Keeping fit
In the run up to the Budget presentation on February 28, top Defence Ministry officials including Defence Secretary RK Mathur are literally burning the midnight oil to project financial requirements for the armed forces. Given work pressure and stress, they are unable to stick to their fitness routine. However, some of them get on the treadmill or stationary bicycles at home late in the night to sweat it out.
Maran’s tricks collapse
Former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran attempt to fool the Supreme Court in the 2G scam has fallen flat. As per the SC order, any appeal or objection against all matters heard by 2G Special Court at Patiala House can only be entertained by the 2G Bench of Supreme Court. But Maran brothers approached another bench against the summons to appear before the trial court and got an order to approach the High Court. But an alert CBI, informed the SC about Maran’s tricks. By evening the Bench called back the order and asked Maran’s to approach the 2G Bench of SC headed by the Chief Justice
Everyone for smart cities
Climate change seems to have opened up a plethora of business opportunities in the country. International heads are suddenly in queue to collaborate and sign bilateral agreements with the Environment Ministry. One such issue that has caught the fancy of almost all the visiting heads is that of the proposed to build 100 smart cities in the country. The US, Germany, France and other developed nations are vying with one another in offering cooperation.
“Even though we had not pitched it as a climate change issue in particular, but today everybody wants to have a share of the pie,” quipped an official.
Sharp difference
WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi and the WCD secretary Sheel Oberoi are not on the same page when it comes to giving additional cash benefits to pregnant women under a new scheme. While the Minister feels that “freebees” will only encourage women (in the illiterate and impoverished strata) to get repeatedly pregnant, secretary is of the view that the additional money will help fight anemia and malnutrition as it help them buy their daily bread.
Key Resident of RaisinaIJ
The continuous protest by a section of students and faculty of Visva Bharati for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor Sushanta Duttagupta has prompted the Centre to expedite disciplinary action against him. While HRD Ministry has set up a fact finding committee, the lok Sabha Speaker has nominated three MPs- SS Ahluwalia, Dr Anupam Hazra and Dr Bhola Singh — as members of the Samsad (court) of the university. In the thick of controversy, Duttagupta remained the talking point amongst the VCs and HRD officials and media persons present at the Darbar Hall last week for the Visitor’s Award. He presented a bold face and shared to media person and few V-Cs about his “proximity” with a “key-resident” of the Raisina Hill. When journos sought his contact numbers, an irked V-C said that you (media) have been writing a lot without contacting me. “I do not keep a mobile. Best wishes to write more on Viswa-Bharati,” he quipped.
BIS: Identity Crisis
The Government does not know if the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that grants ISO certification is its part. last week, even the Supreme Court was in the dark when it enquired from a law officer representing Centre on the status of BIS. Facing queries whether BIS is an autonomous body or a statutory body or under any Ministry, the Government counsel gave a blank face. One of the lawyers in the matter remotely suggested it could be under Ministry of Statistics. As a matter of fact, the BIS was constituted by an Act of Parliament and is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution.