States News and Discussions

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 10 Jan 2013 18:40

About current events on the border, barbarism from pukis stand out as the most barbaric.

The Aman ki Asha crowd, that has been addressed by earlier Finance Minister link and current President link, seems to have failed to address terrorism and barbarism even on the border. Brave soldiers defending motherland is a wall to the barbarians from across the border who don't mind to go to any extent for their nefarious barbarism.

As such it is clear that even Aman ki Asha, that has popular support from across the border, is unable to address issues of terrorism and barbarism from across the border. There is no point having any special status for J&K therefore where border are attacked which is a huge challenge to people and against peace and prosperity of motherland.

disha · Post by **disha** » 12 Jan 2013 11:16

Excellent article on Vibrant Gujarat summit

http://www.niticentral.com/2013/01/vibr ... ption.html

Picture this – A State gets ravaged by twin blows of a killer earthquake in 2001 and communal riots in 2002. Hardly has it collected its remains after the earthquake that riots tear it apart again. Nature’s fury coupled with man’s rage makes sure that investor confidence in the State is at an all-time low. The future appears very bleak.

What would be our expectation from such a State? At best, it would be surviving on relief packages and hand-outs by the Central Government with people slowly getting their act together. If we had a shrewd politician at the helm, all he would have wanted was special status for the State. Yes, we are talking about Gujarat, but happily for most people, and sadly for others, what actually happened in Gujarat after 2002 was totally unexpected.

Ten years after being in such a precarious position, today Gujarat invariably lands on the podium wherever it competes. The reason for such a massive and rapid turnaround is the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. He realised that an influx of industries leads to an influx of investment which in turns leads to a spurt in employment. To facilitate the arrival of industries, he minimised the delays and roadblocks caused by bureaucracy. He was the first Chief Minister with a vision devoid of any political gain. That vision culminated in the form of Vibrant Gujarat Investor Summit which is held biannually since 2003.

As it has always been the case with him, anything associated with Narendra Modi cannot escape the criticism of ‘secular’ media. Ditto with Vibrant Gujarat. Something as innocuous as inviting entrepreneurs under one roof attracts a large number of conspiracy theories too. There are a lot of people now trying to find loopholes in the Vibrant Gujarat success story. Sorry, but these loopholes do not exist.

First of all, because it is not any normal mandatory Government scheme which has to be evaluated in terms of success percentage. Secondly because, it is a voluntary initiative of Gujarat Government to fast-track investments. So whatever investment materialises from the MOUs, is actually positive growth. There cannot be any negative about such an initiative. It should also be noted that routine investments also do take place aside from the Vibrant Gujarat Summit round the year. These numbers are often conveniently excluded.

A lot of hue and cry has been made about the actual investments made after the summits. 66,068 crore were pledged in the 2003 summit of which 52.5 per cent investments materialised. That is around 34,686 crore. In 2005, 50.88 per cent of the 1.06 lakh crore were actually invested, taking this amount to around 53,932 crore. MOUs worth 4.65 lakh crore were signed in 2007 and 35.24 per cent of the investment has come in so far. Thus the total investment is 1,63,866 Crore. The total investment promised in 2009 was 12.39 lakh crore out of which 15.10 per cent is already invested. This amount turns out to be 1,87,089 crore.

In 2011, MOUs worth 20.83 lakh crore were signed and investments worth 29,895 crore have been realised. In addition, projects worth 2.49 lakh crore are under implementation. Government records also suggest that MoUs (from the first four Summits) totalling a further Rs 5.03 lakh crore are in various stages of implementation.

Thus, while vested interests may try to paint a contrasting picture, the reality is that Vibrant Gujarat Summits are breaking their own records year after year. Even if we forget the MOU’s for a while, the actual investments rose from Rs 34,686 crore in 2003 to Rs 53,932 crore in 2005 to Rs 1,63,866 crore in 2007 to Rs 1,87,089 crore in 2009. Are these numbers a small feat?

Now, if we add up the investments received and those under implementation, the figure that we get is a staggering Rs 12,21,468 crore. This has materialised in a period of 10 years only due to the untiring efforts of Narendra Modi and his team.
Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013 appears set to break all records in terms of MOUs, investments, ideas, innovations and entrepreneurship.

Most recently at Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013

» Government of Gujarat has signed an MoU with Isis Innovation (a subsidiary of Oxford University) to promote research and innovation in the State.

» Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has signed an MoU with the Government of Gujarat to create 50 PhDs in various sectors evey year.

» Triveni Engineering has signed an MoU with the Gujarat Government regarding clean water projects.

(Source: DeshGujarat)

disha · Post by **disha** » 12 Jan 2013 11:38

Meanwhile somebody is burning ... with envy ...

http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/singly- ... butter-up/

Mahatma Gandhi was an apostle of peace. Narendra Modi, clearly, is not. But he is nobody’s fool. So when Anil Ambani compares the Gujarat chief minister to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, I do not think even Modi believes a single word of what he says.

So it sounds, ridiculous, to say the least, when people like Anil Ambani take sycophancy to such extremes , demeaning not just themselves but the entire spirit and ethos of India and what Mahatma Gandhi really stood for and did for the country – bring the might British to their knees without shedding a drop of blood, compelling someone of the calibre of Albert Einstein to state that future generations would scarcely believe that such an apostle as this one walked this earth.

I spent the better part of December 2012 travelling Gujarat and I was under tremendous attack – no, not from Modi supporters who might have good cause to hate me for my opposition to Modi’s politics, but by those opposed to Narendra Modi, including many in his own BJP. They all equated me with the “national media” — when they probably meant national television channels –and blamed me for the “national media’s one-sided view” on Narendra Modi. “You guys are fascinated by him, feed out of his hands and never ask questions or project the opposite views.”

