ADB and Centre sign 250 mn dollar loan agreement

ON JANUARY 31, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

Asian Development Bank and the Centre have signed a 250 million dollar loan to finance the construction of over 6,200 kilometres all-weather rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

The program is aimed at improving rural connectivity, facilitating safer and more efficient access to livelihood and socio-economic opportunities for rural communities through improvements to about 12 thousand kilometres Rural Roads across the 5 States.

Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions) in Department of Economic Affairs Sameer Kumar Khare signed the loan agreement on behalf of Government of India. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khare said, the ADB-funded investment program will provide continued assistance to the PMGSY and support the Government’s long-term goal for rural development.

He said, the programme is likely to have a transformative impact in terms of rural economy and will also bring in greater efficiency in terms of access and connectivity for the rural people in the five States.

Indian Navy launches 3rd Scorpene class submarine Karanj

ON JANUARY 31, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

Indian Navy today launched the third Scorpene class submarine Karanj. Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba’s wife Reena Lanba launched the submarine, which has been constructed by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Lanba said the submarine will undergo rigorous tests for the next one year before it is commissioned. a total six submarines are going to be built at the MDL. The submarines are being built in collaboration with French shipbuilding major Naval Group.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has last month commissioned the first of the six Scorpene-class submarine Kalvari into the Indian Navy and said its induction was a big step in the country’s defence preparedness.Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had then said that submarine building is a sophisticated and exacting craft which very few countries possess in their industrial capacity.

PM Modi to launch first Khelo India School Games

ON JANUARY 31, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

PM Modi to launch first Khelo India School Games in New Delhi; Govt plans to develop sports infrastructure in universities
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the first Khelo India School Games at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi today.

The games will continue until 8th of next month. Khelo India is expected to help scout young talent from the schools in various disciplines and groom them as future sports champions. AIR correspondent reports that the country’s brightest talent in the under-17 age group will compete in the Games.

The games will be held in 16 disciplines at five venues. The disciplines include Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Hockey, Kabaddi, Shooting, Swimming, Weightlifting and Wrestling. The games will highlight India’s young sporting talent and showcase India’s sports potential. 199 gold medals, 199 silver medals and 275 bronze medals are at stake in these Games.

The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in the country at the grass-roots level by building a strong framework for all sports played in the country.

Talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels by a High-Powered Committee will be provided annual financial assistance of five lakh per annum for eight years.

The Government is planning to develop sports infrastructure in the universities so that they become Centre for excellence in Sports.

Sports Minister Col Rajyavardhan Rathore said Government will also develop sports infrastructure in one school each in 150 districts. He said, sports is state subject and the Centre is setting standards for states to follow.

Col Rathore expressed hope that Khelo India college games will be held next year. He said the Centre will bring a Sports Code which will ensure transparency. Col Rathore said, his Ministry has recommended to the Central Advisory Board of Education to include physical education as a subject in the school curriculum.

Theresa May visiting China

ON JANUARY 31, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

UK PM  Theresa May visiting  the central Chinese city of Wuhan Wednesday on the UK’s trade probabilities outside of the European Union. PM begins her three-day visit to the country, education programmes with China including deals worth some £550m to the economy. Assured nation to raise human rights and Hong Kong’s political situation with China’s leaders this week.

PM is accompanied by  50 British business leaders, May’s visit  focus on exploring  new global trade links ahead of the UK’s divorce from the European Union, slated for March 2019.

Dear N.K ,The Africa Rail 2018 conference

ON JANUARY 31, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

nksagar_1@yahoo.com

31 Jan. at 1:32 pm

Dear N.K , The Africa Rail 2018 conference is almost full, the continent’s largest and most established railway conference, is taking place on the 12-13 June 2018 and it’s bringing the buyers to you! With only 15 slots remaining this is your chance to put your company in front of Africa’s leading rail operators, end users and government. We have the pleasure in confirming buyers from the following 18 countries: Kenya – Managing Director, Kenya Railways Corporation Burkina Faso – Director of Cabinet, Ministry of Transports Swaziland – Director of Engineering, Swaziland Railway Uganda – Managing Director, Uganda Railways Corporation Morocco – Head of Telecoms Engineering Services, ONCF Nigeria –  Managing Director, Nigerian Railways Corporation Ethiopia – Former CEO, Ethiopian Railway Corporation Ghana – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Railways Development Burundi – Minister, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Equipment Namibia – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Works and Transport DRC – Director General, SNCC Zambia – Government Inspector of Railway, Ministry of Transport and Communications Tunisia- Chief Transport Engineer, AfDB Zimbabwe – Board Chairman, National Railways of Zimbabwe Cameroon –  Director of Transport, Camrail Egypt – Advisor to the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Ministry of Transport Chad – Director of Urbanism and Head of Urban Transport, Ministry of Transport South Africa – Digital Specialist Communication and Marketing, Gautrain If you want to meet with key operators from across these countries and many more then you need to sponsor / exhibit at Africa Rail 2018! Download the exhibitor brochure here > Call me now on +27 11 516 4075 to secure business development opportunities using this unrivalled platform! Kind Regards Athena Maharaj T| + 27 11 516 4075 C| + 27 72 509 9240 E| Athena.Maharaj@terrapinn.com

