- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to confer awards on bureaucrats for excellence in public administration on the occasion of Civil Services Day today.
- Supreme Court sets twenty five percent of net salary of a husband as benchmark for maintenance to an estranged wife.
- RBI Governor Urjit Patel asked by a parliamentary panel to appear before it on 25th May over demonetisation issue.
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meets Congress President Sonia Gandhi; calls for a joint opposition candidate for election to the President's post.
- Government directs Internet Service Providers to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by 31st July this year.
- UN Security Council strongly condemns recent ballistic missile test by North Korea.
- Tennis star Rohan Boppana enters quarter-finals of Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in Monaco.
- AND, in IPL Cricket, Mumbai Indians win by 8 wickets against Kings Eleven Punjab at Indore last night.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will honour bureaucrats for excellence in public administration on the occasion of Civil Services Day in New Delhi today. Mr Modi will confer awards on Central, State and district organisations for effective implementation of programmes and innovation. The awards have been instituted to acknowledge, recognize and reward extraordinary and innovative work for the welfare of common people. A report:
The PM's awards for excellence will be based primarily on excellence in implementation of five priority programmes Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, e-National Agriculture Market and Standup India-Startup India. In addition, awards shall also be presented for innovative works done in areas of environment, conservation, disaster management, education, health, women and child initiatives. Total 10 districts and Organisations will be awarded this year under the five Priority Programmes. These awards will be given in three Groups - the first group consists of eight North-Eastern States and the three Hill States of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.The Second group comprises of the seven Union Territories and the remaining 18 States constitute the third group. In addition 2 awards will be given to Central, State organisations under Innovation category. WITH SHASHANK KUMAR REPORT,SANJAY MATTO, AIR NEWS DELHI.
Yesterday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 11th Civil Services Day celebrations. He said civil servants should always remember that with power, comes responsibility and accountability.
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The Supreme Court has set a benchmark for maintenance to be paid by a husband to his estranged wife. The Court said that twenty five percent of his net salary might constitute a just and proper amount as alimony. According to media reports, a bench of Justices R Banumathi and M M Santanagoudar directed a resident of West Bengal to set aside twenty five percent as maintenance for his former wife and their son. The court said the amount of maintenance or permanent alimony must be sufficient to ensure that a woman lived with dignity after separating from her husband.
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RBI Governor, Urjit Patel has been asked by a Parliamentary panel to appear before it on 25th of next month over the demonetisation issue. Sources said in New Delhi that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has decided to call the RBI Governor and ministry officials again to appear before it to brief the members about demonetisation as discussion on it is yet to be concluded.
The Committee headed by former Union Minister and senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily had in January also called Finance ministry officials besides top RBI officials to discuss demonetisation of currency notes of 500 and 1,000 rupees and the impact thereof. Meanwhile, the 15-member committee on subordinate legislation, headed by T Subbarami Reddya has sought details from the Reserve Bank about the post-demonetisation scenario, including the quantum of banned notes deposited so far and also the black money that has come back to the system. The committee asked for the details in its meeting with RBI officials and bankers in Mumbai yesterday. Zakir Nazeer, News Desk.
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The government has directed Internet service providers ISPs to block distribution and transmission of child sexual abuse content by 31st July. In an order, Ministry of Electronics and IT said, ISPs having cable landing station gateways, international long distance licences in India shall be required to adopt and implement Internet Watch Foundation resources on or before 31st July.
The directive has been issued after the recommendation of an inter-ministerial committee that was constituted to recommend solutions to address the issue of child sexual abuse material following a Supreme Court order.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to listeners of AIR in the next edition of Mann Ki Baat programme on 30th of this month. The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of AIR and Door Darshan. This will be the 31st episode of the monthly radio programme. People can share their views in the My Gov Open Forum and can also dial the toll free number 1XXX-XX-7800 to record their message for the Prime Minister in Hindi or English. People can also give a missed call on the number 1922 and follow the link received in SMS to directly give the suggestions to the Prime Minister.
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The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas criticised the decision of a section of petrol pump operators to close their outlets, mostly in south India, on Sunday. In a series of tweets, the ministry said, they neither endorse nor approve the move. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, major dealer’s federations have clarified that they do not endorse any closure of petrol pumps on any day. He added that such closure of petro pumps by a small section of dealers will lead to inconvenience to general public.
Meanwhile, the All India Petroleum Dealers Association has said it is not participating in the closure exercise. It represents 80 per cent of over 53 thousand petrol pumps of public sector oil firms.
