by rakesh | Feb 24, 2008 | Rajasthan
The Defence Minister, Shri AK Antony, visited the forward Areas of the desert sector today. He was accompanied by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor, Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj, GOC-in-C, Southern Command and Lieutenant General SN Handa, GOC of the Desert Corps.
During his visit, the Raksha Mantri visited the border area in Tanot Sector and was briefed by Lieutenant General SN Handa on operational and border management aspects. Thereafter, he witnessed a demonstration of the ‘Battle of Laungewala’ fought in 1971, during which the Pakistani onslaught with armour and infantry was stopped dead in its tracks by a company of 23 PUNJAB and the Indian Air Force. The grit and determination exhibited by the Indian Army during the Battle of Laungewala is a shining example of valour and sacrifice of our soldiers in the face of the enemy. In addition to his interaction with Senior Commanders and officers of the Desert Corps, he addressed a large gathering of troops of the Desert Corps. In his address, Mr Antony commended the troops for their high state of operational readiness to meet any eventuality and called upon all ranks to continue their good work. Mr. Antony exhorted the troops of the Desert Corps to emulate the valiant acts of bravery displayed by those defending Laungwala Post and called upon them to persevere in their efforts in defending the territorial integrity of the nation.
Shri AK Antony joined the troops for a barakhana and had an informal interaction with them.
by rakesh | Feb 22, 2008 | Env & Geography
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh chaired a meeting here today to review Tiger conservation status in the country and the functioning of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. While expressing concern about the decline in Tiger population, Prime Minister noted that recent estimates of Tiger population, arrived at on the basis of a new methodology, cannot be compared with earlier estimates.
Stating that the Government of India is fully committed to Tiger conservation, the Prime Minister said the Central Government will further enhance financial and organizational support for efforts in this direction. Prime Minister directed that the Centre should fund modernization of Tiger Reserves management, including recruitment of staff from local population and providing them adequate equipment. He sought a State-specific strategy for such central assistance.
Government has recently approved an enhanced relocation package of up to Rs. 10 lakhs per family for families living in Tiger Reserves. Schemes for rehabilitation of traditional hunters; for supporting new Tiger Reserves; for supporting eco-tourism benefitting local communities; for deployment of anti-poaching staff; and, for improving service conditions of forest officers have also been taken up.
Noting that some States have a better record of Tiger conservation than others, the meeting stressed the importance of concerned State Governments paying focused attention. Chief Ministers have been asked to take personal charge of Tiger conservation and forest management. The Prime Minister will convene a Conference of Chief Ministers of States with Tiger Reserves to put in place a coordinated response to the challenge of Tiger conservation.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Forests, Shri Regupathy, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Office and ministry of environment and forests, and Director, National Tiger Conservation Authority.
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PIB/SH/MK
by rakesh | Feb 22, 2008 | Health & Fitness
Demand for new and more effective antibiotics continues to grow particularly as bacterial resistance to existing antibiotics spreads. The market for antibiotic drugs is huge. In 2005, worldwide sales of oral antibiotics totaled USD 25 Billion including US sales of $8.5 billion ($7.0 billion for adults and $1.5 billion for children). Apart from being huge, the market is also growing at a significant rate, with adult and pediatric prescriptions growing in 2005 at 8.5% and 10.8% respectively.
Department of Biotechnology has recently initiated a network project called “Screening for Bio-molecules from microbial diversity collected from different ecological niches”. The project involves nine institutes, with NPIL Research & Development Limited (NRDL) as an industrial partner. The total cost of the project is Rs.24.86 crores with DBT contribution of Rs.17.98 Crores. Rs. 6.88 Crores is being contributed by NRDL. The participating institutes are:-
Ø National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur
Ø National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune
Ø Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Delhi
Ø University of Delhi, South Campus (UDSC), Delhi
Ø Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar
Ø M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai
Ø Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar
Ø Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal
Ø National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Panjim
The project envisages a mega scale screening programme for various environmental isolates. This is the first project in the country where industry and academia will work together to screen such a large number of bacterial isolates. Different academic institutes will isolate organisms specific to diverse ecological niches. For each sample, isolation of bacteria will be carried out on 30 different growth media.
This multi-institutional effort will generate approximately 7000 isolates/month (~1000/institute), which will be regularly sent to NRDL, the industrial partner of the project. Screening will be carried out for anti-cancer, anti-infective, anti-diabetes and anti-inflammation properties. In addition to culture dependent method, the culture independent approach will also be taken up for a few selected samples.
The project will lead to selection of potential candidate molecules, which will be taken to process scale-up strategies with appropriate partners. The credit sharing in this project amongst the PI and industry has been mutually worked out and an agreement has been signed on 22nd February 2008 in the presence of Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Kapil Sibal.
A separate Microbial Repository is being set up at National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune to maintain the 2,00,000 isolates generated under this project. This would be the largest such facility in the country and would confirm to International Depository Authority (IDA) standards.