At one of Modi’s Vibrant Gujarat seminars, he had signed an MoU with detergent manufacturer Nirma to set up a cement plant in Mahuva in Saurashtra for which he allotted wetlands belonging to tribals for the factory. He would not back down on several; appeals so they rose up in arms – but despite the allegedly government-perpetrated violence against Muslims in 2002, all Gujaratis told me they are a peaceful people and so always adopt the Gandhian way of protest, not a violent one like Singur,

“Ours was a Singur-like agitation but without any bloodshed. However, because we were not violent, none of you were interested in reporting our movement in the national media,” I was told by many a Gujarati. Ultimately they had to take recourse in the Supreme Court to get back their wetlands and during the elections they were hopeful that the people would return Gujarat to Mahatma Gandhi and not to Narendra Modi.

When that did not happen, they blamed the national media again for not bringing the genuine problems of the people to the fore and keeping the people of Gujarat in the dark. “When our people do not know what really is ailing their state, how do you expect them to do anything but believe in the so-called Modi magic?” Hemant Fitter, a former BJP man, now with Keshubhai Patel’s Gujarat Parivartan Party asked me.

Just days before the Vibrant Gujarat event got underway this year, he called me again to acquaint me with the news of the Supreme Court verdict against Narendra Modi’s government over the appointment of a Lokayukta. Modi has been resisting the appointment for years but now the apex court has decreed that he must appoint an ombudsman. “Had this verdict been favourable to Modi, he would have keyed the national media to run reports about his so-called `victory’ for at least a week, if not the whole month. But now that it has gone against him, no one even talks about it. This is what I mean by saying the national media does not care about truth; they are merely taken in by the Modi propaganda machinery.” he bemoaned.

Looking at all the resentment against Modi that I picked up in Gujarat, I believe the people cannot be all wrong. In fact, there are many who told me Modi, too, is well aware of that resentment – and that is why the apology in his victory speech asking forgiveness from those people he may have hurt in the past ten years. Moreover, I am told, he is desperate to get out of Gujarat asap before Gujarat really catches up with him.

“He has pushed us ten years behind therest of the nation, not taken us ten years forward,” says Fitter. But the greatest gem that I got from one BJP supporter was this: Modi was wont to speak during his election campaign about how he had done in ten years what took the Congress 50 years to achieve. “That’s right,” the BJP man – and not anyone from the Congress – told me. “It took the Congress 50 years to self-destruct in Gujarat. It took Modi only 10 years to destroy the BJP in the state!”

So, as Dr Ganesh Devy, a social scientist told me, “It is not the Congress which will ultimately defeat the BJP. It is Modi’s own people who will do that.”

And considering that the Gujarat chef minister is not an unintelligent man, he must be laughing up his sleeve to have people like Anil Ambani lay it on so thick and fast. People of Gujarat are convinced that their state now belongs to the very rich – like the Tatas and the Ambanis. So if even they have to butter up the Gujarat CM to keep things going for themselves, they better make sure that that butter does not melt in his mouth for he, for sure, ain’t no Mahatma Gandhi!

He is just Narendra Modi who will be forgotten sooner than even Bal Thackeray was after a 50-year career in violence and destruction. As for Gandhiji, the Mahatma will continue to influence generations – like he did Nelson Mandela and Lech Walesa who employed the same principles to gain freedom from their own respective dictatorial regimes – with the message of peace and non-violence.

Because Lord Buddha will always be greater than Changez Khan. And that is the absolute truth.

Some comment:

Mohammed Hussain•11 hours ago−

Pathetic Article written in sleep....I am a complete neutral just for the fact i happen to travel length and breadth of Gujrat for last one year...The development work of Roads,Gas,Street lamps,Bridges,Industries,Power etc etc is everywhere and its STUNNING as a US person said.....There is some problems with some reporters like the one above...Who are paranoid and have to just find some identity that can only be received from Bashing someone all there life...He has won election Handsomely please give him a break and take a break.....God bless you...Find some other meaningful articles and things to do.....

Some comments on the above plog

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 13 Jan 2013 22:06

Amazing this so called Journalist has not got one post in support of what she vomited on her blog!!!!

One more addition to the Pseudo-intellectual crowd advertising herself and crying for an invite from the Paki/Chinese lobby to be an "useful idiot" aka india hater.

gunjur · Post by **gunjur** » 14 Jan 2013 23:01

Adichunchanagiri mutt swamiji Sri Sri Balagangadharanatha swami has passed away.

He was the head of the main & the most influential okkaliga mutt i.e. Adichunchanagiri mutt. The mutt runs over 475 educational institutions from primary schools, PU colleges to engineering, medical colleges and also vedic schools. More than a lakh students study in these institutions. Over 15000 students benefit from free meals offered there and many students get heavily subsidized higher education (some are ultra heavily subsidized, many cases literally free education). The mutt has been doing its bit in upliftment of the society/dharma. RIP Swamji.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 15 Jan 2013 04:45

Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013: UN, IMF to open offices in Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) city.

Banks from Singapore, agencies of the United Nations and organisations such as the International Monetary Fund will open offices in Gujarat International Finance Tec City (GIFT), a new futuristic city that is coming up on the outskirts of Gandhinagar, creating a million jobs and catapulting the state capital into South Asia's only international financial services centre.

An IFSC on the lines of Dubai and Singapore will facilitate companies and organisations to conduct transactions in foreign currencies from within India. At present, these kind of transactions are done from foreign shores.

According to GIFT estimates, $80-billion worth of cross-border transactions are done by Indian companies as well as by foreign-based multinational companies for their Indian operations.

"All these transactions are now possible from within India at GIFT City," Ramakant Jha, director of GIFT Company Ltd, the company that manages the project, said.

Companies that have signed up with GIFT include Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), which also owns half of the project--Gujarat Urban Development Company holds the balance 50% equity--to build multilevel parking that can accommodate 8,000 vehicles.

Financial TechnologiesBSE 1.08 % Ltd has agreed to set up a training institute for the financial sector. Companies from Singapore will construct a separate tower for their activities.

Dena Bank has sought four floors at GIFT and evinced interest in setting up a training centre. Public sector lender, Central Bank of India, also plans to develop its own building. Sources who did not want to be named told ET that the UN and its agencies such as IMF, UNESCO, World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF will open offices at GIFT.

At present, they conduct their operations from Singapore. "They are also willing to shift operations to GIFT. An MoU will be signed during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit," an official claimed. Being developed over an area of 886 acre, the Rs 60,000-crore GIFT City project will house a financial services-based multi-services SEZ, a centre for domestic financial sector, corporate offices, regional offices of companies, a trade centre, housing colonies, social infrastructure and other associated amenities.

The project is expected to create ten lakh new jobs in tenyears. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, 2011 saw investment commitments worth Rs 11,700 crore in the GIFT project.

The sources also said that other companies Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Union Bank and Vijiya Bank have already shown interest to set up their offshore centres in GIFT. Stock exchanges of London, Tokyo and Singapore are interested to set up offices at one premises and GIFT is the ideal option for them, they said.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi unveiled the first of the 100 odd high rise buildings coming up

at GIFT City on Thursday. Gujarat government is hard-selling the upcoming smart city to foreign and local investors during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2013, that began at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Friday.

According to GIFT officials, about 10 buildings are likely to be ready in three years creating a pool of about 7-8 million square feet of commercial space. When complete, the project will have 42 million square feet of commercial space. A part of GIFT City is notified as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), granting the developer and units setting up offices in SEZ immunity from central and state taxes. It is also given a status of 'deemed foreign territory' in India.

A law by Gujarat government makes GIFT City immune to clearances from local bodies for getting civic amenities. Earlier, the IFSC was to come up at Navi Mumbai however, it did not materialize. At this stage, Gujarat government got hold of the project.

The last para says it all. Just check the number of Projects in Mumbai that are held up for clearances by petty and bribe minded bureaucrats and things become clear why Gujarat is racing ahead.If and when the GITF city is fully operational Bombay's financial districts Nariman Point and BKC will look puny in comparision....

Arunkumar · Post by **Arunkumar** » 15 Jan 2013 18:02

Nariman Point is slowly being emptied with corporates moving up north into suburbs up to Mulund and Goregaon. Wondering whether GIFT would tempt them to move further north, out of Mumbai and into Gujurat.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 15 Jan 2013 21:28

looks like MP registered a 19 percent growth in agriculture

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 16 Jan 2013 05:11

arvin wrote:Nariman Point is slowly being emptied with corporates moving up north into suburbs up to Mulund and Goregaon. Wondering whether GIFT would tempt them to move further north, out of Mumbai and into Gujurat.

What is the reason.
I was in that area in 1989

Arunkumar · Post by **Arunkumar** » 16 Jan 2013 12:14

Good and cheaper office availability in suburbs and less commuting hassels for employees.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 07 Feb 2013 19:28

UP: Gonda SP who exposed SP minister for helping cattle smugglers transferred

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/up-gonda-sp- ... 3-242.html

After an expose showed an Uttar Pradesh minister caught on camera helping cattle smugglers in Gonda, the Superintendent of Police who conducted the sting investigation has been transferred and attached to the UP DGP's office.

Gonda Superintendent of Police (SP) Navneet Rana has been transferred and attached to the DGP office after carrying out a sing operation on Samajwadi Party National Secretary and UP Council of Sugarcane Research Vice-Chairman KC Pandey, who enjoys the status of a minister of state. HN Singh is the new SP of Gonda now.

Pandey was caught in a sting operation asking Rana to help cattle smugglers. The phone conversation was recorded by the police. The minister, however, dismissed the allegations against him and said that he would file a case against Rana who carried out the sting for defaming him.

"I have asked the government to investigate the matter. They should also investigate the SP of Gonda. I will take legal action and file a defamation suit against the SP of Gonda," Pandey said.

Meanwhile, no action has been taken against the minister. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav dismissed the sting operation by saying it was carried out during the Bahujan Samaj Party regime. "This sting was carried out during the BSP's regime. We will look into it," Akhilesh Yadav said.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 08 Feb 2013 22:00

Karnataka budget: Shettar stays away from populist trap

http://news.oneindia.in/2013/02/08/karn ... 45971.html

Even with a compulsion of an election handing over his head, Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar steered clear of a populist budget. On Friday he presented a five-year report card of the BJP government through his budget without an over-reaching theme and left a bitter taste for those who enjoy their drinks. Only populist move, if one accuses Shettar of indulging in, could be about rice supplied through the Public Distribution System to families below poverty line and it will be provided at Rs two per kg from 2013-14. The Assembly elections in the state are due in May. Another leaning observed in the budget was the projects concentration in Hubli-Dharwar region, which is Shettar's home. He tabled a Rs 1,17,005 crore budget in the Assembly and it is an increase of 13.88 per cent over the figure of Rs 1,02,742 crore in the previous year.

Tax hike

On the taxation front, liquor prices will go up and footwear will cost less. The government proposed to revise the 17 slabs of declared prices relating to Indian made liquor by increasing each of them by Rs 40, and double the licence fee collected for transfer of retail liquor licence and bar and restaurant licences from one person to another. Footwear costing up to Rs 200 per pair would be exempted from tax. Tax exemption on paddy, rice, wheat, pulses and products of rice and wheat would be continued for one more year from April this year.

New talukas and new offices

In an apparent move to derive political dividends, the government proposed to create 43 new taluks. These new talukas mean new offices and administrative setups, which open up promotion avenues to the government staff and also bring officials close to the public.

Grants for communities

Trying to stay politically correct, the government would undertake minority welfare programmes with a budget of Rs 415 crore, including scholarship to students belonging to Jain community, and grants for development of Muslim pilgrimage places. The budget also provided over Rs 100 crore grans to various religious maths, mostly from Lingayat community, which has been main support base of the BJP in Karnataka.

