Modernisation of Employment Exchanges
For a long time, the Employment Exchanges have been fulfilling the objectives by carrying out various activities assigned to them, such as registration of job seekers, submission of candidates against notified vacancies, collection of labour market information and...Mughal Garden to Open for Public from Feb’13th
The Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan will be opened for public viewing this year on all days from 13th February to 11th March from 1000 hrs. to 1700 hrs., except on Mondays being maintenance days. Entry into the Gardens will be open only up to 1600 hrs.
The entry and exit into the Gardens will be via Gate No. 35 of the President’s Estate, which is located at the extreme end of Church Road, about 300 meters West of Cathedral Church.
Entry for handicapped persons using wheelchairs will be through the Rashtrapati Bhavan Reception. Such persons can arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan through Hukmi Mai Marg or Rajpath along with their escorts. Entry and Exit for visually challenged persons will be through the Gate No.12 (North Avenue) of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Visitors are requested not to bring any water bottles, briefcases, handbags/ladies purses, cameras, radios/transistors, cell phones, arms/ammunitions and eatables. Such articles, if any, will not be allowed to be carried into the Mughal Gardens and will have to be deposited at the entry point at the owner’s risk.
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New NCTE Rule for Min Qualification for Teachers
The National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 came into force on 1st July 1995 with an objective to achieve planned and coordinated development of teacher education system in the country and ensure proper maintenance of norms & standards in the above system.
The Act mandates the NCTE to lay down guidelines on minimum qualifications for a school teacher with a view to ensure uniform quality of teaching in the schools. The NCTE has framed regulations to discharge this function which are binding on all States in the matter of appointment of teachers.
Recently it came to the notice of this Department that Supreme Court in the case of Basic Education Board, U.P. Vs. Upender Rai & others, held that NCTE Act does not deal with educational institutions like primary schools, etc and thus in the matter of laying minimum qualification for appointment as teachers, the NCTE Regulations will not be applicable, and the State Legislation/Rule on the subject will prevail.
In the above judgement a Central Law was interpreted by the Supreme Court, but neither the NCTE nor the Union of India was impleaded in the case. A review Petition filed by NCTE in the Supreme Court was also not admitted. Therefore, a decision has been taken to amend the NCTE Act in order to clarify that the Act applies to schools, teachers and the NCTE is empowered to lay down the minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible as a teacher in schools.
The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill 2009 will be moved in Parliament for consideration.
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POPs – the Dirty Twelve
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are persistent and extremely toxic. Even released in relatively small quantities they degrade very slowly. POPs are lipophllic and hence bioaccumulates in the fat tissue of organisms once exposed. They move from one level to higher level in the food chain and biomagnity. Furthermore, POPs have the ability to travel and concentrate in the environment and biota of regions far away from the original source of production through the long –range transport mechanisms through air and water. Thus POPs is an issue of national, regional and global concern.
Broadly , a group of pesticides & Insecticides consisting of Alpha BHC, Beta BHC, Gama BHC (Lindane) ,OP DDT, PP DDT, Alpha Endosulphan, Beta Endosulphan, Dieldrin, Carboryl (Carbamate), 2.4D, Aldrin, Malathian, Methly Parathian, Anilophos, Chloropyriphos are POPs.
Factsheet by Ministry of Environment and Forests, India
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India: Lt General VK Singh will be the next Army Chief
Lt General VK Singh was commissioned into the Rajput Regiment on June 14, 1970. During his long and distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years, he has serviced in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He participated in the 1971 operations and IPKF operations. He is presently serving as the Eastern Army Commander. Prior to that, he commanded a Corps in the Western sector.
Besides being an ‘Honours Graduate’ of the US Army Infantry School, Georgia, USA, Lt Gen Singh studied at the Defence Services Staff College, the Army War College and the US Army War College, Carlisle.
He is recipient of PVSM, AVSM and YSM awards. He is also one of the Honorary ADCs of the President of India.
Lt General Singh is married to Mrs Bharati and the couple has two daughters. The elder daughter is married to an Army Officer while the younger one is working in the corporate sector.
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India: World Bank Loan for Three Projects
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...India: Shiv Shankar Menon is National Security Adviser
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...India: National Bravery Awards for Children – 2009
The coveted Bharat Award will be given to 13 year old Master Gaurav Singh Saini of Haryana who saved approximately 50-60 people in a stampede at the Naina Devi temple. Master Karan Nishad of Uttar Pradesh has been selected for the Sanjay Chopra Award. This 11 year old boy saved five persons from drowning. The prestigious Geeta Chopra Award will be conferred on 10 year old Km. Maibam Prity Devi of Manipur who saved several lives when miscreants hurled a grenade inside their shop at Mayang Imphal Bazar.Late Km. Ranu Mishra (10 years) of Uttar Pradesh will get the Bapu Gaidhani Award posthumously for displaying exemplary courage in saving her brother and his friend from drowning. Ultimately, she sacrificed her life for her determined effort. Master Vijith V. (16 years) of Kerala and Master Narendrasinh Natvarsinh Solanki (17 ½ years) of Gujarat will also get Bapu Gaidhani Awards for their acts of bravery. Vijith saved four children from drowning in river Kallada while Narendrasinh saved his father from the clutches of a crocodile in Dhadhar river.
Along with courageous acts there are instances of bold decisions and revolts against prevailing social-evil. The three girl childs from West Bengal — Km. Rekha Kalindi (11 years), Km. Sunita Mahato (11 years 4 months) and Km. Afsana Khatun (12 years 5 months) refused to get married at early age and wanted to continue their studies. Ultimately, parents of these brave hearts gave in and the girls were allowed to continue their studies.
The other recipients are : Master Uddesh R. Ramnathkar (Goa), Master Dijekshon Syiem, Km. Thoi Thoi Khumanthem (Manipur), Master Zonunsanga, Master Lalrammawia (both from Mizoram), Master Sujith R., Master Amal Antony, Km. Krishnapriya K., Master Sujith Kumar P.(all from Kerala), Late Master Dijekshon Syiem (Meghalaya), Km. Vaishaliben Sambhubhai Solanki (Gujarat) and Master Yogesh Kumar Jangid (Rajasthan).
The children will participate in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath.
India donates 5 million dollars to Haiti Relief
The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has conveyed his condolences to Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive of Haiti and the people of the Island nation on the loss of lives and devastation in the Jan 12th earthquake and is making an immediate donation of 5 million dollars for relief measures.
The text of the Prime Minister’s message is as follows:
“It is with profound sadness that we have learnt of the vast devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti on 12 January, 2010.
India stands by the Government and people of Haiti in their hour of need. We would like to make an immediate cash donation of US $ 5 million as a token of our solidarity with the people of Haiti.
I would also like to convey our condolences to the injured and family members of those who have died on account of the earthquake. We have no doubt that the people of Haiti have the strength and resilience to overcome this natural disaster.”
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