All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968 Amended

The Government of India has amended All India Services (Conduct) Rules,1968, in rule 3(1) after sub-rule (1) by inserting sub-rule (1A) and rule 3(2) after sub-rule (2A) by inserting sub-rule (2B) and these rules are called the All India Services (Conduct) Amendment Rules, 2014. Under sub-rule (1A), every member of the Service shall maintain:- (i) High ethical standards, integrity and honesty; (ii) Political neutrality; (iii) Promoting of the principles of merit, fairness and impartiality in the discharge of duties; (iv) Accountability and transparency; (v) Responsiveness to the public, particularly to the weaker section; (vi) Courtesy and good behaviour with the public. Under sub-rule (2B), every member of the Service shall:- (i) Commit himself to and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic values; (ii) Defend and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of State, public order, decency and morality; (iii) Maintain integrity in public service; (iv) Take decisions solely in public interest and use or cause to use public resources efficiently, effectively and economically; (v) Declare any private interests relating to his public duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts in a way that protects the public interest; (vi) Not place himself under any financial or other obligations to any individual or organisation which may influence him in the performance of his official duties; (vii) Not misuse his position as civil servant and not take decisions in order to derive financial or material benefits for himself, his family or his friends; (viii) Make choices, take decisions and make recommendations on merit alone; (ix) Act with fairness and impartiality and not discriminate against anyone, particularly the poor and the under-privileged sections of society; (x) Refrain from doing anything which is or may be contrary to any law, rules, regulations and established practices; (xi) Maintain discipline in the discharge of his duties and be liable to implement the lawful orders duly communicated to him; (xii) Be liable to maintain confidentiality in the performance of his official duties as required by any laws for the time being in force, particularly with regard to information, disclosure of which may prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of State, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, friendly relation with foreign countries or lead to incitement of an offence or illegal or unlawful gains to any person; (xiii) Perform and discharge his duties with the highest degree of professionalism and dedication to the best of his abilities.

Nuclear Power Plants

At present, nuclear power plants are in operation in the states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu & Uttar Pradesh. The details of their location and capacity are as follows: Location & State UNITS Capacity (MW) Total Capacity (MW) Tarapur, Maharashtra TAPS-1 160 1400 TAPS-2 160 TAPS-3 540 TAPS-4 540 Rawatbhata, Rajasthan RAPS-1* 100* 1180 RAPS-2 200 RAPS-3 220 RAPS-4 220 RAPS-5 220 RAPS-6 220 Kalpakkam, Tamilnadu MAPS-1 220 440 MAPS-2 220 Narora, Uttar Pradesh NAPS-1 220 440 NAPS-2 220 Kakrapar, Gujarat KAPS-1 220 440 KAPS-2 220 Kaiga, Karnataka KGS-1 220 880 KGS -2 220 KGS -3 220 KGS -4 220   *under extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment for its continued operation                                               In addition, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) unit-1 (1000 MW) at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu has also been connected to the grid on October 22, 2013 and has already reached full power on June 07, 2014.                                  Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant-2 (KKNPP) unit-2 (1000 MW) at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu is currently under commissioning and three nuclear power projects under construction in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The details are:                Project Location & State Capacity (MW) KAPP 3&4 Kakrapar, Gujarat 2 x 700 RAPP 7&8 Rawatbhata, Rajasthan 2 x 700 PFBR Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu 500                               In the XII Five Year Plan, start of work isplanned on new projects in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The details are: Project Location Capacity (MW) Indigenous Reactors GHAVP 1&2 Gorakhpur, Haryana 2 x 700 CMPAPP 1&2 Chutka, Madhya Pradesh 2 x 700 Mahi Banswara, 1&2 Mahi Banswara, Rajasthan 2 x 700 Kaiga 5&6 Kaiga, Karnataka 2 x 700 FBR 1&2 Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu 2 x 500 AHWR Location to be decided 300 Reactors with Foreign Cooperation KKNPP 3&4 Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu 2 x 1000 JNPP 1&2 Jaitapur, Maharashtra 2 x 1650 Kovvada, 1&2 Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh 2 x 1500 ChhayaMithiVirdi, 1&2 ChhayaMithiVirdi, Gujarat 2 x 1100

Sending of First Indian to Moon

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) have been pursuing Chandrayaan-2 as a joint mission under which, ROSCOSMOS had the responsibility for the Lander and ISRO had the responsibility to realize the Rover Module, Orbiter and the launch by GSLV. Consequent to the failure of the Russian-led sample return mission to Phobos (one of the moons of Mars), ROSCOSMOS communicated the shift in the approach for India-Russia joint mission, in May 2012, which called for a major programmatic realignment and lead to re-definition of Chandrayaan-2, with an Indian Lander. Subsequently, based on the recommendations of an integrated programmatic review conducted at ISRO, Chandrayaan-2 has been reconfigured with an Indian Orbiter, Lander and Rover for in-situ investigation of the lunar surface. The revised Chandrayaan-2 project with Indian Lander is currently under process in ISRO for approval by the Government. Based on the assessment of the progress, the project is likely to be completed by 2016-2017. The Chandrayaan-2 is an unmanned mission to Moon. There is no immediate plan for manned mission to Moon.

Installation of Doppler Weather Radars

As on today, 2 Nos. of polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) systems at Delhi- Lodi Road and Jaipur, respectively, are functional along with 16 Nos. non-polarimetric DWR systems, respectively at Chennai, Sriharikota, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bhuj, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Patiala, Delhi Palam, Lucknow, Patna, Mohanbari, Agartala and Bhopal, in other parts of the country. Installation of 3 Nos. of non-polarimetric DWRs at Paradip, Goa and Karaikal is taken up now. Based on scientific assessment of the needs for further augmentation of observing system network, comprising Doppler Weather Radars, rain radars, Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs), Snow Gauges etc has been formulated for western Himalayan states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Data generated from all observing systems viz. surface and upper air observations, satellite observations, aircraft observations, DWRs etc. are fully used by various forecast models to generate most representative initial state 3-D structure of the atmosphere and high resolution (9km grid scale) forecasts over India to predict heavy rainfall occurrences. Range of Doppler Weather Radar for surveillance is approximately 500Kms. However, for quantitative rain estimation it is restricted to around 100 Kms. and for velocity it is around 200 Kms. Only if operated in rapid scanning cycle. DWR network is primarily employed to improve the severe weather surveillance capability including tropical cyclones and for operating now-casting (very short range up to 6h in advance) service (operated for about 140 locations across India).

More cancer institutes in states planned Dr Harsh Vardhan launches “Sunita”- symbol of tobacco victimhood

Meet Sunita. This 27-year-old, whose face is disfigured by oral cancer, is today a symbol of tobacco victimhood. Like hundreds of thousands of tobacco users in India she has seen her whole family ruined because of her four-year habit of chewing the deadly material that came in two-rupee pouches. Sunita, who is a mother of two from a small town in Madhya Pradesh, has survived, but only for now. Her doctor says there is a 50 percent possibility of the disease recurring. And if that happens, chances of survival are remote. Today, she struggles through life with part of her face gone, and suffers pain whenever she tries to eat and drink. Together with members of her traumatised family, Sunita is ready to share with the world of tobacco victims her agonising story. The only message she has is –stay away from all types of tobacco. “Nobody should suffer what I have suffered”, she implores. The Ministry of Health, Government of India, on Thursday unfurled “Sunita”, a testimonial campaign highlighting the devastating effect of smokeless tobacco (‘gutka’, ‘zarda’, ‘khaini’,etc.) especially on women. A resource website,http://ntcptobaccocontrolpsa.inhosting health spots and tobacco use disclaimers in high resolution for use in films and TV shows, was also inaugurated. Sunita’sstory has been made into a 30-second film which is included in the website and will also be screened in cinema theatres across India as well as on government and private TV channels. The website has been developed by the Ministry with technical assistance from World Lung Foundation. It will be a repository of anti-tobacco health spots. All film producers, TV programmers and cinema theatre owners will be able to download the spots and HD disclaimers as mandated in the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) Rules regulating depiction of tobacco products or in their use in films and TV programmes. Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, who inaugurated the website, announced that the Ministry is planning to set up modern cancer hospitals all over India. It is also working to strengthening legal controls on tobacco distribution. The Minister said that the first Budget of ShriNarendraModi government effected a 61 percent hike in tax rates on cigarettes. “Just the enhanced revenue which will flow in would be enough to fund 12 new AIIMS in the country,” Dr Harsh Vardhan remarked. The Ministry of Health has already formed two committees to recommend measures on how to address the social and legal aspects of the war against tobacco use which it has launched. “This should not remain a government agenda. I would like to involve social groups and civil society. The fight will be long and arduous, but we should not lose hope,” Dr Harsh Vardhan added.

