Achievement Tracking - Modi 2.0 Govt - No Discussions

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 21 Jun 2015 06:17

Will Michelle Obama bend it in DC on Yoga Day?

Some 20 million Americans are now said to at least occasionally bend to yoga's draw, and thousands of them will be out on their mats in public plazas -- from New York City's Times Square to Houston's George Brown Convention Center to LA's Dodger Stadium to Washington DC's National Monument - to demonstrate or follow yogabhyas amid universal acknowledgement of its health benefits.

In Washington DC, all eyes will be on the Sylvan Theatre Stage on the National Mall, right across from the White House, to see if one of its occupants will turn up for the event.

Michelle Obama disclosed in an interview last year that she had tweaked her workout to include yoga on turning 50, and there is hope and expectation that she will demonstrate her support for the discipline given her public campaign for good eating habits and exercise, demonstrated by her ''Let Move'' campaign for American youth.

Sources said New Delhi had reached out to her almost as soon as the campaign was finalized, but they had no immediate word given her prior commitments and travel schedule (she was in US and Europe this week), not to speak of the people reading excessive political meaning into it. Still, yoga enthusiasts are holding their breath to see if Michelle ''Yogama'' will return to DC in time for a sprint across to the National Monument and a demonstration of her new yoga prowess.

Yoga Day preparations from Kashmir to Kanyakumari

This is a programme for Manav Kalyan, a tension free world and a programme to spread the message of sadbhavana: PM

I thank the United Nations and the nations of the world who co-sponsored the resolution to mark this day as International Day of Yoga: PM

We are not only celebrating a day but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace, sadbhavana: PM

Twisting your body is not Yoga. Had it been a case everyone in a circus would have been called a Yogi: PM Modi.

Did anyone imagine that this Rajpath can become Yogpath. This is the beginning of a new era. I bow down to the sages who encouraged Yoga through centuries: PM Modi

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 21 Jun 2015 08:17

Aerial view of Rajpath

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 21 Jun 2015 12:25

Increase of over 700 per cent in tourist arrivals on e-visa

The number of foreign tourists availing of e-Tourist visa facility has increased by over 700 per cent in May as compared to the same period last year.

A total of 15,659 tourists arrived in May availing e-Tourist visa facility this year as compared to 1,833 during the same month last year, registering a growth of 754.3 per cent.

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 21 Jun 2015 17:46

http://jobs2india.in/wp-content/uploads ... ga-day.jpg

http://img01.ibnlive.in/ibnlive/uploads ... day-AP.jpg

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 21 Jun 2015 18:01

MOD year report

http://mod.gov.in/ebook/e-book.pdf

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 23 Jun 2015 06:53

Tech engenders a cultural shift in the way admin functions in India, even at the state level. On the local level water conservation program in MH and tech intermediation of its implementation and monitoring.

http://swarajyamag.com/economy/good-eco ... harashtra/

One distinguishing feature of the Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan has been the speed of execution and the transparency involved in awarding contracts for the rural works. All contractors who wish to participate in tendering process are required to compulsorily get enrolled on the e-tendering portal of the state – and also get empanelled on the water resources departments sub portal . All tenders being issued for construction work are available on public sites and these are being clubbed where possible for ease of award and retaining economies of scale. The time frame decided for tenders is relatively small – typically 2 to 3 months including monsoon months – this ensures regular progress and smaller windows for local politicians or bureaucrats to interfere or intervene. All decisions on implementation are devolved at the level of the nodal office – the district collector.

Use of Technology and Mobile First Approach
Maharashtra government has also sought to link the tracking and monitoring of the Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan to the vision of Digital India in line with the central government thrust to improve governance accountability. The government is leveraging mobile technology for better targeting of the improvement works as well as to ensure accountability in completion.

Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre has been roped in to help the government track the progress. A mobile app for Android platform has been created, which can be downloaded from a state government website. The app includes an Asset Mapping Module, which can be used by local Gram Sabha or other officials to locate and map each asset covered under the programme. Each asset has been assigned a unique id, facilitating tracking at the most micro level. Depending on the nature of the work, the Asset Attributes can be configured in the app, and submitted to the portal designed for the programme. When the asset details are submitted, the same has to be done with a lat / long coordinate derived from phone’s GPS to ensure no data is being fudged.