Cyber mantra

To maintain the tag e-state, the chief minister announced "one cyber cafe per village" scheme, which would be implemented in every village in the state in a phased manner. He also announced internet connection to all government schools and colleges.

Something for Bangalore

Acknowledging that Bangalore is a major engine of economic growth of the state contributing an estimated 30 percent of the State's GSDP, Shettar annouced some new projects and reiterated many old infrastructure projects for the city. The city contributes Rs.1.35 lakh crore to the exports of the country and is the fastest growing city after Delhi. He said Rs 6,203 crore would be provided for the development of Bangalore from government and related organisations and of it Rs.750 crore financial assistance would be provided to BBMP for undertaking 75 major infrastructure development projects approved by the Government.

Some of the new new Initiatives for Bangalore City are :

• One Dialysis and Diabetic centre in each of the Assembly Constituency coming under the jurisdiction of BBMP. • Public Toilets (especially for ladies) would be established at a cost of Rs. 25 crore in all the wards of BBMP. • Construction of 25 km long elevated golden quadrangle road at (a) Hebbal-BRV ground (b) Hennur-BRV Ground (c) Central Silk Board - Lalbagh Chickpet upto Mysore Road Fly-over (Sirsi Circle) (d) BRV ground to upto Mysore Road Fly-over (Sirsi Circle). • For effective waste management in Bangalore city, feasibility of setting up an exclusive agency will be considered. • To encourage real estate sector the government will issue suitable guidelines to expedite increase of FAR (floor area ratio) on the out skirts of Bangalore. • Under Megacity revolving fund for the development projects of Bangalore loan assistance of Rs.1133 crore has been approved.

Huge outlay for education sector

Other major highlights of the budget are in education sector: it gets maximum outlay of Rs.15,599 crore, mainly for primary and secondary education. In education cash incentive of Rs. 93.94 Crore will be given to 1.47 lakh SC/ST students who have secured more than 60 percent marks and supply of Akash tablets in future in lieu of cash incentive. To improve quality of teachers the government proposes to revise curriculum and syllabus in D.Ed and B.Ed courses. In the health sector the government proposes to merge three health insurance schemes for better implementation. These schemes are Yashaswini Arogya Yojane for rural co-operative members, Vajpayee Arogyashree Yojane for poor families and National Health Insurance Scheme.

Information Technology

Information Technology Sector which provides direct employment to about eight lakh persons and indirect employment to 20 lakh in the state has got very little. • Rs. 100 crore for New Semi conductor Policy and Information and Communication Technology Policy (ESDM first of its kind in the Country). • Starting of 35 Units under rural BPO Scheme in IT Sector in rural areas with an employment potential of 3500 people. • Computer training to 60,000 - 70,000 un-employed rural youth. • Indian Information Technology Institute (IIIT) will be set up at Dharwad at a cost of Rs. 128 crore. Information Technology park will be set up in Belgaum.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 12 Feb 2013 15:14

Hate speech allegations Willing to go to jail for the sake of Naga people : Rio

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm- ... eople-rio/

Naga-land Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said that he is willing to go to jail for the sake of the Naga people and that he will continue to carry the voice of the Naga people. He said that there is nothing wrong in voicing the suffering of his people and the denial of rights to the Nagas.

-Today’s comment of Neiphiu Rio has come after the Manipur Cabinet had condemned and decided to lodge a complaint on the recent statement of the Nagaland Chief Minister to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Noted Advocate of Manipur Khaidem Mani had said Neiphiu Rio could be booked under the law of the land.

They were reacting to the recent statement of Neiphiu Rio where the Nagaland Chief Minister had said that Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is one of the biggest enemies of the Nagas. Neiphiu Rio had also stated that Ibobi Singh is responsible for the suppression of Nagas.

“I am speaking the right of the Naga people and for that why should anybody threaten to jail me. If I am to go to jail for the sake of my people, so be it”, Neiphiu Rio said today during campaigns at Longleng, Kiphire and Pfutsero.

“I shall speak the right of the Naga people and I am ready to go to jail for that,” he stated. Rio asserted that the Naga People’s Front (NPF) has stood up for the rights of the Nagas and the party leadership has voiced the plight of the Nagas, especially those in Myanmar.

Speaking at NPF election rallies at Longleng, Kiphire and Pfutsero under Phek district, the Chief Minister said that the Nagas of Myanmar have achieved political recognition with the establishment of the Naga Autonomous Zone. The Nagas of Myanmar have their own elected members and the Nagas are also well represented in Myanmar Parliament, Rio said.

Rio informed that likewise the NPF has also entered the poll fray in Manipur and will do so in other Naga inhabited areas of neighbouring States. The NPF is providing a political platform to Nagas and we are moving towards emotional and political integration, the Chief Minister said.

The chief minister also appreciated the initiative of the NBCC for the clean election campaign. We support the NBCC’s campaign and welcome the steps being taken by the church, the chief minister said. The chief minister addressed NPF rallies at Longleng town, Kiphire town and Pfutsero under Phek district today.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 12 Feb 2013 15:23

Arunachal, Assam draw Centre’s attention to Chinese dams

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/o ... 397245.ece

Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have drawn the attention of the Centre for steps to neutralise the impact of three dams proposed to be built by China on river Tsangpho, known as Siang in Arunachal and Brahmaputra in Assam.

“We have no objection to China building dams but the life of the people which sustain on the flow of Brahmaputra since ages should not be affected by the dams,” Arunachal Pradesh Water Resources Development minister Newlai Tingkhatra, flanked by his Assam counterpart Rajib Lochan Pegu, told reporters in Itanagar on Saturday.

If the downstream flow of the river is not affected we have nothing to object, they said after the high-level meeting to discuss chronic flood problems and measures to tackle it.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in writing, Mr. Pegu said.Mr. Tingkhtara said he would urge Arunachal Chief Minister Nabam Tuki to follow suit.On a specific question whether India would lose its first user rights if China built three dams first, both the leaders said the river is the lifeline of both the States.