Summary:Election Expenses of MLAs from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly 2017 Elections

ON JANUARY 31, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

Summary and Highlights of Election Expenses of MLAs from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly 2017 Elections                 

1. Less than 50% of the Limit:  Out of 68 MLAs analysed, 25(37%)  MLAs have declared election expenses of less than 50% of the expense limit of Rs. 28 lakhs in their constituency.
2. Average Election Expenses: Based on the election expense declarations of 68 MLAs from Himachal Pradesh Assembly, the average amount of money spent by them in the elections is  Rs 15.26 lakhs, which is  55% of the expense limit.

                                                          

​​

​​

Figure: Party-wise Average Election Expenses (Rs. in lakhs)

Figure: Break Down of Elections Expenses Incurred by MLAs

  

3.   Top 3 MLAs with highest Election Expenses: The details of top 3 MLAs who have declared the highest election expenses are given below:

S.No.	Name	District	Constituency	Party	Expense Limit(Rs.)	Total expenses incurred/ authorized (Rs.)	% of limit reached
1	KISHORI LAL	KULLU	ANNI	BJP	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	25,83,669 25 Lacs+	92%
2	RAJIV SAIZAL	SOLAN	KASAULI	BJP	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	24,58,389 24 Lacs+	88%
3	SH. HIRA LAL	MANDI	KARSOG	BJP	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	22,95,220 22 Lacs+	82%

Table: Top 3 MLAs with highest election expenditure

4. MLAs with lowest Election Expenses:   The details of top 3 MLAs who have declared lowest election expenses are given below:

S.No.	Name	District	Constituency	Party	Expense Limit	Total expenses incurred/ authorized (Rs.)	% of limit reached
1	MOHAN LAL BRAKTA	SHIMLA	ROHRU	INC	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	3,88,657 3 Lacs+	14%
2	ANIRUDH SINGH	SHIMLA	KASUMPTI	INC	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	6,48,950 6 Lacs+	23%
3	NARINDER THAKUR	HAMIRPUR	HAMIRPUR	BJP	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	7,10,735 7 Lacs+	25%

Table: 3 MLAs with lowest election expenditure

5.   Break Down of Sources of Funds Raised by MLAs

Figure: Percentage Break-down of  Funds Raised by MLAs

​​

Summary and Highlights of Election Expenses of MLAs from the Gujarat Assembly 2017 Elections

                 

1. Less than 50% of the Limit:  Out of 182 MLAs analysed, 54(30%)  MLAs have declared election expenses of less than 50% of the expense limit 
   of Rs. 28 lakhs
    in their constituency.
2. Average Election Expenses: Based on the election expense declarations of 182 MLAs from Gujarat Assembly, the average amount of money spent by them in the elections is  Rs 16.45 lakhs, which is  59% of the expense limit.

Figure: Party-wise Average Election Expenses (Rs. in lakhs)

                                                 

Figure: Break Down of Elections Expenses Incurred by MLAs

3. MLAs who have exceeded the Election Expenditure Limit:  There are two MLAs who have exceeded  the expense limit. Rajendrasinh Ranjitsinh Chavda (BJP) from Himatnagar has exceeded the expense limit by Rs. 5, 78,309. Dindor Kuberbhai Manusukhbhai(BJP) from Santrampur constituency has exceeded the expense limit by Rs.95,766.The details of these two MLAs are given below: 

​​

S.No.

Name

District

Constituency

Party

Expenditure incurred/authorized by MLA

Expense Limit(Rs.)

Total expenses  incurred/ authorized (Rs.)

Excess Expenditure Incurred (Rs.)

% of limit reached

MLA/his election agent     (Rs.)

By Political Party (Rs.)

Any other association/body of persons/  individual (Rs.)