The government aims to map every asset funded under Jalyukta Shivar Abhiyan, with pictures available of the three points of execution – start, work in progress and completion. This will reduce leakage of funds for bogus work and reduce cases of false reports of construction progress.

The status of asset mapping can be checked on the portal – all details are in Marathi language.

Revolution in the making, folks. Simply wow.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 24 Jun 2015 08:41

http://idrw.org/india-and-pakistan-shou ... more-67201

India and Pakistan should resolve their issues peacefully without third party involvement: US

An achievement in the headlines itself

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 25 Jun 2015 13:28

Deleted

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 27 Jun 2015 06:24

Kakkaji wrote:Boost to Make in India: Modi govt awards 56 defence licences to private cos like Mahindra, Tata & Pipavav

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government has awarded a record 56 defence manufacturing permits to private sector entities in the past year, which is more than the 47 licences its predecessor UPA granted in the preceding three years combined and underlines its determination to have indigenous defence production as a cornerstone of its 'Make in India' drive.

Data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) shows that a slew of applications, some of which had been pending for more than four years, have been cleared since the BJP government came to power, in what is a major endorsement by it of the Indian private sector's ability to operate in an arena that has until now been the preserve of foreign vendors and state-run entities. The permits are the first step in the process to enable firms such as Mahindra, Tata and Pipavav to set up production units for major military equipment.

The Tatas will now be able to upgrade major fighting units like the T 90 and T 72 tanks of the Indian Army, while Mahindra, which has been steadily expanding its defence business in the past year, has been given permits in a number of areas, including manufacturing naval systems like torpedoes, sea mines and boats.

The permits are not only for the big boys of Indian industry, many of whom have existing defence arms and will be able to diversify their portfolios.. A slew of new small firms are poised to enter the sector based on these clearances. Bullet Proof equipment manufacturer MKU for example will now be able to manufacture night vision devices.

Bangalore-based Dynamatic Technologies has been granted a permit to manufacture Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company (PDOC), which is now being acquired by the Anil Ambani-run Reliance, has got four permits to manufacture items ranging from medium tanks and howitzers to missiles, sensors and torpedoes. Experts said the government had done its bit and it was now up to the corporate sector to run with the baton.

The expedited clearances are part of a series of measures taken by the government over the past year to open up the defence sector.

Since taking charge in May last year, the government has increased the foreign investment limit for the defence sector to 49% and even up to 100% in select cases.

It has already made the process for application online and the validity of the Industrial license has been enhanced to seven years. For smaller items like components, speedy DIPP clearances are already being given.

A new defence procurement policy is expected over the next few weeks that will further clarify complex matters such as the offset policy, blacklisting process as well as a specific route for the Make in India process.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 27 Jun 2015 16:02

Gus · Post by **Gus** » 29 Jun 2015 06:13

this will save a lot of pain if it works as intended. lord know how many times i've scrambled to print and organize various documents for various purposes...

https://digitallocker.gov.in/

Dedicated personal storage space, linked to each resident’s Aadhaar number. DigiLocker can be used to securely store e-documents as well as store Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) link of e-documents issued by various issuer departments. The e-Sign facility provided as part of DigiLocker system can be used to digitally sign e-documents.

It will minimize the use of physical documents and will provide authenticity of the e-documents It will provide secure access to Govt. issued documents. It will also reduce administrative overhead of Govt. departments and agencies and make it easy for the residents to receive services

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wea ... 609731.cms

While the documents you upload can be shared via email, the e-documents from governments agencies viewed by an authorised list of requestors such as a bank, university , the passport office or the transport department. To make the e-document at par with the original one, you can also digitally sign these documents.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 29 Jun 2015 13:53

The lockdown and ringfencing against journalistic interference, err access, begins. At long last.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 30 Jun 2015 07:01

Uranium deal likely to be renewed during Narendra Modi’s visit: Bulat Sarsenbayev, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to India (ET)

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 30 Jun 2015 08:55

A tad dated but nonetheless worthwhile...

