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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Push for disability certificate disclosure of govt employees
Pune: The State Information Commission (SIC) has issued a fresh reminder to the chief secretary to disclose disability certificates of employees recruited under the disability quota on departmental websites as its earlier directive issued three months ago remains unimplemented. State chief information commissioner Rahul Pande told TOI that despite his letter to the chief secretary (CS) directing transparency in govt recruitments through public disclosure of disability certificates, the govt has failed to comply with the order. "I asked the CS regarding the implementation of the order and the state SIC is awaiting a report on the same. It is mandatory for all departments to do so as it ensures transparency in the recruitment process," Pande said. The Amravati bench of the SIC passed directions last year regarding full disclosure of disability certificates submitted by job seekers, and the CS was then requested to issue necessary administrative instructions, but no such direction seems to have been issued pursuant to the SIC order, he added. The state CIC has now sent a reminder to the chief secretary seeking issuance of necessary instructions to all departments about suo motu disclosure of disability certificates and details of persons appointed through the disability quota in every govt office. Pande emphasised that the state SIC has called for maximum voluntary disclosure, explaining that proactive publication of such information would significantly reduce the burden of repetitive RTI applications while promoting transparency in govt recruitment processes. "The purpose of suo-motu disclosures under Section 4 is to place large amount of information in the public domain on a proactive basis to make the functioning of public authorities more transparent and also to reduce the need for filing individual RTI applications," the commission's directive stated. He added that rising complaints about fake and bogus certificates prompted this suggestion and it is necessary that such documents are disclosed for public audit and ensure that the rightful claimant gets public employment. The transparency initiative forms part of the broader RTI framework that seeks to promote accountability in governance. The RTI Act's preamble underlines the need for setting out a practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority. TOI sent a WhatsApp message to CS Sujata Saunik regarding the directive, but a response from her was awaited till the time of going to the press.
NDTV
03-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
On Op Sindoor's Success, Ex Army Chief's "3 Factors Of Atmanirbharta"
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Former Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande attributed the success of Operation Sindoor to self-reliance in defence, driven by private industry, startups, and innovation. He noted reforms in defence organisation improved synergy. New Delhi: The success of Operation Sindoor also traces its roots in the steps taken towards self-reliance and the focus on indigenous equipment in the last decade, former Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande (retired) told NDTV in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. The former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) highlighted three areas that contributed to "atmanirbharta (self-reliance)" in defence. "Self-reliance for critical defence equipment under the overall ambit of Atmanirbhar [Bharat policy] is something which has been very crucial or one of the major aspects of what we have achieved during the last decade or so," General Pande said. "There are three important aspects to it or what we have been able to achieve. One is the participation of private industry in this entire effort. The second is also the participation and encouragement or the contribution of a very vibrant startup ecosystem that we have in a country. And the third is tapping the innovation potential. I think when we talk of self-reliance, it is all of these three that have come together," the former Indian Army chief told NDTV. General Pande said the country saw a manifestation and validation of what has happened or what has been happening over the last decade or so, be in terms of indigenous equipment, be in terms of higher defence management, and the reforms that have been undertaken, and a number of other things that have happened in the security domain. The hangar at the Bholari air base was severely damaged. He said Operation Sindoor showed clarity and convergence between the political aim, the political leadership, and the military strategy. "In terms of utility of force, I think it is shown as to how force can be utilised to achieve strategic objectives. Also, if I may say here, while defence and diplomacy are complementary, this [Operation Sindoor] has shown how defence can come on its own and contribute to meeting strategic objectives," General Pande said. The former COAS credited the reorganisation of the higher defence organisation and the national security apparatus during the last decade for giving results today. "In terms of higher defense organisation, the two seminal reforms that took place was, A, establishing the posts of the Chief of Defence Staff, and B, the Department of Military Affairs. And the aim of both these was to make sure that earlier we were working in silos, so that is something that is dispensed with, we have better synergy, we have better coordination between the military and the civil component of those operating," General Pande said. He said the setting up of a cyberspace and a special operations agency was a huge start and a precursor to the larger cyber space and special ops command that will come up in due course. India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the killing of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 by Pakistan-linked terrorists. Indian missile strikes killed over 100 terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), and destroyed a large number of critical assets of the Pakistani Air Force.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
LITU mulls shifting of three PG depts, start school of mgmt in exam section building
Nagpur: The Nagpur University's existing exam section building on the Laxminarayan Institute of Technological University (LITU) campus off Amravati Road, once it is handed over to the host institute, will be used to house the postgraduate departments of biochemistry, microbiology, and the Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology Centre. The LITU administration is also planning to introduce a school of management to run MBA, integrated-MBA, besides pharmaceutical engineering, and other courses from next year. Following separation, these PG departments were integrated into LITU. LITU has been pushing for early possession of the exam section building to set in motion preparations for these courses and expansion works to transform into a state-of-the-art campus. The state govt has already sanctioned Rs225 crore for LITU works. Along with the exam section building, the LITU administration is also seeking the early handing over of the Nelson Mandela hostel and staff quarters to develop modern infrastructure for its students and staff. According to the MoU with NU, after the LIT became a university two years ago, June 2025 was fixed to hand over the exam section building, staff quarters, and Nelson Mandela hostel to LITU as they are located on its land. However, NU's own challenges, including a lack of suitable space and the passing away of its VC Subhash Chaudhari, kept the exam section relocation process pending. This week, a