PIB/PRA/SKK
by rakesh | Feb 15, 2008 | Business
NTPC Limited and Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) signed a bipartite JV Agreement to promote a Joint Venture Company to establish, operate and maintain a 1980 MW (3X660MW) coal based power station at Nabinagar, Distt. Aurangabad, Bihar. NTPC and BSEB shall have equal shareholding of 50:50 in the JV.
The JV agreement was signed by Shri T. Sankaralingam, CMD, NTPC Limited and Shri Swapan Mukherjee, Chairman, BSEB in the presence of Shri Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar.
NTPC presently has an installed capacity of 28644 MW (including 1794 MW JVs). It is diversifying into hydro power, coal mining, power distribution, power trading, power equipment manufacturing, EPC etc. The Navratna Company plans to be a 75000 MW company by the year 2017.
by rakesh | Feb 13, 2008 | India News
Incidents of piracy on the high seas have declined considerably since India ratified a regional agreement one-and-a-half years ago. This was pointed out in talks between Brigadier General (NS) Tay Lim Heng, Chairman of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia (ReCAAP), and Vice Admiral RF Contractor, Director General, Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) and Vice Chairman of ReCAAP, here yesterday. Brig. General Tay Heng is leading a four member ReCAAP delegation on a visit to India to discuss steps to enhance cooperation and force building.
India acceded to the ReCAAP on June 6, 2006. The agreement aims at enhancing cooperation amongst its 16 member countries, including the ASEAN, China, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It enables the maritime forces to seize ships or aircraft involved in piracy and armed robbery besides information sharing, capacity building and cooperation for extradition and mutual legal assistance. In the ASEAN only Malaysia and Indonesia have not ratified the treaty. The ReCAAP achieved a distinction when it concluded an agreement with the International Maritime Organisation in December last year.
During his stay in New Delhi, Brig. General Tay Heng also held discussions with Shri PK Rastogi, Special Secretary, Ministry of Defence. The four-member ReCAAP delegation will visit the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which is also the Piracy Reporting Centre in India, and participate in a table top exercise on piracy control during their visit to Mumbai over the next two days.
The Coast Guard is India’s nodal agency for the ReCAAP. The role of the Indian Coast Guard shot into fame when it tackled the 1999 piracy incident of MV Alondra Rainbow.
PK-PIB
by rakesh | Feb 13, 2008 | India News
The Mughal Gardens and other Rashtrapati Bhavan Gardens will be opened for public viewing this year for the general public from February 16th to March 28th.
The Gardens will be open from 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except on Mondays on account of maintenance. Further the Gardens shall also remain closed on March 21st and 22nd. Entry into the Gardens will be only upto 4 PM.
Entry and exit to the Gardens shall be from Gate No. 35 of President’s Estate, which is located near North Avenue at the extreme end of Church Road about 300 meters West of Cathedral Church.
Entry for physically challenged pesons 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.
Visitors are requested not to bring any water bottles, briefcases, handbags/ladies purses, cameras, radios/transistors, cell phones, umbrellas, arms/ammunitions and eatables. Such articles, if any, will not be allowed to be carried into the Mughal Gardens and other Gardens and will have to be deposited at the entry point at the owner’s risk.
Schools desirous of organizing a visit to the Mughal Gardens and the other Gardens by students below the age of 10 years, during this period may contact Section Officer (Invitation Section), President’s Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi-110004 on telephone numbers 23012960 and 23015321 Extn.4229, 4479 and fax number 23013189, two days in advance so that their entry can be arranged on a priority basis.
-PIB
by rakesh | Feb 9, 2008 | India News
Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Mr. Kapil Sibal has held discussions with Senator Kim Carr, Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research at Melbourne. Both Ministers agreed to step up scientific cooperation between the two countries.
Mr. Sibal is visiting Australia as Guest of the Australian Government from February 7 to 12, 2008 and his visit is being coordinated by the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He is also the first Indian Minister to visit Australia after the new Government led by the Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Mr. Kevin Rudd MP, was sworn in on 3rd of December 2007.
Taking note of the ongoing 21 projects under the India-Australia Strategic Research Fund, the two Ministers agreed to further strengthen bilateral scientific cooperation focussing on industrial research and development and high technology areas such as nano-composites, bio-energy, health and agricultural bio-technology, climate change and renewable energy particularly using photo-voltaic technology. They also agreed to set-up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to create a roadmap for strengthening bilateral S&T cooperation in the next six months.
During the visit, Mr Sibal met with Senator Ms. Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, and Mr. Robert McClelland, MP, Attorney General. He also met the Victorian Governor, Professor David de Kretser,AC: Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Innovation, Mr. Gavin Jennings, MLC: and NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Ms. Verity Firth, MP. Mr. Sibal also visited three of the Austria’s group of eight Universities (University of New South Wales, University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne), amongst the leading universities of the world, as well as some of the Premier R&D institutions e.g. Wolter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, centenary Institute of Cancer and Cell Biology and Bio21 Institute.
