Tag: Union Government

INDIA Bloc Seat Sharing

Will Build As Many Schools As Summons Sent: Kejriwal

By LokMarg

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who has been evading his appearance before the investigators in the alleged Excise Policy scam took a dig at the Central agencies and the Union government on Friday and said that as many summons we are sent, the AAP will build those many schools.

After announcing the foundation stone for a new school building in the national capital’s Mayur Vihar on Friday, the Delhi Chief Minister posted on X, “We will build as many schools as you send summons. You do your religion, we will do ours.”

Earlier on Thursday, the Delhi Chief Minister accused the central government of “unleashing” investigating agencies against him, adding that the action made him feel like he was a “terrorist.”

The chief minister was speaking a day after a Delhi court issued him summons on February 17, calling for his appearance while observing that the Aam Aadmi Party leader was legally bound to join an investigation being conducted by ED into alleged irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22.

The summons was issued after non-compliance with its summons in a money-laundering case linked to the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government’s Delhi excise policy.

The complaint was filed after the Delhi CM skipped multiple summons issued by the ED in its money laundering investigation.

On February 2, Kejriwal skipped the Enforcement Directorate’s summons for the fifth time in connection with the money laundering probe related to irregularities in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22 case.

The fresh summons to the Delhi Chief Minister followed the fourth summons, which he had skipped on January 18.

While skipping the fifth summons, the party called it “unlawful.”

Kejriwal has so far skipped four previous summons issued by the ED on January 18, January 3, November 2, and December 22, calling them “illegal and politically motivated.”

Meanwhile, AAP has scheduled to hold a meeting of its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) on February 13 to decide on the candidates for the Lok Sabha seats in Goa, Haryana, and Gujarat. (ANI)

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Rijiju accident

Rijiju’s Car Meets With Accident, Min Safe: J-K Police

By LokMarg

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s car met with an accident in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday.

Ramban Police said that while going from Jammu to Srinagar by road, the Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju’s car met with a minor accident.
“No injuries happened to anyone and Honourable Minister was driven safely to destination,” police added.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Saturday visited Jammu and Kashmir to attend the inauguration of the first edition of the Constitution of India in Dogri language at the University of Jammu. (ANI)

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5.9MN Tonnes Lithium Deposits Found In J-K

5.9MN Tonnes Lithium Deposits Found In J-K

By LokMarg

The Union Government on Thursday said that 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries.
“Geological Survey of India for the first time established Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Ministry of Mines said on Thursday.

It further that 51 mineral blocks including Lithium and Gold were handed over to respective state governments.

“Out of these 51 mineral blocks, 5 blocks pertain to gold and other blocks pertain to commodities like potash, molybdenum, base metals etc. spread across 11 states of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana,” the ministry added.

The blocks were prepared based on the work carried out by GSI from field seasons 2018-19 to till date.

Apart from these, 17 reports of Coal and Lignite with a total resource of 7897 million tonnes were also handed over to the Ministry of Coal.

Seven Publications on different themes and intervention areas in which GSI operates were also released during the meeting.

“The proposed Annual Programme for the ensuing Field Season 2023-24 was presented and discussed during the meeting. During the ensuing year 2023-24, GSI is taking up 966 programmes comprising 318 mineral exploration projects including 12 marine mineral investigation projects,” the ministry further said.

The Geological Survey of India has formulated 115 projects on strategic and critical minerals and 16 projects on fertiliser minerals.

“55 programmes on geoinformatics, 140 programmes on fundamental and multidisciplinary geosciences, and 155 programs for training and institutional capacity building have also been taken up,” the Mines ministry stated.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was established in 1851 to find coal deposits for the Railways. Over the years, GSI has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country but has also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute.

Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seismo-tectonic study and carrying out fundamental research.

GSI’s chief role includes providing objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and geoscientific information of all kinds, with a focus on policy-making decisions, and commercial and socio-economic needs. (ANI)

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Centre on Activities of Wrestling Federation

Centre Suspends All Activities of Wrestling Federation

By LokMarg

The Union government on Saturday decided to suspend all activities of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) until the Oversight Committee is formally appointed and takes over the day-to-day activities of the federation.

