NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi asks districts to set time-bound targets for Government programmes to increase ease of living
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked District Magistrates (DMs) to work on time-bound targets for 100% saturation of government services and facilities and urged every district to prepare a vision for next two years that aims to increase ease of living for people. Mr. Modi, who virtually interacted with DMs and Chief Ministers of select States after reviewing the the implementation of various government schemes, said the teamwork of Centre, States and local administration has yielded good results in the Aspirational Districts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with District Magistrates through video conference, in New Delhi on January 22, 2022. In his closing remarks, the Prime Minister dwelt upon the successes of the Aspirational Districts programme — aimed at quickly and effectively transforming 112 most under-developed districts across the country — and lauded the officials as well as the State governments. While the Prime Minister sought direct feedback from the DMs about the key steps taken by them that has resulted in success in the districts and the challenges faced by them, the officials shared their experiences, the PMO said in a statement.
Plea in Supreme Court seeks action against political parties that promise ‘irrational’ freebies from public funds
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to seize the election symbol or de-register a political party that promises or distributes irrational freebies from public funds before elections. It said there should be a total ban on such populist measures to gain undue political favours from the voters as they violate the Constitution and the ECI should take suitable deterrent measures. The plea urged the court to declare that the promise of irrational freebies from public funds before elections unduly influences the voters, disturbs the level playing field and vitiates the purity of the poll process. The petition has also sought a direction to the ECI to insert an additional condition in the relevant paragraphs of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order 1968, which deals with conditions for recognition as a State party, that a political party shall not promise/distribute irrational freebies from the public fund before the election. The plea has referred to the promises being made by certain political parties in the ongoing Assembly poll process in some States.
Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn ‘Abide with me’ dropped from Beating Retreat tunes
The traditional Christian hymn ‘Abide with me’, a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, has been dropped from the list of tunes for this year’s Beating Retreat (BTR) ceremony. The tune had been played at the annual ceremony every year since 1950. ‘Abide with me’ is played by the Massed Bands at the end of the ceremony, and this year there are three tunes without it instead of the four tunes played in 2021 including the hymn. Members of the Indian military band rest before rehearsals for the Beating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi on January 21, 2022. The three tunes to be played by Massed Bands this year are ‘Kadam kadam badhaye ja’, ‘Drummers call’ and ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’. In contrast, the four tunes in 2021 were ‘Bharat ke jawan’ (new composition in 2021), ‘Kadam kadam badhaye ja’, ‘Drummers call’ and ‘Abide with me’. Beating Retreat is a centuries-old military tradition going back to the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the buglers sounded the ‘retreat’, troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield.
Why have States raised questions about Centre’s proposed changes on IAS deputation?
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) sent a communication to all States on January 12 seeking their opinion on the proposal to amend Rule 6 (deputation of cadre officers) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules 1954. Similar letters were also sent proposing changes in cadre rules of the other two All India Services (AIS): the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service (IFoS). Through the amendments, the Union government plans to acquire powers to depute IAS/IPS and IfoS officers to the Central Government and Ministries without necessarily taking the State government’s nod. The Centre proposes four amendments including two new insertions, including one that says if the State government delays posting a State cadre officer to the Centre and does not give effect to the Central government’s decision within the specified time, the officer shall stand relieved from cadre from the date as may be specified by the Central government. The DoPT says in spite of existing provisions, States are not sponsoring adequate numbers of officers for Central deputation and the available officers are not sufficient to meet requirements, and has sent multiple letters in this regard to the States. However, half-a-dozen States opposed the move and the rest did not respond. The Centre then revised its proposal and States have been given time till January 25 to reply. Read our explainer here.
Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments
A team of researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist at the prestigious University of British Columbia, has become the first in the world to conduct a molecular-level structural analysis of the Omicron spike protein, which could help accelerate the development of more effective treatments against the variant. Spike protein helps the virus enter and infect cells. Dr. Sriram Subramaniam, professor in UBC faculty of medicine’s department of biochemistry and molecular biology, said that Omicron has greater binding affinity than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, with levels more comparable to what seen with the Delta variant. The findings, published in Science journal, sheds new light on why Omicron is highly transmissible and will help accelerate the development of more effective treatments, according to a statement issued by the Vancouver-based university. The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,89,06,225 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,88,923.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Louie Anderson, an Emmy winning comedian, dies at 68
The Emmy-winning comedian, actor, and game show host Louie Anderson passed away at the age of 68 after battling cancer. He was undergoing treatment after he was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Anderson was one of America’s most beloved comedians.
Family of four, believed to be Indians, frozen to death along U.S.-Canada border
In a heartbreaking tragedy, a family of four, including a baby, all believed to be Indians, has died from exposure to cold weather on the Canadian side of the border with the U.S. in an apparent human smuggling operation, according to media reports. Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Thursday said that the bodies of four people — two adults, a teen and an infant — were found on the Canadian side of the U.S./Canada border near Emerson on Wednesday. U.S. officials say the dead are believed to be a family from India. They are thought to have been attempting to cross into the U.S., according to media reports. RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy shared the discovery with reporters in a news conference on Thursday. What I am about to share is going to be difficult for many people to hear, she said, calling it an absolute and heartbreaking tragedy. At this very early stage of the investigation, it appears that they all died due to exposure to the cold weather, MacLatchy said, adding RCMP believe the four people are connected to the group that was apprehended on the U.S. side of the border. She said all four were located within 9-12 metres of the border. MacLatchy said that the group was on their own in the middle of a blizzard and faced not only the cold weather but endless fields, large snowdrifts and complete darkness.
