Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya
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The President's Office on Wednesday announced the Bharat Ratna award to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The announcement was made on the eve of Mr. Vajpayee's 90th birthday and the 153rd birth anniversary of Pandit Malviya.
The BJP has been demanding Bharat Ratna for Mr. Vajpayee for a long time; and BJP patriarch L.K. Advani has been at the forefront of seeking the highest civilian honour for the former Prime Minister.
Earlier, Mr. Advani had written a letter to the UPA Government to award the Bharat Ratna to the former Prime Minister. The request was however, overlooked by the UPA government, said sources. In 2013, the award was conferred to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C.N.R Rao.
A Bharat Ratna for Pandit Malviya, a freedom fighter and the founder of the Benaras Hindu University was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign. Justice Giridhar Malviya, the grandson of Pandit Malaviya was one of those who proposed the nomination of Mr. Modi from Varanasi parliamentary constituency. Mr. Vajpayee will be the seventh Prime Minister to receive the award, while Pandit Malviya will be the 12th person to be honoured posthumously.
Earlier recipients of the award include former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Lal Bahadur Shastri, along with first Governor General of free India C. Rajagopalachari, and former Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed delight at the announcement. "Bharat Ratna being conferred on Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a matter of great delight. Country's highest honour to these illustrious stalwarts is a fitting recognition of their service to the Nation. Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya is remembered as a phenomenal scholar and freedom fighter who lit the spark of national consciousness among people. Atal ji means so much to everyone. A guide, inspiration and giant among giants. His contribution to India is invaluable," the Prime Minister said.
Politicians from across the spectrum welcomed the decision to honour the former PM.
The announcement was made on the eve of Mr. Vajpayee's 90th birthday and the 153rd birth anniversary of Pandit Malviya.
The BJP has been demanding Bharat Ratna for Mr. Vajpayee for a long time; and BJP patriarch L.K. Advani has been at the forefront of seeking the highest civilian honour for the former Prime Minister.
Earlier, Mr. Advani had written a letter to the UPA Government to award the Bharat Ratna to the former Prime Minister. The request was however, overlooked by the UPA government, said sources. In 2013, the award was conferred to cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and scientist C.N.R Rao.
A Bharat Ratna for Pandit Malviya, a freedom fighter and the founder of the Benaras Hindu University was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign. Justice Giridhar Malviya, the grandson of Pandit Malaviya was one of those who proposed the nomination of Mr. Modi from Varanasi parliamentary constituency. Mr. Vajpayee will be the seventh Prime Minister to receive the award, while Pandit Malviya will be the 12th person to be honoured posthumously.
Earlier recipients of the award include former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Morarji Desai, Lal Bahadur Shastri, along with first Governor General of free India C. Rajagopalachari, and former Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed delight at the announcement. "Bharat Ratna being conferred on Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a matter of great delight. Country's highest honour to these illustrious stalwarts is a fitting recognition of their service to the Nation. Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya is remembered as a phenomenal scholar and freedom fighter who lit the spark of national consciousness among people. Atal ji means so much to everyone. A guide, inspiration and giant among giants. His contribution to India is invaluable," the Prime Minister said.
Politicians from across the spectrum welcomed the decision to honour the former PM.
One of the world’s lowest health budget slashed
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The Narendra Modi-led government has ordered a cut of nearly 20 per cent in its 2014/15 healthcare budget due to fiscal strains, putting at risk key disease control initiatives in a country whose public spending on health is already among the lowest in the world.
Two Health Ministry officials told Reuters on Tuesday that more than 60 billion rupees, or $948 million, has been slashed from their budget allocation of around $5 billion for the financial year ending on March 31.
Despite rapid economic growth over the past two decades, successive governments have kept a tight rein on healthcare expenditure. India spends about 1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on public health, compared to 3 percent in China and 8.3 percent in the United States.
But hopes were high that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was elected in May, would upgrade basic health infrastructure and make medical services more affordable for the poor.
The United Nations estimates about one third of the world’s 1.2 billion poorest people live in India.
“We were not expecting (budget cuts) this time because of the commitments they made in the manifesto,” one of the health ministry officials said, referring to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “No reason was given … but there is shortage of funds. It is not rocket science.”
The officials requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The Finance Ministry, which ordered the spending reduction and overruled objections from the Health Ministry at a recent meeting, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Two Health Ministry officials told Reuters on Tuesday that more than 60 billion rupees, or $948 million, has been slashed from their budget allocation of around $5 billion for the financial year ending on March 31.
Despite rapid economic growth over the past two decades, successive governments have kept a tight rein on healthcare expenditure. India spends about 1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on public health, compared to 3 percent in China and 8.3 percent in the United States.
But hopes were high that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was elected in May, would upgrade basic health infrastructure and make medical services more affordable for the poor.
The United Nations estimates about one third of the world’s 1.2 billion poorest people live in India.
“We were not expecting (budget cuts) this time because of the commitments they made in the manifesto,” one of the health ministry officials said, referring to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “No reason was given … but there is shortage of funds. It is not rocket science.”
The officials requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
The Finance Ministry, which ordered the spending reduction and overruled objections from the Health Ministry at a recent meeting, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Scientists ‘map’ water vapour in Martian atmosphere
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Scientists, including NASA researchers, have created a ‘map’ of the distribution of water vapour in Mars’ atmosphere.
