Kolhapur, Aug 30,2024: A structural consultant involved in installation of the now-collapsed statue of Chhatrapatii Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district was arrested early Friday morning from Kolhapur city’s Shivaji Peth area, police said.
Consultant Chetan Patil was arrested in a culpable homicide case registered against him and sculptor Jaydeep Apte, a resident of Thane, for the collapse on August 26, police said.
Soon after the incident, official had claimed the 35-foot metal statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last December, crashed due to strong coastal winds.
The incident caused embarrassment to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government with the Opposition parties alleging corruption in the construction of the statue.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar later sought a public apology for the incident and assured to rebuild the statue.
On Friday, Pawar visited the Fort along with Member of Parliament Sunil Tatkare and took stock of the situation at the collapse site.
He dismissed allegations that the collapse was due to hasty installation and said the government has ordered a detail probe and guilty persons will be punished.
Nukuʻalofa (Tonga)/New Delhi, Aug 29,2024: India on Thursday offered to undertake a Quick Impact Project in each of the 14 Pacific Island Countries, based on each country’s choice, worth USD 50,000.
The offer was made by Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, in his address at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Dialogue Partners Session, in Nukuʻalofa, the capital of Tonga, which is hosting the PIF.
“As part of our continuous solidarity with our Pacific Partner Countries and the Pacific Islands Forum, I am pleased to announce that Government of India will undertake one Quick Impact Project or QIP of each country’s choice worth USD 50,000 in each of the 14 Pacific Island Countries. We will be happy to receive proposals in this regard from the respective countries,” he said.
He reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to work closely with the Pacific partner Countries and the Pacific Islands Forum, as the foremost regional mechanism, in line with the priorities outlined in the 2050 Strategy to help build a stronger, more resilient and prosperous Blue Pacific Continent.
Margherita said that India’s multifaceted engagement with the Blue Pacific Continent is anchored in its Act East Policy, and is strengthened both bilaterally and through different mechanisms such as the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC).
He highlighted the significance that India attaches to the relationship.
India’s bilateral development partnership in the form of grant-in-aid projects is worth about USD 3 million per annum. These are demand-driven and have had high impact in the 14 Pacific partner countries.
At the 3rd FIPIC Summit held in Papua New Guinea last year, Prime Minister Modi announced a 12 Point Action Plan which includes the setting up of a 100-bedded regional Super-specialty Hospital in Suva, Fiji, a Regional IT and Cyber Security Training Hub in Papua New Guinea, 1,000 Scholarships over the next five years, supply of Dialysis Units, and Generic Medicine Pharmacy outlets.
India leads a number of global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Green Grids Initiative — One Sun, One World, One Grid, the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and the Global Biofuel Alliance which benefit our Pacific partners.
India is committed to responding to the vulnerabilities caused by natural hazards in the Pacific, the MoS added.
New Delhi, Aug 27,2024: India on Monday slammed “fake videos, rumours and fear mongering” in flood-hit Bangladesh to create misunderstanding regarding release of water by India from the Farakka barrage and said that this should be firmly countered with facts.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said:
“We have seen media reports of the opening of Farraka barrage gates that will allow the flow of over 11 lakh cusecs of water downstream of the river in its natural course into the Ganga/Padma river.
“This is a normal seasonal development that takes place due to increased inflow from heavy rainfall in the Ganga river basin catchment areas upstream.
“It is to be understood that Farraka is only a barrage and not a dam. Whenever, water level reaches the pond level, whatever inflow comes that passes.
“It is merely a structure to divert 40,000 cusecs of water into the Farraka canal that is carefully done using a system of gates on the main Ganga/Padma river, while the balance water flows into the main river to Bangladesh.
“Data, as per protocol, is shared with the concerned Joint River Commission officials in Bangladesh on a regular and timely basis. It has been done this time as well.
“We have seen fake videos, rumours and fear mongering to create misunderstanding. This should be firmly countered with facts.”
The MEA response comes as Bangladeshi media reports said that India has opened all the gates of the Farakka barrage that is situated on the Ganges River in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, around 18km from the Bangladesh border.
The Dhaka Tribune reported that:
“India has opened all the gates of the Farakka Barrage due to heavy rains in Bihar and Jharkhand.
“M Inamul Haque, former director general of River Research Institute, Bangladesh Haor Development Board and Water Resources Planning Organisation, confirmed the matter on Monday”, the Dhaka Tribune said.