VC-level panel including top officials and office-bearers from both universities will be meeting to take a call on the issue. NU planned to shift the exam section to its old administrative building campus at Rabindranath Tagore Marg opposite Maharajbagh Zoo before June, but it came undone due to other projects coming up there and security issues. LITU principal advisor Mohan Pande said the administration aims to achieve its goals as early as possible with the govt funds. "The buildings housing microbiology, biochemistry, and biotechnology face issues during rains because they are very old now. Initially, we plan to demolish microbiology and biochemistry buildings. Meantime, these departments can function from the exam section building," he said. Pande added that Nelson Mandela hostels are also not fit for living and remain unoccupied. "These structures need to be razed to construct new LITU administrative offices," he said. Pande said the exam section will also house management courses like the 5-year integrated BTech-MBA, three-year integrated MTech-MBA, pharmaceutical engineering, chemical supply chain management, and industrial safety courses. "We are planning to start MBA courses from next year and therefore need the possession soon to get necessary permission from regulatory bodies," he said. Info: NEW LITU FACILITIES LITU has planned a state-of-the-art campus with international standard auditoriums, digital classrooms, a wifi campus, and a sports complex. Its historic 75-year-old swimming pool will be revived. Staff quarters, student hostels, and administration offices will be constructed. The govt has sanctioned Rs225 crore for these works.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Over 10k FIRs registered in city in 2024 for rash driving
Mumbai: Over 10,000 first information reports (FIRs) for rash and negligent driving were registered across the city in 2024, a massive jump from 2023 when only 404 such FIRs were registered in different city police stations, based on complaints from the traffic police. According to data from the traffic police for the year 2024, 8,588 FIRs were registered under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC); 582 FIRs were registered under IPC sections 279 and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others); and 1,628 FIRs were registered under IPC sections 279 and 338 (causing grievous hurt by an act which endangers human life). Joint commissioner of police Anil Kumbhare said following the registration of FIRs, driving licences of errant motorists were either suspended or cancelled depending on the nature of their offence. 'Rash driving continues to remain a major problem in certain parts of the city such as Sakinaka, Chakala, Powai, Nagpada, the Western Express Highway and Oshiwara,' Kumbhare said. The Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019 – which enables police to book motorists violating traffic rules under the Indian Penal Code – was notified by the state government in 2021. This law made rash driving, including driving on the wrong side, a non-compoundable offence and required offenders to appear in court as opposed to being fined on the spot. The penalty for wrong-side driving was fixed at ₹500-1,000 and/ or three months of imprisonment. Mumbai police started registering FIRs for rash driving in major way in 2022, when then police commissioner Sanjay Pande led the effort. Pande had directed police officers to register FIRs if motorists were found driving on the wrong side. Instruction were also issued to impound their vehicles and produce them before courts. While the practice continued after Pande's tenure and the number of FIRs for rash driving rose significantly, accidents involving wrong side and rash driving have not come down, said sources in the traffic police. Aside from registering FIRs, the traffic police penalised 6.5 million motorists in 2024 for violating traffic rules. Penalties worth ₹526 crore were imposed, of which only ₹157 crore was collected. The traffic police, through its 41 divisions and the multimedia department, penalised motorists under 26 categories of traffic violations, data from the traffic police showed. RTI activist Anil Galgali said the traffic police had done a satisfactory job but were unable to take effective action owing to a shortage of officers and staff. 'A special recovery drive is necessary to collect the pending fines from offenders,' he said. 'Digital notices must be issued to defaulting vehicle owners and vehicles of major defaulters must be seized.'
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"India not alone, Pakistan backed only by traditional allies": Research Fellow Aparna Pande
Washington DC [US], May 17 (ANI): Addressing the global reactions to the recent tensions between India and Pakistan, Aparna Pande, Research Fellow and Director of the India Initiative at the Hudson Institute, emphasised that India did not face international isolation. In an interview with ANI, Pande dismissed the narrative that the world supported Pakistan over India, noting that while traditional allies like China and Turkey backed Pakistan, most countries, including the United States and Gulf nations, called for de-escalation and refrained from supporting Pakistan. Pande said, 'The way this crisis came out, only countries supporting Pakistan were its traditional allies. China has its strategic interest in Pakistan. Turkey has been a steadfast ally and partner of Pakistan for decades. But in other parts of the world, like the Gulf, which have strong economic relations and historical relations with Pakistan, they did not support Pakistan. The Saudis were trying to mediate and de-escalate. The United States, European countries, and most other Asian countries wanted a de-escalation because they didn't want nuclear-armed neighbours to go to war. But none of them came on Pakistan's side.' She further said, 'I have a problem with those who portray this as if the world was on Pakistan's side and India was left alone. No, it wasn't. India's strategic and economic cloud, its relationship with the United States, Gulf Arab countries, Japan, Australia, all of them remain intact today as they were on April 22 or on May 6.' Pande also said that India's intention was never to escalate conflict but to target terror camps in response to attacks. 'India, right from the beginning, stated very clearly it has no desire to escalate. All India was doing was striking against the terror camps. It had no desire to go for a long-term war with Pakistan. All India wanted to do was send a message to the terror infrastructure and those who support those terror groups that India will respond if there is a terror attack. If a country like the United States, with which India has a strong strategic partnership, can convince Pakistan not to escalate, then India would be fine with that,' Aparna Pande said. She added, 'The challenge is that India has a different view from the United States. India does not accept mediation. If India seeks to resume talks with Pakistan, it will be India offering talks to Pakistan. India would be fine with having a conversation with Pakistan, but not forced by an external mediator. India is saying they never wanted escalation, but any talks between Pakistan will be based on what India will put on the agenda. It will not be by some other country or organisation.' India carried out precision strikes through Operation Sindoor on May 7 on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack last month, in which 26 people were killed. India also effectively responded to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. India carried out surgical strikes in 2016 on terror launch pads across LoC and an aerial attack on a terror camp in Pakistan in 2019 in response to ghastly terror attacks. (ANI)