Mr. Pegu said he was not opposed to any dam if the downstream impact was assessed scientifically and precautionary measures taken.Responding to queries, Mr. Tingkhatra said states have been formed for administrative reasons but nature has no boundary and Assam sufferers heavily because of landslides, erosion and siltation in rivers in Arunachal.He said civil society felt that representatives of North Eastern states should be sent by the Centre to study the proposed dams in China and their impact as information from China could not be completely relied on until and unless a spot study was made.

After the initiative of Pradhan at a meeting here in December last year, this was the first high level official joint meeting.It concluded with the formation of a joint technical committee with WRD secretary of both states to chair it in rotation for two years while the chief engineer of both the states would be the member-secretary.A joint meeting would be held soon where the joint technical committee would apprise the joint administrative committee about schemes would be taken to tackle the downstream impact of Arunachal rivers in Assam.

The administrative committee would include ministers of both states as members.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 09 Mar 2013 08:40

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/telugu-exclusion-in-cse-flayed/article4488993.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/its-advantage-english-in-civil-services-exam/article4483570.ece

Some aspirants are confident of handling the compulsory English paper, but they feel changes in General Studies papers are extensive and require writing skills in English, which they have not been taught while doing engineering or conventional science courses.

“In such a scenario students from humanities background have a head-start and unfortunately few students in Andhra Pradesh opt for humanities as compared to engineering in their graduation,” says V. Gopala Krishna of Brain Tree that trains the aspirants.

Major changes

The major changes brought in for the Mains exam from this year are the introduction of four general studies papers of 250 marks each replacing earlier pattern of two papers of 300 marks each.

Marks for optional subjects have been reduced drastically as the two optional papers are worth 250 marks each unlike two papers of 600 marks. “Changes in optionals were expected as certain optional papers were giving undue advantage to a few,” says Mr. Gopala Krishna.

The repeaters are also an unhappy lot as they have less than a year for preparation in the new pattern.

Those in their last attempt are more worried and they feel UPSC should give sufficient time before adopting changes.

An interesting change is the introduction of a paper that will test aspirants on “ethics, integrity and aptitude” and it will use case study methods to analyse candidate’s attitude towards society’s problems and the approach in dealing with them.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dopt-notifies-upsc-civil-services-exams-new-format/1083947/0

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 09 Mar 2013 20:22

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Amarinder-out-Pratap-Singh-Bajwa-is-new-Punjab-Congress-chief/videoshow/18819425.cms

http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/just-people/2009/05/26/the-first-timers/

I met Pratap Bajwa who had defeated film star-turned MP Vinod Khanna from Gurdaspur. His lament: “During the election people were saying Vinod Khanna is losing but they never once mentioned who was defeating him. After the election they kept saying that Vinod Khanna lost. Again they forgot to mention who trounced him”.

He is fifty plus and is Rajiv Gandhi’s vintage rather than Rahul’s wonder boys. By his own admission it was Rajiv Gandhi who, when he was alive, handpicked him to fight against terrorism. Bajwa was named state president of the youth congress and among the first things he did was to challenge Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a controversial Sikh leader.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 12 Mar 2013 21:58

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Karunanidhi-bats-for-choice-of-regional-languages-in-UPSC-exams/articleshow/18926585.cms

DMK chief M Karunanidhi and few other leaders in the state have urged the Centre to take necessary steps to change the recent notification of the Union Public Service Commission ( UPSC) examinations, which they say is against the interests of aspirants in non-Hindi speaking states.

The changes are construed as obvious steps to impose Hindi. This is a serious violation of the assurance given by Jawaharlal Nehru. Moreover, this will lead to an unhealthy and unequal competition among the rural and urban students,"

ABVP opposes new civil services exam pattern, to stage protest

The ABVP has opposed changes in the mains examination pattern of civil services, claiming the inclusion of compulsory English paper will virtually block the entry of Hindi medium students to the elite services.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/317915/upsc-puts-civil-services-aspirants.html

However, Radhika D, who cleared the exam last year and currently undergoing training in Hyderabad, felt the decision to pull out languages from optionals was welcome as valuation was biased in favour of those who chose regional languages as their optional subject, since it would be done by local professors.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 13 Mar 2013 11:37

So what is the latest development on UPSC exams? Is it going to be only in English? Or is it English and Shudh-Hindi? Karnataka politicians are also not very pleased with this new change.
UPSC changes will hit rural students

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 17 Mar 2013 20:37

[url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/l ... r/1087832/]Kalpsar Dam: Barrage construction to begin next financial year.

Construction of a stand alone barrage over Narmada river at Bhadbhut village in Bharuch as part of the Kalpsar Dam project will begin in the next financial year even as a number of important surveys are to be done and sanctions to be obtained before the ambitious project sees the light of day.
In a written reply to Balasinor MLA Mansinh Chauhan in the Assembly, Chief Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said that while 35 aspects related to the project have been studied so far, the Kalpsar department headed by him will conduct many more technical surveys.

The project is awaiting important sanctions from the central government for environment clearance, coastal regulation zone, investment (planning commission) and formation of the Kalpsar Area Development Authority.

The dam project was envisaged by the state government a decade ago to resolve the water problems of the Saurashtra-Kutch region. The project, which is estimated to cost Rs 33,000 crore, was conceptualised in 1998 to establish a fresh water reservoir in the sea by building a 30-km long dam in the Gulf of Khambhat, with a projected storage capacity of 10,000 million cubic metre.

Modi said that a technical report covering various aspects, including tsunami and earthquake impact on the dam, road and rail traffic, generation of solar and wind energy, has been submitted to the Expert Appraisal Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2010.

The committee has asked to conduct more surveys, which are under way. These include physical modelling of the dam, catchment area treatment plan, catchment area soil survey and drainage management, and detailed project report and budget.