“The Farakka Barrage has 109 gates. Some are always open, and during the monsoon season, more gates are opened. Currently, all of them are open. There is no possibility of flooding,” he said.
“The Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre is monitoring the water level.
Farakka Barrage General Manager R Desh Pandey said the Farakka Barrage authority is always on alert and is monitoring the situation constantly.
“Given the sudden surge in water pressure, it became necessary to open all 109 gates to relieve the pressure on the barrage. Failing to do so could have caused significant damage. Currently, 40,000 cusecs of water are being released into the feeder canal, and 1.1 million cusecs downstream,” he said, according to Dhaka Tribune.
New Delhi, Aug 27,2024: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday decided to create five new districts in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The five new districts are Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, an official statement said.
Along with giving “in-principle approval” for the formation of five new districts, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Ladakh administration to form a committee to assess various aspects related to the formation of new districts.
The committee will assess aspects such as headquarters, boundaries, structure, creation of posts, any other aspect related to the formation of district etc. and submit its report within three months.
After receiving the report of the said committee, the Union Territory of Ladakh will send the final proposal regarding the creation of new districts to the Home Ministry for further action.
Informing about this decision in a post on ‘X’, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that with this decision, the new districts – Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang – will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny.
After the formation of these five districts, there will a total of seven districts in Ladakh, including Leh and Kargil.
This important decision of MHA will prove to be very useful in the all-round development of Ladakh.
New Delhi, Aug 23,2024: In view of the grave flood situation in Tripura, the Government on Friday approved the release of Rs 40 crore as the central share from SDRF to provide relief to the affected people of the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on micro blogging site X said, “Given the flood situation in Tripura, the central govt, under the leadership of Modi Ji, has approved the release of ₹40 crore in advance, as the central share from SDRF, to provide relief to the affected people”.
“The 11 NDRF teams, 3 columns of the Army, and 4 helicopters of the Air Force deployed by the Centre are already assisting the state govt. in relief and rescue operations,” Shah said in his post.
The Home Minister said, “No matter what, our sisters and brothers in Tripura will find the Modi govt standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them to battle these difficult times”.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Saha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Home Minister for the central assistance.
“I thank Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji and Hon’ble HM Shri @amitshah Ji for this much needed support in the hour of grief in Tripura due to floods. The constant support from your side is helping & motivating us to firmly fight this tough situation. I on behalf of Tripura convey my regards to the caring govt. in the central,” the Tripura CM said in a post on X.
The Chief Minister also conducted an aerial survey of the flood affected areas to asses the damage caused by the flood.
The Gomati river is still flowing above the danger mark. The state administration has shifted the people residing in nearby areas to safe places.
Dhaka, Aug 22,2024: Bangladesh’s interim government has sought 1 billion U.S. dollars from the World Bank as budgetary support.
The call came from the country’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan’s meeting with Abdoulaye Seck, the World Bank’s country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, in Dhaka Wednesday.
He made the plea as the ministry owes more than 2 billion dollars to suppliers in import costs of power and energy.
Khan mentioned that the interim government, which was formed with many pressing mandates, is due to settle a 2 billion U.S. dollars debt left by the previous government in the power sector.
He said they have already suspended activities under the much-criticized Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act 2010 and abolished the government’s power to set energy prices without any public hearing.
Israel, Aug 21,2024: Israel will sign an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages if mediators manage to bring Palestinian movement Hamas to it, an Israeli government source told Sputnik on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite objections from several of his cabinet ministers, initially and fully endorsed the Gaza plan proposed by US President Joe Biden on May 27, the source said.
“Now it is all up to Hamas. Unfortunately, in the past, due to the terrorists’ repeated failure to reach a deal, the decisive role is now given to the mediating countries: the United States, Qatar and Egypt. If they manage to bring Hamas to an agreement, Israel will sign it,” the source said, adding that the deal depends on mediators’ ability to persuade Hamas to sign Biden’s plan.
New Delhi, Aug 20,2024: The Central government on Tuesday asked the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to cancel the lateral entry advertisement issued on August 17 as per the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh in a letter to UPSC Chairman Preeti Sudan said that “While most of the major lateral entries before 2014 were made in an ad-hoc manner, including cases of alleged favouritism, efforts of our government have been to make the process institutionally driven, transparent and open.”
“The Prime Minister is of the firm belief that the process of lateral entry must be aligned with the principles of equity and social justice enshrined in our Constitution, particularly concerning the provisions of reservation,” he added.
Singh Said for the Prime Minister, ‘reservation in public employment is a cornerstone of our social justice framework, aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting inclusivity’.
The move comes a day after NDA ally and Union minister Chirag Paswan, voiced concern over making any appointments in government posts without providing reservation.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged it was an “attack” on the Dalits, OBCs and adivasis.
The UPSC last Saturday advertised for 45 posts of 10 joint secretaries and 35 of directors/deputy secretaries, to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis.
This is aimed at appointing specialists including those from the private sector in government departments.
New Delhi, August 19,2024: After the Union Public Service Commission notification for lateral entry posts ignited criticism from the opposition, sources said on Sunday that the concept of lateral entry was first introduced under the Congress-led UPA government, and was strongly endorsed by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), established in 2005 and chaired by Veerappa Moily.
The UPSC recently announced a notification for recruiting Joint Secretaries, Directors, and Deputy Secretaries through lateral entry. This decision has ignited criticism from opposition parties, who claim it undermines the reservation rights of OBCs, SCs, and STs.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns over the lateral entry of individuals into top government positions on Sunday, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is appointing public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) rather than following the traditional Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) route.
As per the sources, the Administrative Reforms Commission was tasked with recommending reforms to make the Indian administrative system more effective, transparent, and citizen-friendly.
The Second ARC, chaired by Veerappa Moily, was established to recommend reforms to enhance the effectiveness, transparency, and citizen-friendliness of the Indian administrative system. In its 10th Report titled “Refurbishing of Personnel Administration – Scaling New Heights,” the Commission emphasised the need for reforms in personnel management within the civil services. One of its key recommendations was to introduce lateral entry into higher government positions requiring specialized knowledge and skills.
Sources said today that the ARC identified that certain government roles require specialized knowledge not always available within the traditional civil services. It recommended recruiting professionals from the private sector, academia, and public sector undertakings to fill these gaps.
“The ARC proposed the creation of a talent pool of professionals who could be inducted into the government on a short-term or contractual basis, bringing fresh perspectives and cutting-edge expertise in areas such as economics, finance, technology, and public policy,” sources added.
The Commission emphasized the importance of a transparent and merit-based selection process for lateral entrants, suggesting the establishment of a dedicated agency to oversee their recruitment and management.
“The ARC recommended a robust performance management system to hold lateral entrants accountable for their work and regularly assess their contributions,” sources said.
The ARC stressed the importance of integrating lateral entrants into the existing civil services in a manner that maintains the integrity and ethos of the civil service while leveraging the specialized skills they bring.
As per the sources, the First ARC, established in 1966 under the chairmanship of Morarji Desai (later succeeded by K. Hanumanthaiah), laid the groundwork for future discussions on the need for specialized skills within civil services.
While it did not specifically advocate for lateral entry as understood today, it emphasized professionalization, training, and personnel management reforms to ensure the bureaucracy could effectively meet the challenges of a rapidly changing nation.
The Government of India has historically inducted outside talent into higher tiers of government, typically in advisory roles but occasionally even in key administrative assignments.
For instance, the Chief Economic Advisor is traditionally a lateral entrant who, according to the rules, must be below 45 years of age and is invariably an eminent economist. Additionally, several other distinguished individuals have been appointed at the highest levels as Secretaries to the Government.
Sources also mentioned that the lateral entry scheme was formally introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, driven by the recognition of the need for domain experts to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of India’s administrative machinery.
“In 2018, the government took a significant step by announcing vacancies for senior positions such as Joint Secretaries and Directors, marking the first time that professionals from both the private and public sectors were invited to apply for these high-level roles. The selection process was rigorous, emphasizing candidates’ qualifications, experience, and suitability for these strategic positions,” they said.
This initiative was not without precedent; it was deeply influenced by the recommendations of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), which had earlier laid the conceptual groundwork for lateral entry.
The ARC emphasized the importance of bringing external expertise into the civil services to make the administration more dynamic and responsive to the complexities of modern governance.
The recruitment of Joint Secretaries in 2018 effectively operationalized the ARC’s vision, demonstrating a commitment to integrating specialized skills from outside the traditional civil service framework. These reforms have continued to influence ongoing discussions about how best to modernize India’s public administration, ensuring it meets the evolving demands of governance in the 21st century.