy fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and other targets. Supported by phased array Rajendra radar, which can track 64 targets, Akash missiles are guided towards their targets.
The warhead of the missile gets triggered by radio proximity fuze, while the onboard digital autopilot helps in stability and manoeuvring capability.
Akash missile is an air defence weapon system and capable of engaging multiple targets. It can thrust all the way up to the target because of its ramjet propulsion. It can fly at supersonic speed reaching a maximum of 2.5 Mach and engage the enemy aircraft at a maximum range of 25 km
The missile was bang on target — a pilotless aircraft. The Akash weapon system is an all-weather, air defence system for defending valuable assets from aerial attacks. The missile can engage adversarial aircraft flying at a distance of 25 km. It can target fighter-aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and cruise missiles.

Related information
AkashAkash is a medium range surface-to-air missile developed as part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Program to achieve self-sufficiency in the area of surface-to-air missiles. It is the most expensive missile project ever undertaken by the Union government in the 20th century. The missile is completely guided by the Radar, without any active guidance of its own. This allows it greater capability against jamming as the aircraft self-protection jammer would have to work against the high power Rajendra, and the aircraft being attacked is not alerted by any terminal seeker on the Akash itself.
Integrated Guided Missile Development Program- The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was an Indian Ministry of Defenceprogram for the research and development of a comprehensive range of missiles. The program was managed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Ordnance Factories Board in partnership with other Indian government research organizations. The project started in early 1980s and ended in 2008 after these strategic missiles were successfully developed. The last major missile developed under the program was the Agni 3intermediate-range ballistic missile which was successfully tested on 9 July 2007.
Rajendra radar- Rajendra is a passive phased array radar developed by theDefence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), an agency of theRepublic of India. It is multifunction radar, capable of surveillance, tracking and engaging low radar cross section targets.
It is the heart of the Akash surface-to-air missile system and is the primary fire control sensor for an Akash battery. The Rajendra Multi-Function Phased Array radar system, designed at the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), part of DRDO, is currently in production at Bharat Electronics. It is named after India’s First president Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Rajendra is a slewable passive phased array radar used for 3-D target detection, multi target tracking and multiple missile guidance under extreme hostile EW environment. It makes use of a passive phased array to search a volume of space, distinguish between hostile and friendly targets, automatically track up to 64 targets and command one of several launchers to engage up to 4 targets simultaneously. Initially designed as a standalone system, Rajendra is now equipped with the ability to integrate with a network of sensors, including long and medium-range surveillance radars of foreign and indigenous origin.

MCA notifies new CSR rules, to come into effect from April 1


New CSR rules notified  by Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs notified new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules for companies on 27th February 2014. 
These new CSR rules will become effective from 1st April 2014.
The new rules give effect to Section 135 and Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.
Provisions : 
  • Companies falling under ambit are required to spend 2 % of their 3 year average annual net profit on CSR activities in each financial year, beginning from the next fiscal year 2014-15.
  • Company has to declare its CSR policy. This policy should mention plans/ activities /programmes or projects. These works should not be a part of routine business activities.
  • Companies can undertake CSR activities as per the approval of the company’s board and decision of its CSR Committee in accordance with its CSR policy.
  • Rules also define the manner in which CSR committee should formulate and monitor CSR policy, role of board of directors.
  • A Company is permitted to collaborate with other companies in pursuing their CSR activities but they need to show their CSR reports separately.
  • Companies are permitted to spend only 5% of the total CSR expenditure for manpower required for CSR activities in a single financial year. The manpower would include company’s own personnel and those of the implementing agencies.
  • Company can also carry out CSR activities with a Society or a registered trust.
  • Surplus from CSR activities cannot become a part of the profit of the company.
  • Any type of contributions to any political party will not be treated as CSR activities. 
  • Spending for the benefit of the company’s own employees also cannot be a part of CSR activity.
  • All CSR activities will have to be within India.
  • The new rules will be applicable to the foreign companies registered in India.
CSR activities included in Schedule VII
• Protection of national heritage, art and culture which include restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art
• Promotion and development of traditional arts and handicraft
• Setting up public libraries
• Setting up homes and hostels for orphans
• Setting up old age homes 
• Setting up day care centres
• Setting up of homes and hostels for women
• Training to promote rural sports, nationally recognized sports, Olympic sports and paralympic sports
• Contributions or funds provided to technology incubators located within academic institutions which are approved by the 
Central Government
• Works to making safe drinking water available
• Maintaining quality of soil, air and water
• Conservation of natural resources 
• Ensuring ecological balance
• Protection of flora and fauna, animal welfare, agro-forestry
• Rural development projects
• Livelihood enhancement projects
• Promoting healthcare and sanitation 
• Measures for reducing inequalities faced by socially and economically backward groups
• Efforts which benefit war widows, armed forces veterans and their dependents