Sumeet · Post by **Sumeet** » 30 Jun 2015 12:52

India blocks China's bid to save Pakistan on terror finance scrutiny

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's enforcement of UN financial sanctions against terrorism will be closely monitored by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) through its associate body, the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), after India successfully blocked China's attempt at a recent FATF meet in Brisbane to save non-FATF member Pakistan from such scrutiny.

FATF is a policy-making body whose objectives include setting standards to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism and supporting implementation of these standards. APG on money laundering, somewhat of a mini-FATF of which Pakistan is a member, is committed to the effective implementation and enforcement of standards set by FATF.

According to sources in the government, India, with the support of allies like the US, managed to derail China's bid which was backed by Australia to shield Pakistan on terror financing. The FATF meet agreed with India's argument that Pakistan, despite not being part of FATF, was part of APG which works in close collaboration with FATF, and its enforcement of targeted financial sanctions against terrorism should be subject to monitoring by FATF through the APG.

At the FATF meeting last week, India and the US spoke up against Pakistan's lack of conviction in implementing anti-terror financial sanctions by freezing assets or attaching properties of 26/11 masterminds Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Dawood Ibrahim etc. China, however, argued that Pakistan was doing enough and reporting on the action taken to APG.

India was not satisfied with the report submitted by Pakistan to APG as it listed only unnamed accounts, without identifying their origins and their implications for the group's functioning. This was despite India furnishing enough details on Falah-e-Insaniyat, linked to LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawah, publicly raising funds. Similar fund-raising at Hafiz Saeed's rallies was also highlighted.

An arrangement was worked out at FATF meet wherein Pakistan's action on terror financing will be evaluated by APG, which will then refer the issue to the FATF.

Abhay_S · Post by **Abhay_S** » 01 Jul 2015 01:37

This is getting a lot of attention around the world

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/29/asia/indi ... index.html

https://twitter.com/narendramodi

PS: Shout out to all the BRFites who are Proud Parents of their daughters.

gandharva · Post by **gandharva** » 01 Jul 2015 07:21

DD Kisan cultivates a dedicated viewership

In a month, DD Kisan has become the second-most popular channel, after DD National, among the 23 channels of Doordarshan, claims Sirohi. Mint could not independently verify this claim but numbers shared by TAM Media Research shows that the weekly reach of DD Kisan shot up from 685,000 in its first week to more than five million in the fourth week (14-20 June). This means over five million people watched the channel for at least a minute or more. In a country with more than 140 million farm households, this seems to be an impressive beginning.
“This channel is going to earn money for the government. We are targeting between Rs.200 core and Rs.250 crore in annual advertising revenue within the next 2-3 years,” said Sirohi.

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/VdGsI0 ... rship.html

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 01 Jul 2015 09:40

From WSJ...

India Attracts Enough FDI to Join Global Top Ten

member_29064 · Post by **member_29064** » 01 Jul 2015 11:07

well begun is half done

http://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.co ... t/47874383

The telecom department's much-awaited report on 'net neutrality' is said to have recommended disallowing the controversial zero rating plans of telcos while proposing that throttling and any sort of prioritisation of Internet traffic should be banned by the government.

"There should be no paid prioritisation which creates discrimination and no degradation of traffic on the internet on the basis of applications, content, services or even the end user," a senior government official privy to the report told ET.

The six-member committee's report together with the telecom regulator's recommendation will form the final basis of the government's policy on net neutrality, a principle that guarantees consumers equal and non-discriminatory access to all data, apps and services on Internet, with no discrimination on the basis of tariffs or speed.

"The government could, of course, make an exemption for delivery of essential government services such as education and health which might be delivered on a priority basis," the official explained.

The report has further indicated that the policy on net neutrality must promote competition and encourage startup culture in the country, another official told ET. "Competition must be promoted, and not hindered."

It has also stated that ISPs, including telecom operators, should be disallowed from using 'traffic management' as a technique to slow down certain content.

"ISPs, including telecom operators, must be allowed reasonable and legitimate traffic management provided the techniques don't violate the basic principles of net neutrality," the second official said.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 01 Jul 2015 11:13

India reduces open defecation by 31 per cent: UN report (IE)

member_29064 · Post by **member_29064** » 01 Jul 2015 12:24

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-sm ... ht-2100587

The dream flight of Zahid Ahmad Qureshi is all set to take off for one of the prestigious IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) in the country, thanks to the intervention of Union human resources development (HRD) minister Smriti Irani.

