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Govt lays down specific 'timeline' for completing enquiry against officers and members of All India Services

Government has laid down specific timeline for completing enquiry against officers and members of All India Services (AIS) within a given deadline, in a time-bound manner. Giving details about the DoPT (Department of Personnel & Training) decision, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the AIS (D&A) Rules, 1969 have been amended to provide specific timelines at different stages of the enquiry, with a view to complete the disciplinary proceedings against the members of All India Services in a time-bound manner.

• As per the amended rules, a time limit of six months has been fixed for completion of departmental enquiry and submission of report. In case it is not possible to complete the enquiry within six months for justifiable reasons to be recorded in writing, additional time limit not exceeding six months at one time can be granted by the Disciplinary Authority, thereby ensuring accountability for completion of enquiry. Further, 30 days’ timeline has been fixed for the delinquent officers to give his representation to the charge-sheet which can be extended to not more than 30 days by the Disciplinary Authority and, in any case, no extension will be provided beyond 90 days. Similarly, a period of 15 days has been provided to send a representation on the advice of UPSC regarding the penalty to be imposed on the delinquent officer and for such representation also, no extension will be provided beyond 45 days.

• Dr Jitendra Singh said, this amendment in the All India Service Rules has been brought, in keeping with the spirit of the Union Government led by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, to bring in more accountability and time-bound completion of every exercise in the course of governance. The new amendment in the Rules, he said, will certainly strengthen the culture of working within deadlines and timelines without showing any slackness.

• Meanwhile, Chairperson, Uttar Pradesh State Social Welfare Board (UPSSWB), Dr (Ms) Rupal Agarwal today called on Dr Jitendra Singh and provided her assessment about the performance of the various functionaries in the Board. She also brought to the notice of the Minister acts of omission or commission by certain officials. Dr Jitendra Singh took a note of the different issues raised by Dr Rupal Agarwal. He said, the Central Government accords high priority to programmes relating to upliftment of women, children and poor sections of the society. He also assured her that the issues raised by her will be brought to the notice of the concerned quarters.

Urdu poet and lyricist Naqsh Lyallpuri passes away

Renowned Urdu poet Jaswant Rai Sharma, known to the world by his pen name Naqsh Lyallpuri, passed away on 22 January 2017 following a prolonged illness.

• He was 89.
• Born in Llallpur in Pakistan as Jaswant Rai, Lyallpuri came to Mumbai in the late 1940s to make a career in Hindi cinema.
• He got his first break in 1952 in the film Jaggu with the song Agar Teri Aakhon Se Aakhein Mila Doon, while he got the real success in the 1970s.
• He wrote the lyrics in films like Chetna, Aahista Aahista, Tumhare Liye and Gharonda among others.
• Lyallpuri retired from Bollywood in the late 1990s and began penning songs for television.

Sushmita Sen to judge the 65th Miss Universe pageant

Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen will be on the judges panel of the upcoming 65th edition of Miss Universe pageant.

• The news was announced in the third week of January 2017.
• The contest will take place on 30 January 2017 in Philippines.
• Roshmitha Harimurthy will represent India at the 65th Miss Universe pageant.
• Born on 19 November 1975, Sushmita Sen is the first Indian to win the Miss Universe crown.
• She had won the pageant of 1994 held in Manila, Philippines.
• She had won the Femina Miss India in 1994.
• After completing her reign, she started her career with the Hindi film, Dastak.
• She received critical acclaim for her female-oriented roles in films such as Filhaal..., Zindaggi Rocks and others.

Saina Nehwal wins 2017 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold

Saina Nehwal on 22 January 2017 won the 2017 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold Women’s Singles title.

• Nehwal defeated Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong by a score of 22-20, 22-20 in a 46-minute clash.
• It was Nehwal’s 23rd title overall and the first after 2016 Australian Open.
• The 2017 Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold was held at the Sibu Indoor Stadium in Sarawak, Malaysia from 17 January to 22 January 2017.
• Saina Nehwal has been maintaining her world ranking in the top ten since 2009.
• She has clinched over twenty international titles, which include ten Superseries titles.
• She attained the World No. 1 ranking in 2015.
• She represented India thrice in the Olympics, winning bronze medal in her second appearance.

Union Cabinet approved MoU between India and Vietnam in the field of cyber security

The Union Cabinet in January 2017 gave its  ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam in the field of cyber security.

• The approval was given at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
• The MoU was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and the Cyber Security Department of Vietnam on 3 September 2016 at Hanoi in Vietnam.
• India-Vietnam relations have been exceptionally friendly and cordial since their foundations were laid by Prime Minister Nehru and President Ho Chi Minh more than 50 years ago.
• The traditionally close and cordial relations have their historical roots in the common struggle for liberation from foreign rule and the national struggle for independence.
• Former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the first visitors to Vietnam after its victory against the French in 1954.

PVR Pictures launched Vkaao theatre-on-demand service

Multiplex chain operator PVR Pictures in January 2017 launched its theatre-on-demand service Vkaao.

• Vkaao is an online platform that enables consumers to watch any movie of their choice at a theatre of their choice.
• However, the minimum requirement for a show to be confirmed would be 50 seats.
• Vkaao is very disruptive and gives control to customers to choose what they want to watch, when and where.
• PVR Cinemas, a group company of PVR Pictures, operates 562 screens in 122 properties in 48 cities across India.
• The company is planning to add 30 more screens by the end of 2016-17 financial year and another 70-80 screens during the 2017-18 financial year.
• Half of these new screens will come in the those cities where the PVR has the presence already and the other half of the screens will be in new cities.
• In January 2017, Warburg Pincus bought 14 per cent equity in PVR for about Rs 820 crore.

Anurag Thakur elected Himachal Olympic Association president

Ousted as BCCI President following a Supreme Court order, Anurag Thakur was on Saturday unanimously elected head of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA) for a four-year term.

• Thakur, who had to step down as BCCI President owing to the Supreme Court ruling on Lodha Committee reforms, was elected at the HPOA’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday.
• Nirwan Mukherjee was Observer from Indian Olympic Association for the polls. Other observers included NP Gulleria,
• Hockey Coach, and Ratan Lal Thakur, Observer Himachal Pradesh Government Sports Council. Surat Singh Thakur was the Returning Officer to conduct the elections.
• Virender Kanwar was elected Senior Vice-President, while Rajesh Bhandari, who is a Vice President in the Boxing Federation of India, was elected General Secretary.

China commissions 31st stealth warship

China has commissioned its 31st stealth warship as it got its battle group under its first aircraft carrier ready amid tensions with the U.S. and other nations over its assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.

• The People’s Liberation Army Navy has commissioned its 31st Type—056 class corvette, marking a new addition to the world’s largest fleet of modern corvettes, official media reported.
• With a maximum speed of 52 km/h, the ship features good manoeuvrability, a high-level of automation and stealth capability, and is capable of hitting aircraft, ships and submarines, the PLA Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military said.
• The CNS Ezhou with a hull number of 513 was delivered to the East Sea Fleet in a naval base in East China’s Fujian province.