Radiation from cell towers in India not harmful: Panel

A dedicated website will be set up to let the public know how much emission occurs from every tower in the country.
The DoT will create a national EMF Web portal to provide the public access to the status of compliance with the prescribed EMF norms of all BTSs [base transceiver stations that produce electromagnetic fields] and mobile towers and related relevant information.
DOT will continue the extensive audit of self-certificates being provided by the telecom service providers in order to ensure compliance with the prescribed stricter norms of EMF radiation.
At present, the department has no permanent mechanism to check emissions on a daily basis and it depends on “self-certification” from the operators. It carries out random checks and penalizes operators whose towers emit excess radiation.
The DoT adopted the EMF radiation limits prescribed by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 2008, which were further reduced to one-tenth of the safe limit prescribed by ICNIRP with effect from 2012. All telecom service providers have to comply with these prescribed limits.
WHO has been investigating the health effects of electromagnetic fields for last 18 years
The EMF project noted in September: “Despite extensive research, to date there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields is harmful to human health. The limits in international standards have not changed for over 15 years because no research has found any health effects below these levels. There are needs to be research on the effect of mobile phones on children. Studies conducted so far have not shown that they are more sensitive to EMF than adults.
Another area of concern is the radiation emitted by the fixed infrastructure used in mobile telephony, such as base stations and their antennas, which provide the link to and from mobile phones. This is because, in contrast to mobile handsets, it is emitted continuously and is more powerful at close quarters. On the other hand, field intensities drop rapidly with distance away from the base of transmitters because of the attenuation of power with the square of distance.
In order to protect the population living around base stations and users of mobile handsets, governments and regulatory bodies adopt safety standards, which translate to limits on exposure levels below a certain value. There are many proposed national and international standards, but that of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is the most respected one, and has been adopted so far by more than 80 countries. For radio stations, ICNIRP proposes two safety levels: one for occupational exposure, another one for the general population. Currently there are efforts underway to harmonize the different standards in existence.
Radio base licensing procedures have been established in the majority of urban spaces regulated either at municipal/county, provincial/state or national level. Mobile telephone service providers are, in many regions, required to obtain construction licenses, provide certification of antenna emission levels and assure compliance to ICNIRP standards and/or to other environmental legislation. The safety standards in the U.S. are set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC has based its standards primarily on those standards established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), specifically Subcommittee 4 of the “International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety”.

India, Israel sign homeland security agreement


  • The Governments of India and Israel have signed a number of agreements on cooperation in legal assistance and Public and Homeland Security.
  • The agreements relate to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Protection of Classified Material and Agreement on Cooperation in Homeland and Public Security.
  • The pacts were signed by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry Rajiv Sharma and Ambassador of Israel in India Alon Ushpiz and one agreement by Director in the Ministry of Defence Amir Kain.
  • Both the countries are facing wrath of terrorism and terrorism is a global threat. To eliminate terrorism, such agreements are necessary for both the countries. Such agreements also strengthen bilateral relations.

  • Earlier, India and Israel had signed the Extradition Treaty and Agreement for the transfer of sentenced persons in 2012.

Astrosat, an astronomical satellite

  • The Indian Space Research Organization intends launching Astrosat, an astronomical satellite, in 2015. 
  • The country’s first satellite dedicated to astronomy, which will gaze out at the universe in x-ray, ultraviolet and visible light bands. 
  • To be launched aboard a PSLV rocket, the satellite would have six pieces of equipment built by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
  • ASTROSAT will be a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an IRS-class satellite in a 650-km, near-equatorial orbit. 
  • The expected operating life time of the satellite will be five years. 
  • The data its instruments supply should help scientists to have better understanding of the ways of the cosmos, whether it is black holes.
  • ASTROSAT is envisaged to be a National Observatory which will be available for astronomical observations to any researcher in India. 
  • Although most of the observation time will be for the use of Indian researchers, a part of the ASTROSAT observation time will also be made available to International astronomical community on a competitive basis.


