1. Ansari greets nation on occasion of 'Navroj', beginning of Parsi New Year
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has greeted the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of 'Navroj', which marks the beginning of Parsi New Year.
2. CAG report on coal block allocation tabled in Parliament
CAG reports on three critical sectors were tabled in the Parliament today which included reports on Coal block allocation, Power and Airport sector.
In the report, the central auditor estimates the benefit of the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to the private companies in the open cast mine reserves of mixed mines by last year. CAG said that this happened because allocation made without competitive bidding.
The CAG said it has arrived at the estimates based on the average cost of production and average sale price of opencast mines of Coal India in the year 2010-11.
The CAG has estimated a potential earning capacity of Rs 1,63,557 crore to DIAL when it was given Delhi airport land on a concessional lease. The Prime Minister, who held the coal portfolio for a considerable time during the period also escaped any adverse notice of the official auditor and the blame fell on the screening committee consisting of officials for the allocation "which lacked transparency, objectivity and competition".
Holding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “morally, politically and personally” responsible for the Rs. 1.86 lakh crore loss estimated by CAG in coal block allocation, the BJP on Friday demanded that he should quit his post.
3. Exodus of NE people continues; govt issues 15-day ban on bulk SMSes
Driven by rumours of impending attacks, the exodus of people from the North East spread from Bangalore to neighbouring cities on the third day today, prompting the Centre to ban for 15 days bulk SMSes and MMSes across the country.
4. PMEAC pegged India’s Growth at 6.7 Percent in the Fiscal Year 2012-13
The Prime Minister's economic advisory panel today pegged GDP growth for the current financial year at 6.7 per cent.
It, however, added that inflation would remain high during the fiscal at 6.5 to 7 per cent, mainly due to poor monsoon which will pull down the agriculture growth rate to 0.5 per cent from 2.8 per cent last year.
The government’s fiscal deficit is expected to go up to 6 percent in the financial year 2012-13 as compared to 5.8 percent in the previous fiscal.
Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) Chairman C Rangarajan today released 'The Economic Outlook for 2012-13'.
5. Government approved a model document for construction of highways in the country
Government today approved a model document for construction of highways in the country. An official statement said that the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure approved the Model Engineering, Procurement and Construction Agreement Document for construction of 2-lane National Highways. The document has been structured in a manner that time overrun and cost overrun in implementation of National Highways works shall be minimised to a great extent and there will be optimisation of design and quality construction.
6. MP govt to allocate funds of over Rs.12 cr for flood-affected districts
Heavy rains and floods have so far claimed 31 lives in Madhya Pradesh prompting the state government to allocate additional funds of 12.47 crore rupees for the flood-affected 23 districts.
7. Noted Indian Cinematographer Ashok Mehta passed away
Veteran Cinematographer Ashok Mehta passed away in Mumbai on 15 August 2012. He was 65. Mehta was suffering from lung cancer and was getting treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.
8. Cabinet defers decision on FCRA
The government today once again deferred a decision on a Bill that seeks to give more powers to commodity markets regulator FMC as Foods and Consumer Affairs Minister K V Thomas was not present in Cabinet meeting.
9. Punk band jailed for anti-Putin protest
A Moscow court on Friday sentenced three members of a female punk group to two years in jail for performing a punk prayer against Russian President Vladimir Putin on the altar of Russia’s main Orthodox Cathedral earlier this year.
10. Antony awards Rs. 30 lakh to Vijay Kumar
Olympic silver medallist Subedar Major Vijay Kumar today given a cheque of Rs. 30 lakh by Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who said more, will come his way for the ace shooter in the near future.
11. UN Security Council decided not to extend the UN Observer’s Mission in Syria
United Nations Security Council decided not to extend the mandate of UN Observer’s Mission in Syria. However, it has supported the idea of maintaining a political office in Damascus.
12. Rogelio Sierra Diaz, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba visited India
Rogelio Sierra Diaz, vice foreign minister of Cuba visited India on 7 August 2012 to participate in the First India-CELAC foreign ministers Troika meeting in New Delhi. Both nations discussed ways to improve bilateral relations encompassing the areas dealing with political, commercial and economic; energy; sports; science and technology; education and culture during his visit.
13. NEW BOOKS RELEASED
Books/Novels followed by Authors
Timeless Leadership--18 Leadership Sutras from The Bhagavad Gita-Debashis Chatterjee
Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew -- Shehan Karunatilaka
Salwatein ----Shaily Aggarwal
Rabbit Rap --- Musharraf Ali Farooqi
Jinnah vs. Gandhi-- Roderick Matthews
The Morning After--- Kamini Patel
To A Mountain In Tibet--- Colin Thubron
Lunatic In My Head--- Anjum Hasan
Neti Neti --- Anjum Hasan
Kaadu Mattu Kraurya-- Poornachandra Tejaswi
COASTAL SECURITY -Maritime Dimensions of India’s Homeland Security: K. R.Singh
Thee, Hoon, Rahungi- Vartika Nanda
Vakyapadiya, Sphota, Jati and Dravya- Sharda Narayanan
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