7 July 2015

IAS toppers receive merit certificates from Dr. Jitendra Singh

IAS toppers receive merit certificates from Dr. Jitendra Singh
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh felicitated and personally handed over certificates of merit to the All-India toppers of IAS/Civil Services 2014 Exam including Ms. Ira Singhal who has scored All-India first rank, Ms. Nidhi Gupta, Ms. Vandana Rao and Ms. Charu Sree T, the four girl-candidates who have made it among the first six, here today. Among others from the merit list of the first 20 who received their merit certificates from the Minister were Mr. Lok Bandhu, Mr. Nitish.K, Mr. Arvind Singh, Mr. Nishant Jain, Mr. Abhijeet Kaplish, Ms. Ananya Das, Mr. Aditya Uppal and Mr. Aman Mittal.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the practice of felicitating the toppers of the Civil Services Exam was introduced in the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) soon after the present government took over last year. But this year, the occasion assumes special significance because it has thrown up a galaxy of brilliant young brains, notably young girls, who have made it to the top by the sheer dint of their individual effort and hard work regardless of extraneous considerations or prejudices.

Referring to Ms. Ira Singhal, the young lady who scored All-India first rank despite being differently abled, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, it is wrong to describe that she made it after overcoming the challenge because her mental faculties, IQ level and academic brilliance are higher than most of us and the skeletal difference in her physique is something which has nothing to do with her caliber or intellect. It is just like someone having six fingers instead of five fingers on a hand and still making it to the top or somebody having a short stature or a tall height and still making a mark, he added.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said, this was the most happening and the best of times for any youngster to enter into civil services, particularly so because under the leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the government has placed before itself the goal of “maximum governance, minimum government” and in order to effectively achieve this goal, the new lot of bureaucrats will have tremendous opportunity and a larger role to play which will hold the promise of earning them credit not only from the ruling establishment but also from the society. The rising level of expectations and high accountability also offers an opportunity to prove ourselves worthy of the responsibility given to us, he said and assured that government is committed to help the young incoming bureaucrats to give their best.

Union Secretary, DoPT, Shri Sanjay Kothari explained to young candidates the various procedures of empanelment and allocation of cadres. The Union Home Secretary, Shri L.C.Goyal offered certain cues from his long experience of nearly 35 years as an IAS officer. Senior officers form DoPT were present on the occasion. 

President inaugurates 'Nakshatra Vatika' at Rashtrapati Nilayam

President inaugurates 'Nakshatra Vatika' at Rashtrapati Nilayam
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a ‘Nakshatra Vatika’ today (July 06, 2015) at Rashtrapati Nilayam Gardens, Bolarum, Secunderabad. He took a round of the Garden and watered a plant representing ‘Surya’ or the Sun God. He was accompanied by Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E.S.L. Narasimhan and Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Ali.

The Garden will be open to public along with other gardens of Nilayam in the first week of January 2016.

The layout of ‘Nakshatra Vatika’ has been developed in various geometrical combinations corresponding to the Sree Chakra of Vedic astrology on a 0.91 acre plot. In the core, the formation is square shaped and accommodates nine squares to represent the “Navagrah” (Planets). Each square is planted with a particular tree/plant variety that represents the respective planet and is placed as per the astronomical direction. The first inner circular band is divided in 12 small circles at parts of 30º each corresponding to the 12 Rashi (zodiac sign). Each has a plant that represents the particular zodiac sign. The outer circular band consists of 27 parts of 13º- 20’ each with small circles which represents each a Nakshatra (Stars), planted with a representative tree/plant of that particular star. In all, 48 trees/plants representing 09 (nine) Navgrahs, 12 (twelve) Rashi and 27 (Twenty seven) Nakshatra are present in the Garden. Beside these, thePeepal tree, Banana tree and Bilva have been also placed in appropriate locations in the Vatika bringing the total to 51 trees/plants.