The standalone barrage at Bhadbhut to be contracted under public-private partnership will be 15.87 km long. Preliminary survey and research for the barrage has been completed while legal opinion of the Advocate General and notification for Narmada river have been taken.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 18 Mar 2013 05:34

So sad. After ruling ~8 years Nitish Kumar is making Bihar a Bikhari state

for his political ambitions.

Apparently 11 states (out of 28) are given special status and packages since 1969 based on Gadgil formula. This shows how congress ruled our nation all these years.

And people thought Nithish Yadav is a PM candidate

disha · Post by **disha** » 18 Mar 2013 06:24

Niku's result -> From part of BiMaRU to total Bhikari

What will happen if Niku becomes PM? Go to UN on adhikar yatra for special status for India?

disha · Post by **disha** » 18 Mar 2013 06:29

Regarding Kalpasar - a cheesy GOI (GOG) website: http://www.kalpasar.gujarat.gov.in/mainpage.htm

Modi just has to deliver on Kalpasar and GIFT and he will reserve his place in Gujarat's memory equivalent to Sardar.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 18 Mar 2013 06:44

^ I think it is doable. The estimate is Rs 33,000 crore and it means Rs 6000 crore per annum.

Let's see. He need assured industry setup to get the momentum. I think he should think of 2-3 large industries that can employ 20-30000 people plus few IT enclaves say by Indian Big5 IT companies with 20-30,000 high paying jobs.

Setting up a university is in his hands....

Market will take care of the rest.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 19 Mar 2013 19:23

Language of merit

Widespread criticism of the changes notified recently by the Union Public Service Commission involving the language component in the Civil Services examination has forced the Union government to put those plans on hold pending review. The “language bias” allegation that has been made by almost all the detractors is centred on the perception that English has been given a more prominent place in the scheme of things compared to regional languages, including Hindi. Some of them point out that a paper that carries 100 marks in English comprehension and précis will now affect the merit ranking of candidates where earlier her or his facility in English was tested only at the qualifying stage. This, it is argued, favours urban, English-medium educated candidates, at the cost of those from rural and disadvantaged backgrounds. Other controversial changes, though predictably less of a red rag for our usual English-baiters, involve the subtle downgrading of India’s regional languages in the UPSC exam. For example, students who study in any language other than English or Hindi will no longer be able to write a crucial paper in that language unless their undergraduate degree also happened to be in that medium of instruction.

The thrust since Independence has been on giving the Indian Administrative Service and allied cadres the stamp of an inclusive and representative stream, effacing the elitism that was the predominant feature of the Indian Civil Service that preceded it. It is this rationale that led to a selection process where candidates belonging to poorer and deprived classes or from hitherto under-represented regions are also able to make their mark. This approach is crucial to ensuring that officers who lead the bureaucracy have the right orientation to give primacy to the principles of equity in decision-making. Any debate that posits the “language bias” argument to downplay the need for verbal and written fluency in English is fraught with danger. In today’s India, administrators have to be able to communicate effectively in English. To that extent, the UPSC exam must ensure that a successful candidate has a minimum level of proficiency in the language. That said, using English as a merit-ranking device may not produce an optimum outcome. While candidates who study in English-medium schools are likely to know the language better than others, there is no reason to assume their overall knowledge base or skill set is better than those who have studied in other languages. Allowing candidates to answer a common set of questions in the language they are most comfortable in is the best way to assess their suitability. Of course, the post-entrance training process can and must be used to improve standards of English.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 26 Mar 2013 14:20

Officially Backward. Like GaribRath AC trains for Garibs

The Centre will shortly change the criteria for evaluating a state's claim to be "backward", meeting the demand of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for special status well before the 2014 LokSabha polls.

"We have decided to change the criteria (for backwardness), and it will be done so in the coming months," a senior government source said. Besides Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and parts of Rajasthan will qualify to be treated as "backward" under the soon-to-be unveiled criteria.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 30 Mar 2013 05:48

Madhya Pradesh topples Bihar, new No. 1 in economic growth

NEW DELHI: BJP-ledMadhya Pradesh dislodges champion Bihar from its numerouno position in terms of highest growth of gross state domestic product. The provisional data released by the Central Statistical Organisation for 2012-13 for states shows Bihar's growth has slowed, slipping from an impressive 13.26% last year to a single digit 9.48% this year as against 10% clocked by MP.

Other backward states have maintained their upward trajectory, with Jharkhand and Odisha growing at 9.12% and 9.14%, respectively, this year.

In Bihar's case, the phenomenal economic expansion it had clocked in recent years shows signs of deceleration. It added Rs 13,679 crore to its GDP, taking its economy from Rs 144,278 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 157,957 crore in the current fiscal.

In comparison, MP has fared better, adding more than Rs 20,000 crore to its economy during the last one year, and expanding its GDP from Rs 2,01,290 crore last year to Rs 2,21,463 crore this year.

Growth in per capita income has been more disappointing for Bihar. It has added merely Rs 1,090 in 2012-13 to its per capita income, lowest among other states. In comparison, Jharkhand and MP have seen its per capita income rise by more than Rs 2,000. Odisha has also managed to add Rs 1,450 in its per capita income in the last one year - up from Rs 24,134 last year to Rs 25,584 this year.

In contrast, Bihar's per capita stands at Rs 14,268 in the current year, just marginally up from last year's Rs 13,178.

In the past five years, Bihar has been on a high growth path, consistently recording double-digit rate: 12% in 2008-09; 11% (2010-11) and 13% (2011-12). The only exception was 2009-10 when the state's GDP grew by a modest 7.09%.

