Lt Gen VK Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, presently GOC-in-C, Eastern Command has been appointed the next Chief of the Army Staff in the rank of General with effect from the afternoon of March 31, 2010. The present COAS General Deepak Kapoor, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC retires from service on march 31, 2010.

The Loan and Project Agreements for World Bank assistance to the State of Andhra Pradesh for three projects were signed in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. K. Rosaiah between Government of India/Government of Andhra Pradesh and World Bank at Hyderabad today.

The three projects are (i) Andhra Pradesh Road Sector Project (APRSP) for International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), World Bank assistance of US$ 320 million (ii) Andhra Pradesh Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Project (APRWSSP) for International Development Association (IDA), World Bank assistance of US$ 150 million (iii) Andhra Pradesh Municipal Development Project (APMDP) for IBRD, World Bank assistance of US$ 300 million.
[Source: PIB]

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri Shiv Shankar Menon, IFS (Retd.) as the National Security Adviser from the date of assumption of charge and until further orders. The competent authority has also approved that during his tenure as National Security Advisor, Shri Shiv Shankar Menon will have the status of Minister of State.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh will give away National Bravery Awards for 2009 to twenty one children on January 21, 2010. These children - 8 girls and 13 boys - have been selected by a high powered committee in recognition for their outstanding deeds of bravery and meritorious service. Two Awards will be given posthumously.

India donates 5 million dollars as earthquake relief to Haiti