India and Saudi Arabia Sign Defense Cooperation Pact

India and Saudi Arabia Sign Defense Cooperation Pact
  • India and Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defense Cooperation on 26 February 2014 in New Delhi. 
  • The MoU is the result of Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud’s visit to India. 
  • al Saud is the crown prince, the deputy prime minister, and the defense minister of Saudi Arabia. 
  • His visit to India marks the highest-level visit by a Saudi leader to India since King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud visited the country in 2006.
  • The agreement was signed between Dr. Nizar Bin Obaid Madani, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Jitendra Singh, Indian Minister of State for Defense. 
  • The two sides additionally discussed a range of bilateral issues and intend to deepen their cooperation as part of their strategic partnership. 
  • According to Livemint, the MoU “will allow exchange of defense-related information, military training and education as well as cooperation in areas varying from hydrography and security to logistics.”
  • The first indicator that India and Saudi Arabia were serious about cooperating on defense matters came in 2012 when the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia joint committee on defense cooperation took place in New Delhi. Back then, the two expressed interest in defense exchanges and increasing military-to-military contacts. The 2012 meeting was spearheaded by Saudi Major General Suleiman Saleh al-Khalifa, Chief of Armed Forces Operations.
  • The cornerstone of the strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia in recent years has been the 2010 Riyadh Declaration. Signed between King Abdullah and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the declaration set forth a roadmap for a closer Saudi-Indian bilateral relationship even though it was relatively light on defense cooperation. The Riyah Declaration built on the 2006 Delhi Declaration which was signed during King Abdullah’s trip to New Delhi. The Delhi Declaration was the first major bilateral interaction between India and Saudi Arabia; both sides acknowledged it to herald a “new era” in Indo-Saudi ties.
  • The two found it difficult to forge closer ties earlier given Saudi Arabia’s support for Pakistan both materially and diplomatically. Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan during the India-Pakistan War of 1971. King Abdullah’s 2006 visit to India and the Delhi Declaration saw the bilateral relationship develop independently of Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Pakistan, which continues to be close. India’s interest in Saudi Arabia stems from the latter’s role as a major energy supplier and regional power. Additionally, approximately 2.88 million Indian nationals live in Saudi Arabia, comprising the largest expatriate community there.
  • For Saudi Arabia, the defense pact with India comes a month after it concluded a defense cooperation agreement with Indonesia, signaling increased attention eastwards by Riyadh. Riyadh traditionally pursues close relations with significant Muslim countries across the world. Although Muslims are a minority in India – comprising around 12 percent of the total population – India has the third largest Muslim population globally in absolute numbers. Approximately 100 million Muslims live in India according to the 2010 Pew Research Estimate.
  • India’s foreign policy in the Middle East continues to remain relatively independent of the region’s geopolitical dynamics. The MoU on defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia comes at a time when India’s relations with Israel and Iran continue to remain warm.
Important to note : 
  • Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest partner with bilateral trade of over $43 billion in 2012-13. Saudi Arabia is also India's largest crude oil supplier accounting for about one-fifth of total imports in 2012-13.

Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill of India

  • The Bill sets up an independent authority, the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI), to regulate organisms and products of modern biotechnology.
  • BRAI will regulate the research, transport, import, containment, environmental release, manufacture, and use of biotechnology products.
  • Regulatory approval by BRAI will be granted through a multi-level process of assessment undertaken by scientific experts.
  • BRAI will certify that the product developed is safe for its intended use.  All other laws governing the product will continue to apply.
  • A Biotechnology Regulatory Appellate Tribunal will hear civil cases that involve a substantial question relating to modern biotechnology and hear appeals on the decisions and orders of BRAI.
  • Penalties are specified for providing false information to BRAI, conducting unapproved field trials, obstructing or impersonating an officer of BRAI and for contravening any other provisions of the Bill.
A number of people and organizations are opposed to BRAI, including Greenpeace. Reasons given for opposition include:
  • The bill bypasses the Right to Information
  • The technical expert committee recommends that the regulatory body be located in the MoEF and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The BRAI under the Ministry of Science and Technology will clearly result in a conflict of interest.
  • Deviation from task force report
  • Authority of state government is undermined because agriculture is a state subject under Indian constitution.
The key areas of controversy related to GMO food are whether such food should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the objectivity of scientific research and publication, the effect of genetically modified crops on health and the environment, the effect on pesticide resistance, the impact of such crops for farmers, and the role of the crops in feeding the world population.
The release of transgenic crops in India is governed by the Indian Environment Protection Act, which was enacted in 1986. The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC), Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) and Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) all review any genetically modified organism to be released, with transgenic crops also needing permission from the Ministry of Agriculture. India regulators cleared the Bt brinjal, a genetically modified eggplant, for commercialization in October 2009. Following opposition from some scientists, farmers and environmental groups a moratorium was imposed on its release in February 2010.
Biofortification- Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of staple crops is enhanced. This is done through conventional plant breeding and/or modern technology. More research is needed, but it is hoped that people who consume biofortified crops will have an improved nutritional intake.
Various Biofortification projects are underway, including:
  • iron-Biofortification of rice, beans and sweet potato
  • zinc-Biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato and maize
  • Provitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava.


Biofortification capitalizes on the consistent daily intake of food staples, thus indirectly targeting low-income households who cannot afford a more diverse diet. Biofortified crops, either by conventional breeding methods or by modern biotechnological tools, are not a panacea. The ultimate aim in global nutrition remains a sufficient and diverse diet for the world’s population. However, biofortified crops can complement existing micronutrients interventions, can have a significant impact on the lives and health of millions of people, especially those most in need.

28 February observed as National Science Day across India


28 February observed as National Science Day across India
National Science Day was observed across the India on 28th February 2014.
This day is celebrated annually to mark the discovery of the "Raman effect" by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on 28 February 1928.
The Theme of the science day of 2014 was "Fostering Scientific Temper and Energy conservation". This day is celebrated every year on this day to spread a message about the significance of scientific applications in the daily life of the people. 
Important to note : 
  • The National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) in 1986 asked the Government of India to designate 28 February as National Science Day. 
  • Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for discovery of Raman Effect

India to block U.S. trade probes, ready for fight at WTO

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) speaks as U.S. President Barack Obama looks on, during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington September 27, 2013. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
  • India has decided to block the investigations by the United States into its trade policies and patent laws, and prepare for a battle at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 24 February 2014.
  • India is furious about a threat of trade sanctions made by the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office over its protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), preference for domestic producers and non-trade barriers. 
  • India has since hardened its stance, instructing officials not to allow any request from the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to examine India’s trade practices.

WTO cases and Consequences:
  • The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which represents about 50 US business groups, asked the USTR to designate India a Priority Foreign Country in USTR’s 2014 report. The designation appropriately will rank India among the very worst violators of intellectual property rights and establish a process leading to concrete solutions.
  • US regarded India as a serial trade offender where US firms unhappy about imports of everything from shrimp to steel pipes and lack of fair access to the Indian market for its goods. The USTR listed 12 report markets in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad as being among the worst offenders globally for the sale of pirated software and counterfeit goods.
  • The US is going to fill its second case at the WTO over domestic content requirements in India's solar programme, which aims to ease energy shortages in Asia's third-largest economy.
  • India urged the US administration consider the trade issues in the context of the wider economic and strategic relationship between the two countries.

United States International Trade Commission
• The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is an agency of more than 200 committed professionals with decades of specialized experience in trade issues and regions of the world.
• The USTR negotiates directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, to resolve disputes, and to participate in global trade policy organizations.
• USTR was established in 1962, headquarters at Washington and other offices in Geneva and Brussels.

Today's Editorial 01 March 2014

        Theatrics of Lokpal

Source: By MG Devasahayam: The Statesman
After carpet-bombing the airwaves with anti-corruption rhetoric for several months, Arvind Kejriwal, the enfant terrible of the ‘India Against Corruption” (IAC) campaign, openly declared that civil society led by Anna Hazare was impotent and the only way to combat corruption was to capture political power. Accordingly, he and his entourage morphed into a political party and briefly ‘captured’ power in Delhi with him as the Chief Minister. Before his hurried resignation, Kejriwal came out with the ‘rogue’s gallery’ of the most-corrupt politicians who actually run India’s democracy-turned-kleptocracy. Subsequently he went ahead and filed an FIR against a much bigger corporate shark.