A Herbal Garden already exists at the Nilayam Gardens and this will be the second specialized garden within the complex. (Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi has within its premises a Nakshatra garden, Herbal Garden, Cactus Garden, Spiritual Garden, Bonsai Garden etc over and above the famous Mughal Gardens with its large collection of roses)

Canada and India Highlight Growing Energy Relationship

Canada and India Highlight Growing Energy Relationship
The Minister of State (I/C) Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan met Mr. Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources of Canada, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on 5th July  for the 2nd India-Canada Ministerial Energy Dialogue to discuss enhancing energy cooperation between the two countries in the areas of oil, natural gas, clean energy, power transmission and skill development.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said “India and Canada share common values and ideals and believe in long-term sustained partnerships. Our Energy Cooperation is steadily growing but the potential is much higher – Let’s convert the potential into reality.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rickford said “Canada’s growing energy relationship with India is helping create jobs and long-term prosperity for both of our countries. We stand ready to expand our strategic partnership through greater cooperation based on our complementarity of energy interests.”

Both the Ministers highlighted Canada and India’s growing energy partnership, by strengthening government and business relationships, to help create jobs and long-term economic prosperity for both countries.
Canada is a secure, reliable and responsible producer and supplier of energy to the world and has the resources and expertise needed to support India’s growing energy needs. In 2012, India was the fourth-largest energy consumer in the world. Recent International Monetary Fund studies showed that India is expected to be the fastest growing economy during 2014-25. In addition, according to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2014, India’s oil demand growth between 2013 and 2040 would be the highest in the world.
Indeed, the complementarity of energy interests between Canada and India has already resulted in substantive milestones conducive to building our bilateral energy relationship, including:
• In 2009, India received Canadian oil for the first time and in 2014, India received over 1 500 barrels of Canadian crude per day;
• Signed Expression of Intent in 2013 to collaborate between Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd;
• In March 2014, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd acquired 10 % participating interest in an integrated LNG project - Pacific Northwest LNG proposed at Lelu Island, British Columbia; and
• On April 15, 2015, Canada welcomed the announcement of a contract to supply over seven million pounds of uranium to India over the next five years for the generation of electricity.


Moving forward, Canada could potentially supply a significant amount of the 44 billion cubic metres of natural gas that India is forecasted to import annually by 2025. Indian companies are actively engaged in projects in Canada including projects by Pacific NorthWest LNG and A C LNG.
Furthermore, the Ministers discussed opportunities to increase Indian participation in mining and oil sands activities, to grow Canadian investments in India’s energy infrastructure and further technical collaboration in the areas of clean energy technologies, including solar, wind, power transmission and carbon capture and storage. Canada and India will also work together to enhance skill development and share knowledge to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies. The Ministers agreed to intensify, government-to-government as well as business-to-business collaborations in the above noted themes.
The Ministers have committed to continuing to explore opportunities of mutual benefit in the energy sector. They are scheduled to meet again in 2016 in India for their 3rd India-Canada Ministerial Energy Dialogue.

5 July 2015

Toppers of the Civil Services Examination, 2014. Women bag first four positions.

अफसर बिटिया को सलामी ठोकेंगे इंस्पेक्टर पापा

अफसर बिटिया को सलामी ठोकेंगे इंस्पेक्टर पापा
सिविल सेवा परीक्षा में 215वां स्थान हासिल करने वाली दून की बेटी रचिता जुयाल आईपीएस बनेंगी। रचिता अब उत्तराखंड कैडर हासिल करना चाहती हैं। रचिता ने सेल्फ स्टडी के दम पर यह कामयाबी हासिल की है।
वह अब प्रदेश में महिला सशक्तीकरण की अलख जगाना चाहती हैं। आईपीएस अफसर बनने के बाद रचिता को उत्तराखंड कैडर मिला तो उनके इंस्पेक्टर पिता उन्हें सेल्यूट करेंगे।
दून में मोथरोवाला रोड स्थित अमन विहार निवासी जुयाल परिवार के लिए शनिवार का दिन मंगलकारी साबित हुआ। बड़ी बेटी रचिता ने दूसरे प्रयास में ही सिविल सेवा परीक्षा में शानदार सफलता हासिल की। रचिता के पिता बीबीडी जुयाल सीबीसीआईडी में इंस्पेक्टर हैं। बेटी को उत्तराखंड कैडर मिलने की सूरत में पिता उसे सेल्यूट करेंगे।बीबीडी जुयाल ने बताया कि उनकी अभी पांच साल की सर्विस बची है। इस बीच जब बेटी अफसर बनकर वर्दी में उनके सामने आएगी तो वे उसे सेल्यूट करेंगे। रचिता ने कारमन स्कूल से 12वीं तक की पढ़ाई की। इसके बाद इक्फाई यूनिवर्सिटी से बीबीए पास किया। इसके बाद से वह सिविल सेवा परीक्षा की तैयारी में जुट गई।
रचिता के नाना बीपी ढौंडियाल और दादा ईश्वरी दत्त जुयाल पुलिस अधिकारी रहे हैं। उनके चाचा जेपी जुयाल भी पुलिस में हैं। वह आईएएस बनना चाहती थी।