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In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK faction led by former chief minister O.Panneerselvam has set pre-conditions for merger talks with the ruling and larger faction led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy. Mr KP Munusamy, a leader of the AIADMK Puratchithalaivi Amma camp led by Mr Panneerselvam, told newspersons in Chennai, resignation letters from Mr TTV Dinakaran and Ms VK Sasikala should be secured and a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the death of the parent party leader late J.Jayalaithaa before talks. However, the ruling AIADMK Amma party has said it has formed a panel to hold talks with the Panneerselvam camp unconditionally. More from our correspondent:
"Both the factions of the erstwhile AIADMK are of one accord that getting the frozen Double Leaves symbol is very crucial for their political future. However, there are larger issues that remains to be solved before the warring factions merge together. The O.Panneerselvam camp wants the affidavit filed before the Election Commission stating Ms VK Sasikala as the party General Secretary and Mr TTV Dinakaran her deputy be withdrawn. They have also clarified that Mr Panneerselvam would not insist on becoming the chief minister though he would contest for the unified party's General Secretary post. The ruling faction wants withdrawal of petition by the rival camp staking claim for the Double Leaves symbol. Jayasingh, AIR News, Chennai. "
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Bihar Chief Minister and JDU chief, Nitish Kumar in a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi yesterday, called for a joint opposition candidate for the election to the President's post. Party spokesperson K C Tyagi said, there should be a joint opposition candidate for the top Constitutional post and Sonia Gandhi being the leader of the largest opposition party should take the lead. Tyagi said, Nitish Kumar has already taken up the matter with leaders of the Left parties. He said, Mr Kumar has been calling for forging an alliance of secular parties at the national level on the lines of the 2015 electoral grand alliance or Mahagathbandhan in Bihar.
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The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the recent ballistic missile test by North Korea. In a unanimous statement yesterday, Security Council members expressed their utmost concern over Pyongyang's flagrant and provocative defiance of U N sanctions. North Korea last Saturday tried and failed to launch a missile from its submarine base at Sinpo off its eastern coast.
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In France, a policeman was shot dead and two others wounded in a shooting incident in central Paris last night. French police say a lone gunman opened fire before being killed as he fled the scene. President Francois Hollande said that he was convinced the attack was terrorist-related. The So-called Islamic State has claimed that one of its fighters had carried out the attack. The attack came three days before the first round of voting in France's tense presidential election.
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Iranian state TV says the clerical body in charge of vetting candidates has disqualified former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from running in next month's presidential election. It carried an Interior Ministry statement saying that President Hassan Rouhani has been approved to run for re-election, along with hard-line cleric Ebrahim Raisi. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had previously urged Ahmadinejad not to run. Ahmadinejad was president from 2005 to 2013.
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India has objected to China renaming six places in Arunachal Pradesh. It said inventing names of states of a neighbour does not make an illegal occupation legal. In reply to a media query, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopal Baglay said, Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and will always remain so.
On Wednesday, China announced that it has standardised official names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh and termed it as legitimate action. It came days after Beijing lodged protest with India over Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit to the state.
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In Nepal, six major Madhesi parties have unified and formed a new political party to have greater unity for achieving their common objectives. Initially, the leaders of Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Sadbhavana Party, Rashtriya Madhes Samajwadi Party, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Gantantrik announced unification and formation of Rashtriya Janta Party in Kathmandu. Later, Nepal Sadbhawana Party also joined the new party. The leaders also unveiled flag and election symbol of the new party.
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India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Uruguayan partner Pablo Cuevas have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters. They defeated the fifth seeded pair of Rajeev Ram and Raven Klaasen 6-7, 6-4, 10-6. In the quarter-finals, they will face top-seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers.
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In IPL Cricket, Mumbai Indians won by 8 wickets against Kings Eleven Punjab in their match at Indore last night. Chasing 198 runs, Mumbai achieved the target with 22 balls to spare. Joss Buttler made 77 off 37 balls.
Earlier, batting first, Kings Eleven Punjab scored 198 for 4 in 20 overs. Opener Hashim Amla top-scored for Punjab with his maiden T20 century. He made 104 runs off 60 balls.
Today, Kolkata Knight Riders will meet Gujarat Lions at the Eden Gardens. The match will be begin at 8 PM.
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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
- A story prominently noted on many front pages is the multi state pre-emptive anti terrorist operation yesterday by security agencies.
- "10 IS-inspired terrorists nabbed after raids across five states" is the DNA headline. The paper reports that coordinated operations by IB and anti terror units foiled plans for major terrorist attacks.
- "Don't be yes men, Rajnath tells babus" is the headline of the Asian Age lead story. The report says that Mr Singh urged civil servants to be impartial and not to hesitate in taking decisions.
- The Financial Express leads with the Supreme Court's verdict to e-auction the iconic Taj Mansingh hotel in New Delhi. The paper adds that Taj will get six months after the e-auction before vacating the hotel, if they lose out in the auction.
- "Nawaz survives Panama for now, to face enquiry" says The Pioneer. The paper adds that the Pakistan SC has found the evidence to be inadequate to remove the PM. However, the Pak SC has ordered a thorough probe to be completed within two months. The Asian Age dubs it as a "narrow escape" for the Pak PM.
- "India makes fresh bid to get Headley, Rana" headlines The Hindu. The paper reports that NIA sought the extradition of the two during the recent visit of the FBI Deputy Director to India.
- "Govt uses 'adverse' IB reports to reject names of 6 former judges for tribunals, commissions" reports The Indian Express. The paper adds that two ex-Supreme Court judges and two High Court Chief Justices are among those rejected by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
- In news that signals consolidation in the Indian etailing segment, The Economic Times leads with eBay's proposed sale of its India business to Flipkart in the second half of this year.
- Finally, The Hindu Business Line reports of a crowdfunding initiative to end farm distress. The fund, started by a group of IT professionals and NGO, has already raised 60 lakh rupees to help farmers.
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In some more news,
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has warned schools affiliated to it against selling books and uniforms. In an advisory, it told the schools that educational institutions are not commercial establishments and sale of books, uniforms and stationery by them is a violation of norms.
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