This includes the suspension of the ongoing ranking competition, and the return of entry fees taken from the participants for any ongoing activities.

The announcement follows a decision on January 20, 2023, by the government to appoint an Oversight Committee which will take over the day-to-day activities of the WFI.

The decision came shortly after the assistant secretary, WFI, Vinod Tomar, was suspended with immediate effect.

The suspended WFI official denied any communication regarding his suspension, stating that this news reached him through ANI when the news agency contacted him to get a reaction to this announcement.

“I did not know about this. I only learned through a call from ANI that I have been suspended. I did not get any prior information about this. I have not done anything wrong,” Tomar, told ANI on Saturday.

Earlier on Saturday, Tomar termed the charges against the federation’s president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh ‘baseless’. Speaking to ANI, Tomar said the wrestlers, who sat in a dharna at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and leveled allegations of sexual harassment and financial impropriety against the WFI president, have not produced any evidence to support their claims.

“The allegations are baseless. It has been 3-4 days (since the wrestlers sat in protest) and they still haven’t produced any evidence. I have been associated with them for the past 12 years and I never came across any such incident or allegation,” Tomar told ANI.

“The government of India is committed to ensuring the proper functioning of the WFI, and the Oversight Committee will help to ensure that all the complaints made against the Executive Committee of the Federation are enquired into and the Federation is managed in an efficient and transparent manner in the best interests of the sportspersons,” stated a release by the Union government on Saturday. (ANI)

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Supreme Court

SC Criticise UPSC Over Issues Relating To Nagaland DGP

By LokMarg

The Supreme Court on Friday criticized the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) over the process of appointment of Nagaland DGP and refused to give 60 days time for convening the Empanelment Committee Meeting for preparation of a panel of officers for making appointments to the post.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that UPSC is duty-bound to comply with the order of the Court.
The court also set December 19, 2022, as a deadline for taking a decision. The court said that the formalities are to be undertaken by the UPSC, MHA, and the State.

UPSC has urged the court to grant at least 60 days time for convening the Empanelment Committee Meeting for the preparation of a panel of officers for appointment to the post of DGP (HOPF), Nagaland, as the consultation with the MHA on the matter is still under process.

UPSC submitted that this would not result in any administrative dislocation in so far as the Government of Nagaland is concerned because the incumbent DGP’s extended tenure will be over only on February 28, 2023, and the process of recommending the panel of DGP (HOPF) can be completed before that date.

“We are of the view that UPSC has no justification that no administrative dislocation would be caused as the incumbent DGP has an extension till February 2023,” the bench said and clarified that if this order is not complied with, the court would be constrained to take the coercive arm of the law.

On August 31, 2022, the Union Government in the Ministry of Home Affairs conveyed the approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for the extension of service and extension of inter cadre deputation tenure of T John Longkumer, IPS from Chhattisgarh cadre to Nagaland cadre for a period of six months from the date of his superannuation on August 31, 2022.

The court, in the last hearing, had said that they are of the considered view that in view of the communication which has been issued by the UPSC on 1 April 2022, the State of Nagaland must immediately send the list of impaneled officers for appointment to the post of DGP.

The court said that the list of impaneled officers shall be drawn up in accordance with law after duly rectifying the deficiencies which were pointed out by the UPSC in its communication dated April 1, 2022.

The list of eligible officers who are impaneled shall be communicated to the UPSC no later than by October 31, 2022. The UPSC shall take a decision thereon on or before 30 November 2022, the court said in its October 17’s order.

Nagaland Law Students’ Federation, an intervenor in the matter, has alleged that Nagaland state has acted in an arbitrary and illegal manner, to appoint an officer at the highest post in the State Police, who first does not belong to the State Cadre, who already served his tenure, whose name has been rejected by the UPSC for a further extension, and who is today continuing on the said post.

The Federation also alleged that it indicates the malafide intent of the State Government. The Federation also said that Nagaland state has flouted the directions of the top Court, by removing Shri Rupin Sharma, before the expiry of the mandated “two years” tenure.

The intervenor has sought to recall the Order dated August 31, 2022, granting a six-month extension to T. John Longkumer, IPS after his superannuation.