Five days after dna broke the story about Zahid, the HRD minister chipped in and promised all help to the 21-year-old genius from remote Dudwan village of border district of Kupwara. Orphaned by militancy and living in abject poverty, Zahid showed grit and cracked the IIT exam securing the enviable rank of 89.

Irani spoke to Zahid on Tuesday and promised to arrange scholarship to facilitate his entire education. "Spoke to Zahid. My family will pay for his counseling and MHRD will arrange scholarship to facilitate his entire education," she tweeted.

Later talking to dna, Zahid thanked the HRD minister and all his well-wishers for supporting him in the time of crisis. "She (HRD minister) said don't worry and we will bear all expenses," he said.

Zahid said his dreams are coming true and he has no words to express gratitude to all those who have offered support. "My grandparents are very happy. They are thankful to everyone (who have contributed)," he said.

Zahid is all set to start his counselling from Wednesday to lock his seat in his dream college. "I will start counselling from tomorrow. My dream is to join IIT Madras. If it doesn't materialise, I am okay to any other IIT," he said.

Smriti Irani is not the only person who has offered help to Zahid. From those in government to opposition to corporate world to social organisations, support lined up for Zahid to live his dreams.

g.sarkar · Post by **g.sarkar** » 03 Jul 2015 18:40

http://www.rediff.com/news/report/in-th ... 150703.htm
Rediff.com » News » In the middle of Ramzan, Modi to visit 5 Islamic nations
Last updated on: July 03, 2015 19:20 IST
It's a packed 5-nation, 9-day, visit for Prime Minister Modi as he heads to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, apart from Ufa in Russia.
This visit may be short on glitz, but high on substance, reports Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com
Starting Monday, July 6, in the middle of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit five Central Asian countries that follow the moderate Hanafi school of Islam.
Modi is also scheduled to attend the BRICS (the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summits in the Russian city of Ufa from July 9 to 10, making it the first time an Indian prime minister will attend the SCO meet.
Before arriving in Ufa, Modi will visit Tashkent, the Uzbekistan capital, and Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
After his engagement in Russia, Modi will visit Bishkek, Ashgabat and Dushanbe, the capitals of Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan respectively.
Tajikistan shares a border with Pakistan occupied Kashmir which India considers its territory. India spent $70 million to built a military air base at Ayni in Tajikistan, but could not deploy fighter aircraft there under Russian pressure.
India has at last shown a sense of urgency to connect with these countries, say Indian diplomats involved in the region.
While negotiating energy security and mineral resources, Modi will carry with him India's soft power in the form of music, arts, Bollywood films and television serials (Balika Vadhu is a current favourite in the region) to offer, along with the lure of the huge Indian market.
As and when the Chabahar port in Iran starts functioning full steam, India expects the two-way traffic with the Central Asian republics to multiply manifold......
Gautam

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 03 Jul 2015 19:10

India saved $2 billion by reforming fuel subsidiary delivery

India has saved $2 billion in the last one year by taking steps to reform fuel subsidiary delivery, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today, insisting that the government is working to cut the leakages and not the subsidy.

"The Prime Minister asked us to cut the leakages and not the subsidy," Pradhan told a Washington audience at Center for Global Development, a US-based eminent think-tank.

He said that this is what his ministry has successfully worked on in th

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/art ... aign=cppst

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 08 Jul 2015 01:34

Coal India goes on a production overdrive to fuel economy

“Recover the coal sector for me, the entire economy will rebound.”

This was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first message to Union Coal Secretary Anil Swarup last October after appointing him as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the ministry.

Coal India’s output from 2010-11 to 2013-14 grew from 431 mt to 462 mt, adding only 31 mt in the last four years. On the other hand, CIL output in 2014-15 reached 494 mt, recording a growth of 33 mt in a single year. Coal India has begun 2015-16 on a strong note registering a 12 per cent growth output at 121.33 MT in the first quarter and meeting 99 per cent of the target.