Mr Sibal also addressed the Australia-India business council at Sydney, and invited the Australian Industry to jointly work with their Indian counterparts for accessing global market for the production of world class products at affordable prices using complimentary strengths available in two countries.
by rakesh | Feb 9, 2008 | India News
“It is with a deep sense of grief and loss that I heard about the demise of Baba Amte. A true Gandhian who worked hard to uphold Gandhian values in their true spirit, Baba Amte became a legend in his own lifetime. The work he did for the upliftment of leprosy affected people at Anandvan alone puts him in a unique class of great national figures who lived for the betterment of their fellow human beings. His life long struggle to unite people across the length and breadth of the country on national and Gandhian lines and to eliminate all forms of discrimination and bias truly make him a saint of our times. The footprints of Baba Amte will be permanently embedded in the sands of time and will be a guiding beacon for all those working for the common good.
In this hour of sorrow, my heart reaches out to all those associated with Baba Amte and his millions of admirers across the nation. I pay homage to a truly great son of India and pray that his departed soul rests in peace.”
by rakesh | Jan 24, 2008 | India News
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the State Data Centre Scheme for establishing State Data Centres across all States / UTs in the country. State Data Centre is part of the core infrastructure for the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP).
As part of the Scheme, the Government of India shall provide technical and financial support to the States/UTs for setting up State Data Centres. The Scheme has an outlay of Rs.1623.20 crore which includes both capital and operational expenses for a period of five years. State Data Centre shall enable the States/UTs to set up highly reliable/robust, shared and secure infrastructure to host State level e-Governance applications to deliver Government to Government (G2G), Government to Citizen (G2C) and Government to Business (G2B) services electronically.
The Scheme will be implemented in a period of 12 months from the date of approval of individual State Data Centres based on proposals from the States.
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PIB
by rakesh | Oct 11, 2007 | India News
The Sainik Schools will hold an all-India entrance examination on Sunday, January 6, 2008 for the session 2008-09 for admission to classes Sixth and Ninth. Admission test will be held at various centres for all 21 Sainik Schools across the country barring Nagrota, Jammu and Kashmir, which will conduct a separate examination.
Boys between the age of 10 and 11 years as on July 1, 2008 can apply for admission to Class VI while those between 13 and 14 years are eligible for Class IX.
Necessary advertisements inviting applications are being issued by the respective Sainik Schools this month. The prospectus can be obtained by the candidates from the Sainik Schools where admission is desired on payment of Rupees 300/- (Rs.200/- for SC/ST) by crossed Postal Order in favour of the Principal. Last date for receipt of applications is December 10, 2007.
Admission is made strictly on merit in the entrance examination and subject to medical fitness. Reservation will be made in admission for 15% and 7½% seats for SC and ST candidates respectively. Besides 25% seats are reserved for wards of service personnel, including exservicemen.
Admission will also be made to Class XI subject to vacancy and criteria laid down by respective Sainik Schools.
The 21 Sainik Schools are located as under:
Andhra Pradesh (KORUKONDA-VIJIANAGARAM), Assam (GOALPARA), Bihar (NALANDA and GOPALGANJ), Gujarat (BALACHADI-JAMNAGAR), Himachal Pradesh (SUJANPUR TIRA), Haryana (KUNJPURA-KARNAL), Jharkhand (TILAIYA), Jammu and Kashmi (NAGROTA), Karnataka (BIJAPUR), Kerala (KAZHAKOOTAM-THIRUVANANTHAPURAM), Maharashtra (SATARA), Mainpur (IMPHAL), Madhya Pradesh (REWA), Nagaland (PUNGLWA), Orissa (BHUBANESWAR), Punjab (KAPURTHALA), Rajasthan (CHITTORGARH), Tamil Nadu (AMARAVATHINAGAR), Uttarakhand (GHORAKHAL) and West Bengal (PURULIA).
In States/UTs listed below where Sainik Schools are not located, Principals of the Sainik Schools mentioned in bracket will be in-charge of entrance examination in regard to the respective State/UT:
Chandigarh (KAPURTHALA), Delhi (KUNJPURA-KARNAL), Diu & Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli (BALACHADI-JAMNAGAR), Lakshadweep and Male (KAZHAKOOTAM-THIRUVANANTHAPURAM), Pondicherry and Karaikal (AMARAVATHINAGAR), Yaman (KORUKONDA-VIJIANAGARAM) Tripura and Mizoram (IMPHAL), Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh (PUNGLWA), Goa (SATARA), Meghalaya and Sikkim (GOALPARA), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (PURULIA), Uttar Pradesh (GHORAKHAL), Chhattisgarh (REWA, also in respect of proposed Sainik School at AMBIKAPUR, Chhattisgarh), Karnataka (BIJAPUR and KUDIGE)
Sainik Schools are residential public schools and affiliated to the CBSE to impart education upto Class XII under 10+2 pattern. Central and state governments have instituted liberal scholarships for the benefit of socio-economically backward sections of society.
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