On June 20, 2018, Rupin Sharma was removed from the post of DGP and On June 27, 2018, T John Longkumer, a 1991 Batch IPS Officer from the Chhattisgarh Cadre was appointed to the post of DGP of the Nagaland State. (ANI)

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AQI Delhi

Govt Revokes Ban On Construction Activity In Delhi

By LokMarg

The Union government panel that recommends steps to control pollution in the national capital region has revoked actions under the graded response action plan (GRAP) stage III with immediate effect, because of a noteworthy fall in pollution.

Stage III of GRAP means a ban on all construction activities except those of national importance.

The Sub-Committee for invoking actions under GRAP of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) held a meeting today to review the situation and take the appropriate call in view of noteworthy improvement in the overall air quality of Delhi witnessed in the last few days with a fall of more than 100 points in the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) since the last invocation of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on December 4.

“While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Commission noted that due to forecasts by IMD/ IITM not indicating the overall AQI of Delhi to slip into the “Severe” category in the next few days and as it is likely to fluctuate between ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’ category, it is advisable to relax the restrictions and further roll back Stage-III of the GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR,” the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said in a statement.

The GRAP Sub-Committee in its earlier meetings had invoked actions under Stage-I, Stage-II, Stage-III, and Stage-IV of the GRAP in the entire NCR on October 5, October 19, October 29, and November 3 respectively.

Further, Sub-Committee in its review meeting revoked the actions under Stage-IV (‘Severe+’ Air Quality) of GRAP on December 6 and revoked Stage-III (‘Severe’ Air Quality) of GRAP on November 14 after considering the improvement in the air quality of Delhi and AQI forecasts of subsequent days.

Stage III of the GRAP was again invoked in the entire Delhi-NCR on December 4 after the sudden increase in the overall AQI of Delhi.

The Ministry further said that The Sub-Committee in its meeting today comprehensively reviewed the air quality scenario in the region as well as the IMD/IITM forecasts for meteorological conditions and the air quality index of Delhi and observed that the overall AQI of Delhi has been progressively improving with 407 recorded on December 4; 347 on December 5; 353 on December 6; and 304 recorded today which is below the threshold for invoking the GRAP Stage-III actions (Delhi AQI 401-450).

Further, the AQI is seeing a downward trend with favorable improvement in the average AQI as well. Preventive/ mitigative/ restrictive actions under all Stages up to Stage II are already underway and the forecasts by IMD/ IITM also do not indicate the AQI to fall in the ‘Severe’ category in the next few days.

Further, actions under Stage-I to Stage-II of the GRAP shall however remain invoked and be implemented, intensified, monitored, and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further to the ‘Severe’ category.

All implementing agencies shall keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stages I and II of GRAP which include the

Mechanical/vacuum-based sweeping of roads to be carried out on a daily basis.

Ensure water sprinkling along with the use of dust suppressants regularly on roads to arrest road dust, especially at hotspots, heavy traffic corridors, and vulnerable areas (before peak hours), and proper disposal of dust collected in designated sites/landfills.

Regular inspection and strict enforcement of dust control measures at Construction & Demolition (C&D) sites and enforcement of direction on the use of Ani-Smog guns.

Do not allow coal/firewood including in Tandoors in Hotels, Restaurants, and open eateries.

Ensure hotels, restaurants and open eateries use only electricity/ clean fuel gas-based appliances.

Enhance Parking fees to discourage private transport.

Regulated use of DG Sets except for the emergent and essential services.

C&D project sites and industrial units which have been issued specific closure orders on account of violations/ non-compliances with various statutory directions, rules, guidelines, etc. under no circumstances shall resume their operations without any specific order to this effect from the Commission.

Further, the Commission has once again appealed to the citizens of NCR to cooperate in implementing GRAP and follow the steps mentioned in the Citizen Charter under the GRAP.

Citizens are advised to use public transport and minimize the use of personal vehicles.

Regularly replace air filters at recommended intervals in your automobiles. Avoid dust-generating construction activities.

Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP and Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC have also been advised to ensure strict implementation of actions of Stage I and Stage II under GRAP in the NCR.