Small wonder the Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal is ecstatic. “It is the same Coal India, the same executives and the same workmen. We have just ensured better management of operational affairs, showed the right intention and always believed in our potential,” Goyal said.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 08 Jul 2015 13:51

Vijay ‏@centerofright 24m24 minutes ago

Kazakhstan to supply 5,000 tonnes uranium to India in 2015-19: Nursultan Nazarbayev - @orsoraggiante http://m.economictimes.com/news/politic ... 985802.cms …

abhijitm · Post by **abhijitm** » 09 Jul 2015 18:30

After 15 years of Congress/RC rule within six months of BJP led government in Maharshtra roads in my Mumbai area are much much better. Roads in Thane are also in much better condition.

I see road constructions are finished in last six months which in previous congress rule used to take minimum 4 years.

BJP led government has stopped taking toll at more than 50 checkpoints.

Excellent work! Well done and keep it up! Somehow I do not see BJP is taking due credit of this.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 09 Jul 2015 22:19

X - Posting this from Mil Forum:

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ ... my-to-pac/

‘Critical’ shortages of ammunition nearly made up, Army to PAC
The PAC, which examines the CAG audit report after it is laid in Parliament, comprises 22 MPs and is currently headed by Congress MP Prof K V Thomas.

The “critical” shortage of ammunition in the army, pointed out in the CAG report in May, has been overcome to a significant extent, Defence Ministry and army officials have told the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC). “The criticality has been met by a two-pronged approach: asking Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) to produce well in time, and by progressing the import cases faster . It has been a high priority area for the Defence Minister (Manohar Parrikar),” said a senior military official.

The ministry and army officials deposed before the PAC on June 14. The PAC, which examines the CAG audit report after it is laid in Parliament, comprises 22 MPs and is currently headed by Congress MP Prof K V Thomas.

When the army does not have enough ammunition to sustain even 10 days of intense war, the situation is considered “critical”. CAG had warned that as of March 2013, half of the 170 types of ammunition with the army would not last 10 days of war.

As per Defence Ministry’s 1979 policy (revised in 2010 with no substantial change), army is supposed to maintain its ammunition reserves for 40 days of intense war. This quantity is called War Wastage Reserve. After the Kargil War, the army came up with a policy to hold ammunition for at least 20 days of intense war, calling it ‘Bottom Line’ or ‘Minimum Acceptable Risk Level’.

CAG had also said 74 per cent — 125 out of the 170 types of ammunition — were below the Bottom Line holding. As per the report, OFB had failed to supply the army with the targeted quantity, leading to supply shortfalls in 73 per cent of ammunition types.

Sources said the quantity of ammunition procured by the army in 2014-15 is worth around Rs 900 crore more than the average quantity purchased in earlier years. Barring one item, the army is confident of overcoming “critical” level for all types of ammunition by 2016. In May, Parrikar had assured, “We will overcome the shortfall within one and half years. The gap has been filled 50 per cent and process of remaining 50 per cent is underway.”

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 10 Jul 2015 06:37

Wardha and Nagpur villagers rejoice as Jalyukt Shivar projects yield results

“I cannot describe the happiness in our village when we saw the huge quantity of water in the cement plug across the nullah, an amount we haven’t seen for as far as we can remember,” said Abhay Dhokne of Madni. “It has raised water levels in all the wells of the village.”

“Villagers volunteered to work for deepening and broadening of the nullahs. Farmers happily parted with parts of their farms near the nullah for broadening. The silt excavated was spread across farms, enhancing soil fertility,” said Katol BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh, who has been actively involved in the programme.

The political implication of the programme is not lost on Deshmukh as with other MLAs who have thrown their weight behind the project. A flagship programme of the new dispensation in the state, the scheme is being personally supervised by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Fadnavis has been visiting 7-8 villages in each district to check the progress of the scheme. “This has ensured that the respective collectors personally ensure that the work is completed on time,” said an official.

Being implemented in over 6,000 most severely water-stressed villages of the state in the first phase, the scheme envisages covering all such villages over the next four years with the convergence of all watershed programmes of state and central governments.

“We are undertaking different kinds of watershed works depending on availability of water resources near the villages. For example, where there are no nullahs, we are developing gradient bunds around farms where rainwater gets stored. Elsewhere, cement plugs and check dams in series are being built across nullahs at very low costs. Like, a check dams on Zilpa nullah was built at just over Rs 9 lakh, which could have otherwise have cost about Rs 60 lakh, thanks to NGOs, corporates and locals contributing,” said Wardha collector Ashutosh Salil.

rajeshkathiriya · Post by **rajeshkathiriya** » 10 Jul 2015 08:25

ED unearths India's biggest hawala trail in 2G case

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/busine ... ef_article

he Enforcement Directorate has unearthed the biggest Hawala racket in the country in connection with the 2G scam. According to sources, the agency found that the bribe money in the case had travelled through one of country's biggest hawala racket. Sources further said that the role of a private bank was also under scanner. Chennai-based JP Group helped former Union telecom minister A Raja, an accused in the 2G case, launder bribe money in the 2G scam, said sources.

The money reportedly travelled to a Dubai-based firm named Mycon General Trading Company. The money further travelled to Hong Kong and several other tax havens. According to the sources, the probe was based on an input by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in 2012-13.

The racket came to light when the Ahmedabad unit of the ED found that Surat-based diamond companies were running one of the biggest hawala frauds. The ED has, as of now, found evidence of Rs 10,000 crore being routed out of India. Some arrests have also been made by the agency in connection with the case. While Afroz Fatta, Madan Lal Jain, Manish Shah and Rakesh Kothari have been arrested, warrants have also been issued against Mansook Lal Sanghvi and Dilraj Jain, who are absconding. The agency is now on a lookout for the alleged kingpin, Prithviraj Kothari, who is the owner of Riddhi Siddhi Bullion.

g.sarkar · Post by **g.sarkar** » 11 Jul 2015 22:17

http://www.firstpost.com/world/engaging ... 38156.html
Engaging with Pakistan: Modi sends strong signal by fielding Doval instead of MEA to deal with Islamabad
The Modi government unilaterally called off foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan last August but has now decided to hold National Security Advisory-level talks, one-notch higher level, as NSA in Indian dispensation enjoys a minister of state rank.
Why? What has changed in India-Pakistan context in past ten and a half months? Is the Modi government’s Pakistan policy confused and confusing or is there a method behind the sudden uptick in its interest in mending ties with Pakistan even though the ground situation remains just the same? The 10 July summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Ufa, Russia has significant implications not only for the two neighbours but also for the two governments. Here we focus on implications for India only while the Pakistan part will be discussed separately.
When Modi had held his first summit meeting with Nawaz Sharif for the first time in New Delhi, soon after becoming prime minister on 26 May 2014, the two had decided that their foreign secretaries would be meeting soon for structured talks. The foreign secretary-level talks were scheduled for August 2014 in Islamabad but unilaterally canceled by India at the eleventh hour as the Modi government was livid over Pakistan’s engagement with Kashmiri separatists.
Ten and a half months later, the Modi government has not only decided to re-engage with Pakistan but decided to do that at a higher level of NSA. This is a clever ploy by PM Modi. By keeping the proposed talks with Pakistan, he has clearly taken India’s Pakistan policy away from the domain of the Ministry of External Affairs......."
Gautam

Kakkaji · Post by **Kakkaji** » 12 Jul 2015 03:45

Deleted - wrong thread

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 12 Jul 2015 05:01

PM Modi moots soccer event: India vs Brazil & Russia
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/spor ... 011689.cms

UFA: On a day when India slipped 15 positions in the FIFA world rankings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested the setting up of a BRICS sports council where football meets could be organised. "India could host a football event next year," Modi said in the Russian town of Ufa

M Joshi · Post by **M Joshi** » 13 Jul 2015 10:40

The results have started to show.