The ‘Kejriwal List’ has several ‘big-fish’. The question is: Where have these corrupt kleptocrats gone, now that the Lokpal Act has been enacted? By all accounts they are where they are and in no way afraid of the ‘mighty Ombudsman’. Because the Lokpal as contemplated now is unwieldy, top-heavy, and its focus has been heavily diluted. The way things are and given the possibility of favourite agenda-men filling up Lokpal positions, this supposedly anti-corruption bulwark could turn out to be a damp squib.

To find out why, one needs to go back to 2009 when UPA-II formed the Government with the Congress in a stronger position. This was when some serious cases of corruption and loot ~ the Satyam scam, 2G scandal, Jharkand mining ~ started surfacing. The big-guns boomed against ‘corruption-in-high places’, creating an impression that eventually the debilitating cancer afflicting India’s governance and society, is meeting its nemesis and aam aadmi can look forward to good and honest governance in the near future.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself led the charge. Addressing a conference of CBI and anti-corruption officials at the state level, he said: “High-level corruption should be pursued aggressively. There is a pervasive feeling that while petty cases get tackled quickly, the big-fish escape punishment. This has to change.”

Then came the Chief Justice of India, KG Balakrishnan, firing on all cylinders. He sought confiscation of assets of persons convicted of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Speaking at the national seminar on “Fighting Crimes Related to Corruption”, organised jointly by the CBI and the National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, he said: “The rationale behind the same is that if a public official amasses wealth at the cost of the public, then the state is justified in seizing such assets.”

Union Minister for Law and Justice went a step further and called for the amendment of Articles 309, 310 and 311 of the Constitution, thus removing protection and safeguards in prosecuting corrupt public servants. “There is a feeling that the protection given to the public servants under Article 311 of the Constitution is being used to create obstacles for expeditious punitive action.”

As if in response to the cacophony, bigger and worse scandals ~ Commonwealth Games, Coalgate, Isro-Antrax, the aircraft carrier Gorshkov, the Tatra truck, Augusta-Westland, NSEL, Air India purchase, loot of resources ~ surfaced and many more, like the KG Basin loot, were churning under the surface.

As it turned out, the PM, CJI and Law Minister have been hypocritical to the core. The Prime Minister’s charade against corruption was more of an ‘image makeover’ to attract foreign investment; it was not a genuine effort towards honest governance. He made it clear when he said: “Pervasive corruption in our country tarnishes our image. It also discourages investors, who expect fair treatment and transparent dealings”. The higher judiciary, including the then CJI, were themselves enmeshed in controversies over corruption and amassing huge wealth, denying access under the Right to Information Act and attempted elevation to the Supreme Court of people accused of corruption and land-grabbing . The Law minister along with his trusted Attorney-General was working overtime to suppress the scandals; they even went to the extent of filing false affidavits in the courts of law. In the event the ‘corrupt big-fish’ were growing bigger and stronger without any remorse or restraint.

In the Indian context, the ‘big-fish’ is represented by ministers, members of Parliament, judges, top-rung bureaucrats and other constitutional functionaries who wield enormous power and influence without corresponding accountability or rules to regulate their conduct. Institutions of Lokpal and Lokayukta were precisely aimed at reining in and punishing such characters. There are ‘vigilance’ bodies to discipline small fry.

The first Lokpal Bill was introduced and passed in the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968-69. However, while it was pending in the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved, resulting in the first death of the Bill. It was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008. On every occasion, the Bill was referred to some committee or other for ‘improvements’, and before the government could take a final call on the issue the House was dissolved.

Though Lokayuktas have been constituted in 17 states, their power, function and jurisdiction are not uniform. Deliberate lacunae have been left in legislation creating the office, apparently to keep the elected representatives outside the meaningful jurisdiction of the Lokayukta, even when the laws appear to include them. Lokayuktas cannot take suo motu cognisance of even scandalizing corruption; they have no independent investigative machinery and are dependent on the government agencies, thereby making these Ombudsman-type bodies virtually non-functional.