1

RAJENDRASINH RANJITSINH CHAVDA

SABARKANTHA

HIMATNAGAR

BJP

22,38,900

11,04,709

34,700

2800000                  28 Lacs+

*33,78,309                  33 Lacs+

578309                5 Lacs+

121%

2

DINDOR KUBERBHAI MANSUKHBHAI

MAHISAGAR

SANTRAMPUR (ST)

BJP

23,76,746

5,19,020

0

2800000                  28 Lacs+

2895766                    28 Lacs+

95766                95 Thou+

103%

​​

                                                                                                         Table:  MLAs who have exceededthe election expenditure limit

* The MLA has provided the total expenditure incurred as Rs.1, 46,755 in his affidavit. However, when we calculate the expenditure incurred by MLA/his agent; by political party and by any other association, body of persons/individual, it totals up to Rs. 33, 78,309

4. MLAs with lowest Election Expenses:   The details of top 3 MLAs who have declared lowest election expenses are given below:

S.No.	Name	District	Constituency	Party	Expenditure incurred/authorized by MLA			Expense Limit(Rs.)	Total expenses incurred/ authorized (Rs.)	% of limit reached
					MLA/his electionagent(Rs.)	By Political Party (Rs.)	Any other association/ body of persons/ individual(Rs.)
1	RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD	MAHISAGAR	LUNAWADA	IND	3,00,568	0	0	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	3,00,568 3 Lacs+	11%
2	THAKOR BHARATJI SONAJI	MAHESANA	BECHARAJI	INC	3,81,719	0	0	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	3,81,719 3 Lacs+	14%
3	JIGNESHKUMAR NATVARLAL MEVANI	BANASKANTHA	VADGAM (SC)	IND	5,20,553	0	0	28,00,000 28 Lacs+	5,20,553 5 Lacs+	19%

Table: MLAs with lowest election expenditure

5.   Break Down of Sources of Funds Raised by MLAs

Figure: Percentage Break-down of  Funds Raised by MLAs

Contact: 

​

Media and Journalist Helpline +91 80103 94248 Email: adr@adrindia.org

Dr. O.P. Bhuraita         State Coordinator    Himachal Pradesh                   Election Watch +91-8894164165 opbhuraita@rediffmail.com

Ms. PanktiJog State Coordinator Gujarat Election Watch  +91-9909006791 jogpankti@gmail.com

Maj.Gen. Anil Verma (Retd) Head – ADR & NEW 011 4165 4200, +91 88264 79910 adr@adrIndia.org, anilverma@adrindia.org

Prof Jagdeep Chhokar IIM Ahmedabad (Retd.) Founder Member- ADR & NEW +91 99996 20944 jchhokar@gmail.com

Prof Trilochan Sastry IIM Bangalore Founder Member- ADR & NEW +91 94483 53285  trilochan@iimb.ac.in

—

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T-95, C.L. House, 2nd Floor,
(Near Gulmohar Commercial Complex)
Gautam Nagar
New Delhi-110 049

Quake M6.1 – Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan

ON JANUARY 31, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

2018-01-31 07:07:00 (M6.1) Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan 36.5 70.8 (3fa06).

Quake epicenter was near Afghanistan’s Jarm, which was hit by a devastating 7.5 magnitude quake in October 2015 that triggered landslides and flattened buildings, killing more than 380 people across the region.

Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude	6.1
Date-Time	31 Jan 2018 07:07:00 UTC 31 Jan 2018 11:07:00 near epicenter 31 Jan 2018 11:07:00 standard time in your timezone
Location	36.543N 70.816E
Depth	191 km
Distances	3.2 km (2.0 mi) NE of Ghurayd Gharamē, Afghanistan 35.7 km (22.1 mi) S of Jurm, Afghanistan 66.1 km (41.0 mi) WSW of Ashkāsham, Afghanistan 67.0 km (41.5 mi) SSE of Fayzabad, Afghanistan 74.1 km (46.0 mi) WSW of Ishqoshim, Tajikistan
Location Uncertainty	Horizontal: 4.8 km; Vertical 5.5 km

PRESS INVITATION  T-Series cordially invites you

ON JANUARY 30, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

PRESS INVITATION

T-Series cordially invites you to attend the Song Launch & to share with you the uniqueness of their latest track 

‘DIL WARDA’

(T-Series presents the official music video of the brand new song “”Dil Warda” sung by AJ Singh (IMYOAJ). The music video is directed by DirectorGifty and composed by Showkidd).

To be addressed by:

• Deep Money (Song Dope Shope fame)
• Indeep Bakshi (Song Saturday Saturday fame)
• Dilbagh Singh (Singer & Actor)
• LOC (Rapper & Lyricist)
• AJ Singh (Playback Singer)

                  

Time: 8:00 pm

Date: 31st January 2018 (Wednesday)

Venue: The Grand New Delhi Hotel, Vasant Kunj, PhaseII

You are requested to send correspondents/ photographers/ camera crew for the Press Event.