Finally, Jind’s khapland opens its heart to its daughters

The CSR registered at Ujhana, Ram Rai, Chhatar and Durjanpur centres is 1,000, which means the number of newly born girls is equal to that of boys
The figure was 2,000 at Amargarh, Hatt and Dehola centres, making the number of newlyborn girls twice that of boys
In all, 1,204 babies, including 563 girls and 641 boys, were born at primary health centres, community health centres and civil hospitals in Jind district over the past two months, taking the overall CSR in the district to 878

Things appear to be changing for the better for girls in this “khapland”, infamous for its preference for the male child. The latest report of the Health Department shows the number of newly born girls has increased in many villages of the district. Child sex ratio (CSR) is more than 1,000 in many villages. The figures for the past one year show that around 100 villages of the district had CSR of more than 950, better than the national CSR of 919.
The Health Department has set up 33 rural registration centres in Jind district that has around 309 villages. The CSR registered at Ujhana, Ram Rai, Chhatar and Durjanpur centres is 1,000, which means the number of newly born girls is equal to that of boys. At many places such as Amargarh, Hatt and Dehola, the CSR is 2,000, which means the number of newly born girls is twice that of boys.

This is in Jat Khap heartland of Jind district in Haryana.

saadhak · Post by **saadhak** » 15 Jul 2015 10:08

Hindu migrants from Pakistan may soon get banking & property rights

The Modi government has been active on granting citizenship to Hindus from Pakistan (and Afghanistan as well). As ET had reported on May 21, in one year, the NDA government granted citizenship to over 4,000 Hindus from these South Asian countries, four times the number managed by UPA-2 in its five-year term

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Jul 2015 04:21

Suraj wrote:BJP and RSS are doing a very good job of circumventing the central parliamentary deadlock on this topic. It was previously proposed that letting states create their own amended land laws and compete with each other, would be best. That is what is now happening.
10 BJP states seek to have their own land laws
Ten big states, most of those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partners, on Wednesday sought to unshackle themselves from the logjam over amendments to the contentious land acquisition Bill, 2013, by proposing to bring their own laws for boosting infrastructure development.

At a NITI Aayog meeting to discuss the land Bill (the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Bill, 2015), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired, several chief ministers stressed that land was needed for development and to create jobs.

The PM told the meeting that politics over the Bill was stalling rural development. He said the government would not compromise the country’s development but will keep farmers’ interest in mind. For this, it would consider all suggestions. Several state governments proposed they could enact their own land laws consistent with the amendments proposed by the Centre in the land acquisition Bill, 2015, rather than waiting indefinitely for a consensus.

“If the Centre fails to approve this (Bill) with consensus, it should be left to states. Those states that want to develop fast... can suggest their own state legislation and the Centre (would) approve that state legislation. An overwhelming section gave such a suggestion,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said after the meeting.

AnimeshP · Post by **AnimeshP** » 16 Jul 2015 07:33

Ford Foundation-govt stand-off ends as NGO agrees to come under Fema

The confrontation between the government and Ford Foundation seems set to blow over with the two sides settling down for a resolution where the US donor has agreed in principle to register its Indian arm under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema), 1999.

Ford Foundation, among the most reputed international aid agencies working in India and which has been associated with a number of initiatives, found itself on a sticky wicket for not registering itself under Fema, a mandatory requirement for all foreign agencies operating in the country. While previous dispensations never insisted on compliance with the law, the Modi government made it plain to the foundation that it could not be allowed to dodge the law of the land. The face-off, coinciding with a tougher scrutiny of international NGOs under the NDA government, worsened when the foundation argued for continuation of the arrangement where it was allowed to operate merely on the basis of an understanding with the finance ministry.

Sources also denied that a registration under Fema would automatically mean removal of Ford Foundation from the "prior permission" category. "There are no such plans as of now, though a review on the US donor's prior permission status cannot be ruled out in due course," the official said.

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 16 Jul 2015 19:46

39 more drugs to become affordable; diabetes, digestive disorder medicines in price control list

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 097256.cms?

The government has brought 39 more drugs, including the ones used to treat diseases such as diabetes and digestive disorders, under price control as part of its efforts to make medicines affordable in the country.

In a statement, regulator National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said "it has fixed/revised the prices in respect of 39 formulation packs..."

As per the notification, the prices of formulations including Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, Cefotaxime, Paracetamol, Domperidone and Metformin+Glimepiride have been fixed.

gandharva · Post by **gandharva** » 18 Jul 2015 08:16

Modi govt goes with people’s sentiments, prohibits beef export
http://www.newsroompost.com/219576/modi ... ef-export/

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 19 Jul 2015 12:45