Further, the Commission is closely watching the situation and will review the air quality scenario accordingly, the ministry statement read. (ANI)

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Delhi: BS3 Petrol, BS4 Diesel Vehicles Ban As Air Quality Deteriorates

By LokMarg

The Transport department of the Delhi government imposed a ban on the plying of BS-3 Petrol and BS- 4 Diesel LMVs (4-wheelers) in Delhi-NCR till December 9 with immediate effect.

The restrictions came in the wake of the restrictions imposed by the air quality panel under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Earlier on Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR.

The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region worsened again, breaching the ‘severe’ category.

“As per the directions as provided under Stage III of the revised GRAP and under section 115 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, it is hereby ordered that there shall be restrictions to ply BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (four-wheelers) in NCT of Delhi with immediate effect till December 9 or till downward revision in GRAP stage, whichever is earlier,” read an order issued by the transport department.

The ban will not apply to the vehicles used for government, electoral, and emergency services operations.

“If any BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMV (4 wheeler) found plying on the roads, will be prosecuted under section 194 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 which provides with a fine of Rs 20,000,” read the transport department order.

Meanwhile, The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM says it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs, and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. (ANI)

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Yogi Condoles Mulayam's Death

Yogi Condoles Mulayam’s Death, 3-Day State Mourning

By LokMarg

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the demise of veteran politician Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday, saying his death has ended an era of struggle and socialism in the country.

Adityanath also announced a three-day state mourning and said the veteran leader’s last rites would be conducted with full state honors.
“The death of former UP Chief Minister Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav ji is extremely sad. His death has ended a prominent pillar of socialism and an era of struggle. I pray to God for peace to the departed soul and my condolences to the bereaved family and supporters,” the chief minister tweeted in Hindi.

In another tweet, Adityanath said he has talked to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son and Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav on phone and expressed his condolences.

Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away at a Gurugram Hospital on Monday due to age-related ailments. For a long time, the veteran politician had remained synonymous with the politics of the state. He saw UP go through many ups and downs during his five-decade-long career.

He was so well-versed in the politics of the state that he was fondly called “Netaji”.

He was born November 22, 1939, in Saifai village of Etawah district, and rose quickly in politics to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh thrice. He also served in the Union Government once as the Defence Minister.

After stepping into politics at the age of 28 as an MLA in 1967, he was elected 9 more times to the UP assembly. He also remained Lok Sabha MP 7 times. He founded the Samajwadi Party on October 4, 1992, and soon turned it into a regional party based in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)

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Stake In IDBI Bank

Union Govt And LIC To Divest 60.7% Stake In IDBI Bank

By LokMarg

The Government of India and the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) will together divest a 60.72 percent stake in IDBI Bank. The government on Friday invited the expression of interest for the divestment of stakes in the bank.

“Expression of Interest is invited for Strategic Disinvestment of specified GoI and LIC stakes in IDBI Bank along with transfer of management control,” the Secretary, of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said in a tweet.

The proposed strategic disinvestment includes the sale of 30.48 percent of the Government of India’s stake and a 30.24 percent stake of the Life Insurance Corporation of India.

IDBI Bank operates as a full-service universal bank serving customers from all segments. On January 21, 2019, LIC completed the acquisition of a 51 percent controlling stake making it the majority shareholder of IDBI Bank. The RBI, consequently, categorized IDBI Bank as a Private Sector Bank for regulatory purposes with effect from January 21, 2019.

Since then, IDBI Bank has showcased a turnaround in operations and is constantly exploring new avenues for growth in its business, especially in the retail segment, to maintain its competitive edge and strengthen its position in the banking landscape.

LIC holds 49.24 percent (529.41 crore shares) while the Government of India holds 45.48 percent (488.99 crore shares) in IDBI Bank as on March 31, 2022.

It has now been decided that pursuant to the strategic disinvestment of IDBI Bank (i) GoI shall sell a such number of shares representing 30.48 percent and Life Insurance Corporation of India shall sell a such number of shares representing 30.24 percent, aggregating to 60.72 percent of the equity share capital of IDBI Bank, along with transfer of management control in IDBI Bank, as per documents released by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, Ministry of Finance. (ANI)

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