Book discussion on The Price of Aid: The Economic Cold War in India

ON JANUARY 30, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

Feb 20 CPR is pleased to invite you to a book discussion on The Price of Aid: The Economic Cold War in India Professor David C Engerman Tuesday, 20 February 2018, 4:00 p.m. Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research Image: Book Cover Looking back to the origins and evolution of foreign aid during the Cold War, David C Engerman invites us to recognise the strategic thinking at the heart of development assistance—as well as the political costs. In The Price of Aid, Engerman argues that superpowers turned to foreign aid as a tool of the Cold War. India, the largest of the ex-colonies, stood at the center of American and Soviet aid competition. Officials of both superpowers saw development aid as an instrument for pursuing geopolitics through economic means. But Indian officials had different ideas, seeking superpower aid to advance their own economic visions, thus bringing external resources into domestic debates about India’s economic future. Drawing on an expansive set of documents, many recently declassified, from seven countries, Engerman reconstructs a story of Indian leaders using Cold War competition to win battles at home, but in the process eroding the Indian state. David C Engerman is Otillie Springer Professor of History at Brandeis University, where he has taught since receiving his PhD from the University of California-Berkeley in 1998. His revised dissertation appeared as Modernization from the Other Shore: American Intellectuals and the Romance of Russian Development (Harvard, 2003). He also edited and introduced a new edition of The God That Failed (Columbia, 2001), and co-edited Staging Growth: Modernization, Development, and the Global Cold War (Massachusetts, 2003). Named the Stuart Bernath Lecturer by the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations for 2006, his lecture, “American Knowledge and Global Power,” then appeared in Diplomatic History; other articles have appeared in American Historical Review, Cahiers du Monde russe, Journal of Cold War Studies, Kritika, Modern Intellectual History, and the Cambridge History of the Cold War (Cambridge, 2009) and World War II (Cambridge, 2015). His second book, Know Your Enemy: The Rise and Fall of America’s Soviet Experts (Oxford, 2009), examined Russian/Soviet Studies in America since 1940. He is the recipient of grants and fellowships from ACLS, NCEEER, NEH, and the Guggenheim Foundation.

KHELO MULTISPORTS CHALLENGE

ON JANUARY 30, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

KHELO MULTISPORTS CHALLENGE Are you looking for a reason to play with you colleagues? Look no further and get your team registered for KHELO Multisports Challenge to get the best out of your people. A popular Corporate Multisports Fest, with over 300 players participating from more than 50 organisations across NCR, where your team will play against some of the best corporate teams in NCR. Why you should play KHELO Multisports Challenge: Playing time : Minimum two matches guaranteed in every sport. Statistics : Team and individual statistics. Exclusive for Corporates : Play in the most popular multisports corporate sports fest. Value for money : High quality venues, equipment and officials at a pocket friendly rate. Extraordinary Experience : With best teams and players across NCR participating, you are bound to have an awesome playing experience. Prizes : Great prizes for winners and top performers. Register Copyright © 2018 LEH LEH 7 Entertainment Solutions Pvt Ltd, All rights reserved. This is a sample mailOur mailing address is: 22-A, Lajpat Nagar IV, New Delhi

Talk on security at Indo – Pacific region

ON JANUARY 30, 2018 BY NARESH SAGARLEAVE A COMMENT

Recent developments have elicited fresh thinking about the maritime security situation in the Indo-Pacific region.  Please join us at the American Center as our expert panel explores the implications for India of new infrastructure projects, equipment sales, and fleet exercises in the Indo-Pacific and other naval theaters in a panel discussion on January 31.

The invitation is attached.  May we request you to please register at: https://goo.gl/8eqajh  and be seated by 3:45 p.m.  Please join us for a reception after the event.

We look forward to meeting you on January 31.

Kindly refer to the security requirements listed below:

•             Please carry valid photo identification in original with you for entry.

•             The American Center is a two minute walk from the Barakhamba Road Metro Station.

•             Mobile phones are allowed within the American Center.

•             For security reasons, photography through mobile phones or any other devices is prohibited.

•             Laptops, power banks, iPads, tablets, flash drives, cameras and other electronic items are not allowed within the American Center and there is no place to store these.

•             American Center does not provide parking on its premises.

•             All visitors may be featured in photos or video to be used for promotional purposes or on social media by the American Center or the U.S. Embassy

With best regards,

The American Center
24 Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi 110 001, India
Telephone: 23472115, 23472116, 23472239
Email    : libdel@state.gov
Web      : https://in.usembassy.gov/education-culture/american-space-india/

Catalog : http://amlibindia.state.gov/

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