MP has been another consistent performer. It grew by 12.47% in 2008-09 .The following year it defied downturn to post a respectable 9.88%. Though it came down to 7.13% the next year, it bounced back to double digit by managing a rate of 11.81% in 2011-12.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 04 May 2013 04:38

http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/the ... 666181.ece

disha · Post by **disha** » 04 May 2013 05:45

Acharya wrote:http://www.frontline.in/cover-story/the ... 666181.ece

Another hit job. Lot of unsubstantiated accusations. Okay a farmer gets 10L income (net expenses) from 10 Hectares of land per year. A geniune grievance will be when the NPCIL is taking his land away for a pittance. How does the NPCIL arrive at the land value, if the farmer (at 10L per year, extremely rich!! in that parts) shows his tax document. However if the farmer shows only Rs. 10k from his 10 hectares, his land value is indeed a pittance! If you loot somebody, someday you will fall into your own trap.

If the NPCIL is not buying his land, and putting 60k crore of nuclear power plant, then the rich farmer is definitely worried about his labour cost going up and is justifiably up in arms against the NPCIL. What has Modi or for that matter Govt. of Guj to do with that? Isn't it a good thing if the labour cost goes up, more money in the local economy?

Regarding pollution, nukes are the cleanest - better than solar. People just need to get over it. I would like a nuke plant in my backyard (provided they give me free electricity!)

The rest about Adani is a hit job., it is so incoherent that the whole artecal makes nonsense. Limestone producing sweet water from salt water for 50km, how did the writer arrived at that conclusion? That is total hogwash. Also "wasteland" by government norms is a land which is not productive compared to other lands.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 16 May 2013 07:42

Gujarat cops get a hi-tech eye in sky.

Ahmedabad As a pilot project to boost surveillance, Gujarat Police have purchased two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will be used for the first time in the upcoming Jagannath Rath Yatra in the state.
Chief Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated the project when these UVAs, named “netras”, were displayed before him during the recent Gujarat Day function.

According to DIG (modernisation) Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat, these UAVs will give the state police a bird’s eye view in terms of surveillance.“It’s a GPS-based automated device fitted with infrared cameras. It uses one of the most advanced technologies available in the market today for aerial surveillance,” he said.

The UAVs have been purchased for Rs 55 lakh a piece from a company run by ex-IITians.Once it takes off, the battery-powered device flies on auto pilot, charting its flight path with the help of anti-collision sensors.The device, weighing two kgs, is capable of recording every minute detail from a distance of several kilometres, Bhagat said, adding that the footages could be watched in real time at a control room.

The UAV has a speed of 30 kilometres per hour, he said.Officials involved in police modernisation said these devices would be of great help for threat assessment, police deployment, traffic movement, VIP movement and important festivals and events in the state.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 16 May 2013 12:12

Vipul wrote:The UAVs have been purchased for Rs 55 lakh a piece from a company run by ex-IITians.Once it takes off, the battery-powered device flies on auto pilot, charting its flight path with the help of anti-collision sensors.The device, weighing two kgs, is capable of recording every minute detail from a distance of several kilometres, Bhagat said, adding that the footages could be watched in real time at a control room.

Way to go. This also I feel breaks the myth that UAVs are very very expensive, and there are no good Indian companies which makes it. If this becomes a success many police forces can adopt it.

prahaar · Post by **prahaar** » 16 May 2013 12:19

Vipul wrote:Gujarat cops get a hi-tech eye in sky.

Ahmedabad As a pilot project to boost surveillance, Gujarat Police have purchased two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will be used for the first time in the upcoming Jagannath Rath Yatra in the state.
Chief Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated the project when these UVAs, named “netras”, were displayed before him during the recent Gujarat Day function.

According to DIG (modernisation) Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat, these UAVs will give the state police a bird’s eye view in terms of surveillance.“It’s a GPS-based automated device fitted with infrared cameras. It uses one of the most advanced technologies available in the market today for aerial surveillance,” he said.

The UAVs have been purchased for Rs 55 lakh a piece from a company run by ex-IITians.Once it takes off, the battery-powered device flies on auto pilot, charting its flight path with the help of anti-collision sensors.The device, weighing two kgs, is capable of recording every minute detail from a distance of several kilometres, Bhagat said, adding that the footages could be watched in real time at a control room.

The UAV has a speed of 30 kilometres per hour, he said.Officials involved in police modernisation said these devices would be of great help for threat assessment, police deployment, traffic movement, VIP movement and important festivals and events in the state.

A much more cost-effective option than helicopters, especially while operating in localized areas. Do we know of any other police forces (other than Anti-Naxal forces) using UAVs for policing? This is not a rhetorical question.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 16 May 2013 22:01

Cross-posting from "Narendra Modi vs the Dynasty: Contrasting Ideas of India" Thread

Published on May 14 2013
By Ujjwala Nayudu
Gujarat cops get a hi-tech eye in sky: Indian Express

As a pilot project to boost surveillance, Gujarat Police have purchased two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that will be used for the first time in the upcoming Jagannath Rath Yatra in the state.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi had appreciated the project when these UVAs, named "netras", were displayed before him during the recent Gujarat Day function.

According to DIG (modernisation) Rajiv Ranjan Bhagat, these UAVs will give the state police a bird's eye view in terms of surveillance.

"It's a GPS-based automated device fitted with infrared cameras. It uses one of the most advanced technologies available in the market today for aerial surveillance," he said.

The UAVs have been purchased for Rs 55 lakh a piece from a company run by ex-IITians.

Once it takes off, the battery-powered device flies on auto pilot, charting its flight path with the help of anti-collision sensors.

The device, weighing two kgs, is capable of recording every minute detail from a distance of several kilometres, Bhagat said, adding that the footages could be watched in real time at a control room.

The UAV has a speed of 30 kilometres per hour, he said.

Officials involved in police modernisation said these devices would be of great help for threat assessment, police deployment, traffic movement, VIP movement and important festivals and events in the state.

Neshant · Post by **Neshant** » 23 May 2013 00:04

It probably has very little range that quadcopter.

Also price of a UAV depends on what it's equipped with.

Something that flies and has a camera is stuff that's being done by hobbyists so it is low cost.