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yoiana (PMKSY)

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yoiana (PMKSY)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana” (PMKSY).
About the Scheme:
It is a central scheme that aims at providing irrigation facilities to every village in the country by converging ongoing irrigation schemes implemented by various ministries.
  • Under the project, a dynamic annual fund allocation methodology, which mandates states to allot more funds to irrigation sectors for becoming eligible to access funds under this scheme, is also being considered.
  • The Scheme also intends to focus on ‘end-to-end solution’ in irrigation supply chain by implementing the new programme in a “project mode” with decentralised state-level planning and execution.
  • It will have an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore over a period of five years (2015-16 to 2019-20). The allocation for the current financial year is Rs. 5300 crore.
  • The programme architecture of PMKSY aims at a ‘decentralized State level planning and execution’ structure, in order to allow States to draw up a District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and a State Irrigation Plan (SIP).
  • DIP will have holistic developmental perspective of the district outlining medium to long term developmental plans integrating three components namely, water sources, distribution network and water use application of the district to be prepared at two levels – the block and the district. All structures created under the schemes will be geotagged.
  • The programme will be supervised and monitored at the national level by an Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister with Union Ministers of all concerned Ministries.
  • A National Executive Committee (NEC) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation, allocation of resources, inter ministerial coordination, monitoring and performance assessment, addressing administrative issues etc.
  • At the state level the scheme will be administered by a State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) to be Chaired by the Chief Secretary of the respective States. The committee will have all authority to sanction the project and also monitor the progress of the scheme.
  • At the district level there will be a district level implementation committee for ensuring last mile coordination at the field level.
  • It is expected that PMKSY will provide convergence to existing schemes of water management, thus bringing efficiency to the use of water.
  • The state agriculture department would be the nodal agency for implementation of PMKSY projects.
  • A state will become eligible to access PMKSY funds only if it has prepared the district irrigation plans and state irrigation plans and sustained an increasing expenditure trend in irrigation sector in state plan.
  • PMKSY funds would be given to states as 75% grant by the central government and the remaining 25% share is to be borne by the state government. For northeastern region and hilly states, the funding pattern would be 90:10.

Sagarmala Initiative:

Review of the Sagarmala initiative
Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, recently chaired a review meeting of the Sagarmala initiative. Various developments under the initiative were reviewed.
Sagarmala Initiative:
The Sagarmala project seeks to develop a string of ports around India’s coast. The objective of this initiative is to promote “Port-led development” along India’s 7500 km long coastline.
  • It aims to develop access to new development regions with intermodal solutions and promotion of the optimum modal split, enhanced connectivity with main economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and road services.
  • The Union Ministry of Shipping has been appointed as the nodal ministry for this initiative.
The Sagarmala initiative will address challenges by focusing on three pillars of development, namely:
  1. Supporting and enabling Port-led Development through appropriate policy and institutional interventions and providing for an institutional framework for ensuring inter-agency and ministries/departments/states’ collaboration for integrated development,
  2. Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports, and
  3. Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland.
Details:
  • In addition to strengthening port and evacuation infrastructure, it also aims at simplifying procedures used at ports for cargo movement and promotes usage of electronic channels for information exchange leading to quick, efficient, hassle-free and seamless cargo movement.
  • The Sagarmala initiative would also strive to ensure sustainable development of the population living in the Coastal Economic Zone (CEZ). This would be done by synergising and coordinating with State Governments and line Ministries of Central Government through their existing schemes and programmes such as those related to community and rural development, tribal development and employment generation, fisheries, skill development, tourism promotion etc.
  • A National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) is envisaged for overall policy guidance and high level coordination, and to review various aspects of planning and implementation of the plan and projects. The NSAC shall be chaired by the Minister incharge of Shipping, with Cabinet Ministers from stakeholder Ministries and Chief Ministers/Ministers incharge of ports of maritime states as members.

Featured post

UKPCS2012 FINAL RESULT SAMVEG IAS DEHRADUN

    Heartfelt congratulations to all my dear student .this was outstanding performance .this was possible due to ...