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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Long Billed Bush Warbler sighted in Ladakh's Suru Valley: Govt to Rajya Sabha
The elusive Long Billed Bush Warbler has been reported in Union Territory of Ladakh's Sankoo Suru Valley, union environment minister informed Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The last confirmed Indian sighting was in 1979. (Harish Thangaraj) 'As informed by the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh, the Long Billed Bush Warbler has been reported in Sankoo Suru Valley. The Long Billed Bush Warbler is a species, primarily dependent on undisturbed grasslands and scrub habitats and its sighting reflects the ecological integrity of such habitats. Long Billed Bush Warbler (Locustella major) is listed in Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, providing them protection under the Act,' Kirti Vardhan Singh, minister of state (MoS) said. HT reported on July 20 that a team of five birders has recorded the first confirmed Indian sighting of the elusive Long-billed Bush Warbler in 46 years, spotting the Near Threatened species in Ladakh's Suru Valley as part of a mission to find the country's 'long lost birds'. He was responding to questions by BJP MP, Ashokrao Shankarrao Chavan on two questions namely, if the long-billed bush warblerc (Locustella major), a rare and elusive bird species seen recently by a team of rare bird researchers after a gap of 46 years in Ladakhs's Suru Valley as part of a mission to find county's 'long lost birds', if so, details thereof and secondly, if the ecological significance of sighting of long-billed bush warbler in the context of biodiversity conservation and habitat assessment in country among others. In reply, the MoS said that the important measures taken for conservation of birds including Long Billed Bush Warbler include, Protected Areas, viz., National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves covering important wildlife habitats have been created all over the country under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; Wetlands (Conservation and Management) rules, 2017, for better protection of wetlands in the country; financial assistance is provided to the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for conservation and management of wildlife and development of its habitats under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats'; a specific component of 'Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats' is included in the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' for focused conservation action on identified 24 critically endangered species including Bustards, Edible nest Swiftlets, Nicobar Megapode, Jerdon's Courser and Vultures among others. 'Rediscovering the Long-billed Bush Warbler in Ladakh wasn't a stroke of luck—it was the result of strategic planning, deep research, and field persistence by a committed team. The bird was found in remote willow thickets of Suru Valley at over 3,200 metres—harsh terrain that likely kept it hidden for decades. This sighting not only rewrites the species' known range but also reminds us how much of India's high-altitude biodiversity remains unexplored and in urgent need of protection,' said Nikhil Devasar, Delhi based birder and organiser of the Big Bird Day.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
NITI Aayog conducting evaluation study of MGNREGS, minister tells LS
THE NITI Aayog, the government's premier think tank, is conducting an evaluation study of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the government informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply to a question, Union Minister of State of Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan informed the House that the Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, has recently taken up the evaluation study of the scheme. The development is significant as it comes at a time when the Ministry of Rural Development has circulated a proposal seeking approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) for continuation of MGNREGS and an outlay for Rs 5.23 lakh crore till financial year 2029-30, a period that coincides with the next Finance Commission (16th) cycle. The EFC is a central body that appraises government schemes and projects; it comes under the Ministry of Finance. Replying to a question by CPI(ML)L member Sudama Prasad, Paswan said, 'The Internal Audit Wing (IAW) under the Office of the Chief Controller of Accounts (CCA) has been conducting Risk-Based Internal Audits of MGNREGS implementation in states since FY 2013-14… Risk-Based Internal Audits of MGNREGS have been conducted in 225 districts of 30 states/UTs since 2013-14.' 'Further, Amarjeet Sinha Committee was constituted in 2021 to examine various factors affecting demand for wage employment in the rural sector in different parts of the country and to study/analyse the trends of expenditure across states under MGNREGS along with reasons for inter-state variations with specific focus on governance issues. The report of the Committee has since been received and some of the recommendations have been identified for appropriate action,' Paswan said, sharing details of the internal audits and review of the MGNREGS conducted in recent years. 'In addition to this, DMEO, NITI Aayog, too has recently taken up an evaluation study of MGNREGS,' he said. The NITI Aayog conducted the last evaluation study of the MGNREGS in 2019-20. At the time, the think tank had also conducted the evaluation study of five other schemes. 'The study focused on the effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of these schemes, including the MGNREGS, to gauge their overall contribution to the national rural economy,' Paswan said. The evaluation study by NITI Aayog is crucial for getting approval of the EFC, said a source. The Ministry of Finance has told all ministries and departments that no Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) or Central Sector Scheme (CS) will be considered for continuation beyond March 31, 2026, unless a third-party evaluation of the scheme is carried out. Sources say that the EFC approval and appraisal is part of the Centre's exercise to evaluate and approve its schemes for the next Finance Commission cycle. The MGNREGS is backed by law and therefore the EFC approval is just a formality. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
New Indian Express
03-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rape, POCSO trials stretch in several states