The more professional stuff with thermal videography, satellite uplink, gyro stabilized mounts, Lidar, radar, precision ins and gps cost a lot more.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 23 May 2013 15:10

TN police uses UAV Daksha developed by Anna University on need basis. They used it for crowd control and in the illegal granite mining case. Daksha won the 1st place in the International Drone Olympics.

http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chen ... 347624.ece

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 28 May 2013 20:05

In a first for India, Gujarat plans 5-yr export policy.

Gujarat, which accounts for about a quarter of India's total exports, is mulling a five-year export policy to focus on value-added exports in sectors such as textiles, agriculture and dairy.

The move by the top exporting state in the country comes on the back of sagging efforts by the centre to boost dwindling exports.

The first state in the country to have an export policy, Gujarat plans to increase the share of exports from the state from 25% to 30% in five years.

As a precursor to the policy, the Federation of Indian Exports Organization undertook a study for Gujarat on the state's export competitiveness and identified sectors with export potential.

"We are working on improving exports from the state and will take steps to increase the share to 35% of total India's exports by 2020," said a state government official.

The government may announce incentives ranging from exemption from value-added tax (VAT) in some sectors to focus market scheme and focus product scheme to offset high freight cost and other externalities to select international markets and promote products with high-export intensity.

India's overall exports declined by 1.76% in 2012-13 to $300.6 billion, as demand in the US and the EU subsided on slowing economy. Following this the centre announced a series of incentives in the annual supplement of the foreign trade policy. "Centre's policies cannot be so specific, whereas the state policies are made as per the needs of the state. So you need such simultaneous policies," said Manoj Pant, professor, JNU.

Given that over 90% of Gujarat cotton goes to other states for value addition, emphasis would be laid on readymade garments. The state already has potential in the textile sector, as nearly 23% of the state gross domestic product comes from textile and related industries. Other areas that Gujarat contributed to India's exports in 2011-12 include 70% in the gems and jewellery sector, 30% in pharmaceuticals, 20% in textiles, 12% in engineering and 18% in chemicals.

"Gujarat should strive to increase its exports by shifting its focus from lower-end markets to value-for-money markets," said Ajay Sahai, director general and CEO, FIEO.

As of now, it has been supplying domestic and international markets with raw materials but with proper R&D and focused investments, Gujarat should introduce high value-added products of global standards. Only a quarter of export units have an export house or upward status for special benefits, the FIEO study noted.

The state has 41 minor and intermediate ports and 55 SEZs, involved in sectors like biotechnology, power, handicraft, gems & jewellery. Gujarat also has a comparative advantage in many commodities, like spices and seeds, mineral and metals and cotton.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 29 May 2013 09:33

We have the concept of "Green v/s Green", now how about some "Red v/s Red"

. Well in the communist heaven of Kerala the commies (CPI-M) are now having a fight over some establishments started by the business tycoon Yusuf Ali

1. The local commie units of Kochi city say that the big Lulu Mall has encroached government land. They also say that huge malls are NOT allowed on busy junctions on the National Highway. As per them a near by canal has also been encroached by the Mall.

2. The current Congress govt. laughs out loud and says that the commies gave the permission for the Mall in the first place. Comrade VS jumps in and says Nothing illegal has been done.

3. The same business group of Yusuf Ali gets good Government land on Bolghatty Island for coming up with a "convention centre". The commies says that Yusuf Ali has got a long lease for a pittance. Yusuf Ali decides to pull out of the project. A claim that the centre may have given job for 4000 people is now causing confusion among the common crowd. The commie brigade says that 4000 people neccessarily does NOT mean 4000 Mallus. The job could goto any one. The NRI commie Mallus (mainly the Middle East) says that rich businessmen in the Middle East are now looking towards Kerala as the labour laws in the Gelf are getting stricter.

PS: In Kerala any "development" these days seems to boil around selling/leasing land. Surprised that there is no development which can happen in already established commercial complexes or industrial estates. The whole state is becoming a land of real estate brokers.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 29 May 2013 15:08

This is similar to WB. The biggest economic activities are real estate deals or promoter-giri and hawking. When you don't have other economic activities people have to survive on something. At least Keralites have ME. Most trains leaving WB for the south, west and delhi region are packed with laborers.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 29 May 2013 15:41

Supratik wrote:Most trains leaving WB for the south.....

And where do they land up eh?

. In another commie heaven - Kerala. All most all constructions workers are now mainly from West Bengal (and Orissa as well). I have seen some comic discussions in which commies talk about the commie-favouring intellegentsia/writers of West Bengal, the various chathopadhyayas, bandhopadyayas. And one chap snapped back "Oh yeah.. the fellow who is cleaning up plates in hotels is a bandhopadyaya, or working on high rise buildings is a chathopadhyaya". Indirectly meaning these intelligentsia stuff has not done W.B any favour and folks have to move else where for a job.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 29 May 2013 21:05

The thing to remember is that the migration is due to the family planning failure of WB while the success of kerala in FP & Social development allows them to take up jobs in second world like ME. You can not send unwashed abdul from WB to ME and expect any sort of productive returns. They simply would not make it.

If remittances get lumped into exports on a per capita basis kerala exports more than GJ or TN. This remittance very much produces domestic activity in terms of education, equipment, housing and standard of living. There is nothing wrong in this. Happens all the time in the USA for instance. Entire states move if economy is better elsewhere. At present there is a steady drain of folks from the Midwest and industrial North moving South, East and West. It is so bad that some states have a stagnant or falling population. Kerala can never put together a SEZ like sri perumbudur. There isn’t 20,000 acres lying around for use.

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 30 May 2013 00:21

Failure of WB communists is not in family planning. Their failure is in education, promoting economic growth, and in controlling illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

Unlike Kerala, the communists in West Bengal inherited a land with an abundance of industrial raw materials, a strong industrial base, and a strong mercantile economy relative to other Indian states.

And please no one go down the path of the argument that it was discrimination by the centre that led to the decline of West Bengal's economy under the communists