Demand and Supply of Power

Electricity is a concurrent subject. Supply and distribution of electricity to various consumers in a State/UT is within the purview of the respective State Government/State Power Utility. The Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments by establishing power plants and transmission system in Central Sector through Central Power Sector Undertakings (CPSUs). This was stated by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Minister of state for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today The Minister further stated that there is overall shortage of power in the country both in terms of energy and peaking power. The energy and peaking shortage in the country during the current year (April to June, 2014) was 4.0% and 3.7% respectively. The Minister further stated that the Government is taking the following steps to mitigate the shortcomings in supply of power to the consumers : (i) Acceleration in generation capacity addition during 12th Plan with a proposed target of 88,537 MW from conventional sources and 30,000 MW from renewable energy sources. (ii) Undertaking a massive programme for strengthening of inter-state and inter-regional transmission capacity for evacuation of power. (iii) A new scheme has been announced in this year’s Budget for strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks and for segregation of agricultural feeders. (iv) Expeditiously resolving issues relating to environmental and forest clearances for power projects under implementation. (v) Bridging the gap of indigenous coal availability through coal imports for increased generation by thermal plants. (vi) Promoting energy conservation, energy efficiency and demand side management measures. (vii) Government of India is providing financial assistance to States under Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) and Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY). (viii) In order to enable turnaround of State Discoms, the Central Government has approved and notified in October 2012, a Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) of State owned Discoms. (ix) Renovation & Modernization (R&M) works are carried out by the concerned State and Central Power Utilities for improving the Plant Load Factor of power stations.

Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 Rights of Tribals and Forest Dwellers

To address the adverse living conditions of many tribal families living in forests was on account of non-recognition and vesting of pre-existing rights, a landmark legislation viz. Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, has been enacted to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation of forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers, who have been residing in such forests for generations, but whose rights could not be recorded. This Act not only recognizes the rights to hold and live in the forest land under the individual or common occupation for habitation or for self-cultivation for livelihood, but also grants several other rights to ensure their control over forest resources which, inter-alia, include right of ownership, access to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce, community rights such as nistar; habitat rights for primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities; right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use. The Act also provides for diversion of forest land for public utility facilities managed by the Government, such as schools, dispensaries, fair price shops, electricity and telecommunication lines, water tanks, etc. with the recommendation of Gram Sabhas. In addition, several schemes have been implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the benefit of tribal people, including those in the forest areas such as "Mechanism for marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of Value Chain for MFP". Funds are released out of Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan for infrastructure work relating to basic services and facilities viz. approach roads, healthcare, primary education, minor irrigation, rainwater harvesting, drinking water, sanitation, community halls, etc. for development of forest villages. Under Section 3(1)(h) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the rights of settlement and conversion of all forest villages, old habitations, un-surveyed villages and other villages in forest, whether recorded, notified, or not, into revenue villages have been recognized as one of the forest rights of forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers on all forest lands. As per the provisions of the Act and the rules framed thereunder, the forest right related to conversion of forest villages into revenue villages is to be adjudicated by the Gram Sabha, Sub-Divisional Level Committee and the District Level Committee as per the laid down procedure, like any other forest right specified in the Act. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has issued guidelines on 8.11.2013, inter-alia, impressing upon all the State/ UT Governments to convert all such erstwhile forest villages, un-recorded settlements and old habitations into revenue villages with a sense of urgency in a time bound manner. The conversion would include the actual land use of the village in its entirety, including land required for current or future community uses, like, schools, health facilities, public spaces etc.