MANGALURU: Data tabled in the Lok Sabha on August 1 has revealed that India's Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), established to expedite justice in cases of rape and child sexual abuse under the POCSO Act, continue to face serious delays in trial disposal, with several states recording an average trial duration of over three years. As per the Ministry of Law and Justice, 725 FTSCs, including 392 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) courts, are currently operational across 29 States and Union Territories. These courts, created under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme funded through the Nirbhaya Fund, have together handled 5,38,772 cases since inception. Of these, 3,34,213 cases have been disposed of - roughly 62% of the total. However, the average time taken by these courts paints a grim picture. Delhi tops the list of delays, with FTSCs taking 1,562 days (over four years) for rape cases and 1,717 days for POCSO cases. On the other end of the spectrum, Puducherry has reported the fastest POCSO trial completions, averaging just 180 days, while Chhattisgarh took an average 300 and 365 days to dispose POCSO and rape cases respectively. Among the states, Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of cases under the Fast Track Special Courts scheme, with 1,84,159 cases instituted and 91,459 disposed, marking a disposal rate of just under 50%. The state-wise performance shows significant variation. Kerala has emerged as a top performer, disposing of 26,202 out of 32,494 cases, marking an impressive 81% clearance. Among southern states, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh report moderate efficiency - Karnataka has cleared about 73% of cases, while Andhra Pradesh trails with 54% disposed. In contrast, West Bengal shows the worst disposal ratio, having cleared only 457 of 5,611 cases - an abysmal 8%.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nagaland to award 41,793 ST students with post-matric scholarships
KOHIMA: A total of 41,793 Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from Nagaland have been identified as beneficiaries under the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme for the academic year 2024-25, requiring an estimated Rs 56.38 crore of funds, officials said on Tuesday. However, due to the current availability of Rs 30.70 crore, the disbursement will be carried out in phases. Addressing a press conference at the Directorate of Higher Education here, Keduosielie Keyho and Tol Pucho, both Officers on Special Duty (OSD) for Scholarships, stated that the first phase of payment will cover 22,000 students, which is about 52.64 per cent of the total beneficiaries. These students will receive their entire scholarship amount as a one-time payment, unlike previous years when payments were made in instalments, said Keyho. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with a 90:10 funding pattern between the Centre and State governments. Of the total applicants, 30,451 have been system-authenticated, while 11,342 students remain unauthenticated due to non-seeding of Aadhaar number with bank accounts, he said. The officer said that auto-generated SMS messages have been sent to these students with instructions to resolve the issue while the remaining eligible students will be included in the next phase of disbursement once additional funds are received. For the first time, the scholarship disbursement will be made through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), moving away from the earlier Public Financial Management System (PFMS), he said. "Under NSP, instalment-based payments are not permitted. Instead, scholarships will be paid in one full instalment per beneficiary, though in phases," Keyho said. He said that this shift aligns with the Government of India's mandate for end-to-end digitisation, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and direct transfer of benefits to the rightful recipients. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
3rd-party evaluation must for Central schemes to go on beyond March 2026
As the government prepares to prioritise its schemes for the 16th Finance Cycle starting on April 1st next year, the Ministry of Finance has told all ministries and departments that no Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) or Central Sector Scheme (CS) will be considered for continuation beyond March 31st, 2026, unless a third-party evaluation of the scheme is carried out. This was conveyed to all Secretaries of the Government of India and Financial Advisors (FAs) during a meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan on Thursday. The meeting, which was attended by Secretaries of Government of India and Financial Advisors, discussed the appraisal and approval process of CSS and CS for the 16th Finance Commission cycle (2026-31). Before the meeting, the Department of Expenditure had circulated to the ministries 'a note on the points to be discussed in the meeting and context'. 'No Scheme (CSS and CSs) which is to continue over the next FC cycle will be taken up for appraisal unless a Third Party evaluation of the scheme is conducted. The Evaluation Report must demonstrate positive 'outcomes' as well as the need for continuing the scheme in view of its mandate and performance,' reads the note. According to sources, NITI Aayog, the government's top think tank, is currently conducting evaluation of the CSSs. This exercise is to be completed shortly and the draft reports will be shared with the respective ministries and departments, the sources said. NITI Aayog officials present in the meeting, made a PowerPoint presentation on the ongoing evaluation studies. The sources say that ministries and departments have been asked to conduct evaluation studies of their schemes by the end of July this year and get approval for continuation of schemes beyond March 31, 2026 from the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) before the start of the budget making process. The Ministries and Departments have been informed that in the 16th Finance Commission cycle (2026-31), they will receive allocation 5.5 times their average actual annual expenditure during the last five fiscal years (2021-22-2025-26). During the meeting, several ministries are learnt to have sought higher allocation for their programs. For instance, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare sought additional funding for vaccinations, it is learnt. When officials from several ministries made demands for higher allocation in the next Finance Commission cycle, the Cabinet Secretary is learnt to have made a remark that they should propose realistic outlays and not 'inflated' figures while seeking outlay for the next five years. In November 2023, the government approved the constitution of the 16th Finance Commission. It is expected to make its report available by October 31, 2025. The recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission will be for a period of five years commencing on the 1st day of April, 2026. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