Even 45 years after its initiation, such eminent ‘watchdog institutions’ conceived as the public bulwark against ‘corruption-in-high places’ were either non-existent or non-functional. They didn’t go beyond seminars and speeches. In the event, while the venal and the corrupt strode this land like colossus, dominating its political, administrative, judicial and business spectrum, the conscientious and the honest shrunk and faded away. This has been India’s true tragedy and the harbinger of state kleptocracy.

The recent struggle for the Lokpal was started by the Gandhian Satyagraha Brigade, the rejuvenated version of the Lok Sevak Sangh of Servants of the People Society founded by Lala Lajpat Rai in 1921 and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The struggle was led by nonagenarian Shambhu Dutt of Quit India vintage, and stalwart of the JP movement of the 1970s. In fact after a frustrating crusade he had decided to offer the ‘supreme sacrifice’ by going on ‘fast-unto-death’ starting from 30 January 2010, Gandhi’s martyrdom day, but was promptly dissuaded. It was this struggle that was taken up by Anna Hazare, Swami Agnivesh, Prashant Bushan, Justice Santosh Hegde, Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal when they released the draft Jan Lokpal Bill in December 2010. The movement of India Against Corruption followed with its quota of theatrics and in full media glare.

The Lokpal Act that has come out of this glare is testimony to India’s immense propensity for jugaad ~ dramatise things, but achieve nothing. The Act is more of a farce. The institution, as contemplated, is unwieldy, top-heavy, and the focus has been heavily diluted by including millions of Class III and Class IV government employees within its ambit though action on their corruption would be the responsibility of CVC. Ironically, the Kejriwal-driven Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill is also in the same league ~ covering all public servants from the Chief Minister to Group D employees, making it as unfocussed as the Central act. This serious aberration will protect the corrupt ‘big-fish’ who actually run India’s kleptocracy while chasing petty bribe-takers. In the event, the very purpose of setting up the high-profile Ombudsman stands defeated. That probably was the intention behind all the theatrics.

There have been desperate efforts to constitute the Lokpal in a tearing hurry by bulldozing decisions to facilitate appointment of ‘favourites’ as Chairman and members. It looks as if the Lokpal will be dismembered even before it is put in place. It is in this ‘ambience’ that the ‘Kejriwal List’, a la the infamous ‘Schindler’s List’, is floating around. The latter had the ex-Nazis on the run. Will the former put India’s ‘kleptocrats’ on the run too? The jury is out.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Sourav Kothari Bagged National Billiard Championship title


Sourav Kothari Bagged National Billiard Championship title
  • Sourav Kothari won the National Billiard Championships held in Lucknow on 26 February 2014. 
  • Sourav Kothari bagged this title by beating Alok Kumar by 5-3. 
  • This is the first maiden title for Saurav Kothari. Sourav Kothari and Alok Kumar both play for Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB).
  • Third position was secured by B. Bhaskar who beat Dhruv Sitwala.

Minister Gulam Nabi Azad inaugurated AIIMS Bhubaneswar


Minister Gulam Nabi Azad inaugurated AIIMS Bhubaneswar
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Gulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar on 26 February 2014.  During inauguration an e-Card system was also introduced. e-Card system (also known as health card) will help the patients to know about the disease, doctor assigned and treatment.
About AIIMS Bhubaneswar : 
  • It is built over an area of 125000 square metre.
  • It has three operation theatres (OTs), a recovery ward, four high dependant units.
  • It has overall 978 beds.

Legendary Guitarist Paco de Lucia died at 66


Legendary Guitarist Paco de Lucia died at 66
Legendary Spanish guitarist Paco de Luciapassed away in Mexico on 26 February 2014. He was 66. He suffered a heart attack on Tuesday. 
He recorded his first album at the age of 18 in Madrid.
He won numerous awards and considerd among top guitarists of all time.
Few awards were : 
  • UK Bafta award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1985
  • Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias Prize for Art in 2004
  • Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts in 1992
  • Latin Grammy awards in 2004 and 2012

Today's Editorial 28 February 2014

                            Luring the voters

Source: Sudhanshu Ranjan: Deccan Herald
It can be argued that a laptop or a cycle may be of immense use to a student of a BPL family and can be rationalised for knowledge creation.

Political parties and leaders are very generous in making fabulous promises and showing tantalising future to the people, the master in a democracy. Had even a fraction of these promises been actuated, the country would have been converted into a paradise long back. Promises made for the eradication of poverty, extirpation of corruption, improving the service sector beyond imagination, etc. couched in tautological words prove to be deceptive and hollow.

Some parties promise the moon and the people get nightmare. But not so any more if the new guidelines issued by the Election Commission are enforced. It categorically says that manifestos should reflect the rationale for promises made and indicate the ways and means to fulfill them. The EC has added a section on election manifestos to its model code of conduct (MCC). Several restrictions, including desisting from making announcements  that “exert undue influence on voters in exercising their franchise” will now be binding on parties in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. The EC is emphatic, “Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled.”

The whole process was initiated after the Supreme Court, in its judgment on July 5, 2013 in S. Subramaniam v. Govt of Tamil Nadu, directed the EC to frame guidelines in respect of contents of election manifestos in consultation with all recognised parties. The court observed, “Although, the law is obvious that the promises in the election manifesto cannot be construed as corrupt practice, under section 123 of the RP Act, the reality cannot be ruled out that  distribution of freebies of any kind, undoubtedly, influences all people. It shakes the root of free and fair elections to a large degree.”

Article 324 of the Constitution enjoins the EC to hold a free and fair poll and it gives sweeping powers to the commission to ensure it. The MCC has got no statutory basis but has evolved consensually after all political parties agreed to it. But on this issue, most of the political parties appear to be thoroughly opposed to it considering it a case of overreach. The EC made it clear that it agrees in principle with the point of view that framing of manifestos is the right of political parties, it cannot gloss over the undesirable impact of some of the promises and offers on the conduct of free and fair elections and maintaining level playing field for all political parties and candidates.

The new guidelines mandate that the election manifesto shall not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution and further that it shall be consistent with the letter and spirit of MCC, political parties should avoid making such promises which are likely to vitiate the purity of election process or exert undue influence on voters, and finally, in the interest of transparency and level playing field and credibility of promises, manifestos should specify how these are to be implemented.

Welfare measures

Regarding promises relating to welfare measures, the EC admits that the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution enjoin upon the state to formulate various welfare measures for citizens and there can hardly be any objection to the promise of such measures, but it should not be such as to allure voters.

It is true that political parties make promises of distributing freebies like laptops, grinder mixers or cycles. But it is difficult to understand how it vitiates the election process when the Supreme Court has also admitted that what were once luxuries had become necessities and the concept of livelihood could not be confined to bare physical survival. However, the court threw a googly that such promises influence voters. The basic problem is that some aspects of these guidelines are quite vague and subject to interpretation.

A grinder mixer can be a boon to innumerable impoverished women who slog out in kitchen day in and day out. This will lead to increased productivity and subsequently of income due to woman’s efforts and will add to the gross national product. Similarly, a laptop or a cycle may be of immense use to a student of a BPL family and can be rationalised for knowledge creation.

Political parties can also adduce ways and means to mobilise finances, but the question is how to hold them accountable if they do not deliver on it. The EC ceases to have any role once the elections are over. Moreover, most of the members of different political parties do not go through manifestos much less voters. If everything, right from rationale to mobilisation of finances, is to be mentioned, it will become a turgid book which hardly anyone will read. Voters vote on perception, not on promises made in manifestos. Parties fighting and making filthiest accusations against one another form post-poll alliance to form government. The Bahujan Samaj Party does not publish any manifesto, and yet it gets an impressive percentage of votes. Further, voters do not go by broad-based promises like Garibi Hatao. They want specific assurances, if at all they go by manifestos.

Manifesto is derived from the Latin word manifestum which means clear or conspicuous. Its first recorded use in English is from 1620, in Nathaniel Brent’s translation of Paolo Sarpi’s History of the Council of Trent: “To this citation he made answer by a Manifesto” (p. 102). Similarly, “They were so far surprised with his manifesto, that they would never suffer it to be published.” The need of the hour is to make these manifestos binding. In the UK, an election manifesto is traditionally considered to be binding. It is not uncommon during Common Question Time for Opposition MPs to state: “In your manifesto you said… why hasn’t this happened?”