Researchers observed seasonal variations in atmospheric concentrations in Mars using data collected over ten years by the Russian-French SPICAM spectrometer aboard the Mars Express orbiter.
This is the longest period of observation and provides the largest volume of data about water vapour on Mars, said scientists from the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), who worked with the French laboratory LATMOS and NASA’s Goddard Center.
Conditions on Mars – low temperatures and low atmospheric pressure – do not allow water to exist in liquid form in open reservoirs as it would on Earth.
However, on Mars, there is a powerful layer of permafrost, with large reserves of frozen water concentrated at the polar caps.
There is water vapour in the atmosphere, although at very low levels compared to the quantities experienced here on Earth.
If the entire volume of water in the atmosphere was to be spread evenly over the surface of the planet, the thickness of the water layer would not exceed 10-20 microns, while on Earth such a layer would be thousands of times thicker.
Data from the SPICAM (Spectroscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars) experiment allowed scientists to create a picture of the annual cycle of water vapour concentration variation in the atmosphere.
The content of water vapour in the atmosphere reaches a maximum level of 60-70 microns of released water in the northern regions during the summer season, researchers found.
The summer maximum in the southern hemisphere is significantly lower – about 20 microns.
The scientists have also established a significant, by 5-10 microns, reduction in the concentration of water vapour during global sandstorms, which is probably connected to the removal of water vapour from the atmosphere due to adsorption processes and condensation on surfaces.
“This research, based on one of the longest periods of monitoring of the Martian climate, has made an important contribution to the understanding of the Martian hydrological cycle – the most important of the climate mechanisms which could potentially support the existence of biological activity on the planet,” said co-author of the research Alexander Rodin, deputy head of the Infrared Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres Laboratory at MIPT.
Researchers observed seasonal variations in atmospheric concentrations in Mars using data collected over ten years by the Russian-French SPICAM spectrometer aboard the Mars Express orbiter.
This is the longest period of observation and provides the largest volume of data about water vapour on Mars, said scientists from the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), who worked with the French laboratory LATMOS and NASA’s Goddard Center.
Conditions on Mars – low temperatures and low atmospheric pressure – do not allow water to exist in liquid form in open reservoirs as it would on Earth.
However, on Mars, there is a powerful layer of permafrost, with large reserves of frozen water concentrated at the polar caps.
There is water vapour in the atmosphere, although at very low levels compared to the quantities experienced here on Earth.
If the entire volume of water in the atmosphere was to be spread evenly over the surface of the planet, the thickness of the water layer would not exceed 10-20 microns, while on Earth such a layer would be thousands of times thicker.
Data from the SPICAM (Spectroscopy for Investigation of Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars) experiment allowed scientists to create a picture of the annual cycle of water vapour concentration variation in the atmosphere.
The content of water vapour in the atmosphere reaches a maximum level of 60-70 microns of released water in the northern regions during the summer season, researchers found.
The summer maximum in the southern hemisphere is significantly lower – about 20 microns.
The scientists have also established a significant, by 5-10 microns, reduction in the concentration of water vapour during global sandstorms, which is probably connected to the removal of water vapour from the atmosphere due to adsorption processes and condensation on surfaces.
“This research, based on one of the longest periods of monitoring of the Martian climate, has made an important contribution to the understanding of the Martian hydrological cycle – the most important of the climate mechanisms which could potentially support the existence of biological activity on the planet,” said co-author of the research Alexander Rodin, deputy head of the Infrared Spectroscopy of Planetary Atmospheres Laboratory at MIPT.
Government approves Ordinance to hike FDI in insurance
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New Delhi: Government today approved promulgation of an Ordinance to hike Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cap in the insurance sector to 49 per cent from 26 per cent, as the legislation could not be passed in the Parliament session that ended yesterday.
“The Cabinet has cleared the Ordinance on insurance sector,” sources said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. The Insurance Bill, which has been pending since 2008 in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to increase the composite foreign investment limit in insurance companies to 49 per cent from current level of 26 per cent.
The 49 per cent cap would include both FDI and foreign portfolio investments. The proposed hike in foreign investment limit to 49 per cent in the insurance sector has potential to attract up to USD 7-8 billion (about Rs 50,000 crore) from overseas investors, giving a major boost to the segment.
The total capital deployed in the private life insurance sector is close to Rs 35,000 crore. At FDI at 26 per cent, foreign equity is close to Rs 8,700 crore. The Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, 2008 could not be taken up for discussion despite being approved by the Select Committee of the Upper House because of the uproar by opposition parties over the conversion and other issues.
The government has blamed political obstructionism for the disruption of Rajya Sabha, where the ruling NDA does not have a majority. There are 52 insurance companies operating in India, of which 24 are in the life insurance business and 28 in general insurance business. In addition, GIC is the sole national reinsurer.
“The Cabinet has cleared the Ordinance on insurance sector,” sources said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here. The Insurance Bill, which has been pending since 2008 in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to increase the composite foreign investment limit in insurance companies to 49 per cent from current level of 26 per cent.
The 49 per cent cap would include both FDI and foreign portfolio investments. The proposed hike in foreign investment limit to 49 per cent in the insurance sector has potential to attract up to USD 7-8 billion (about Rs 50,000 crore) from overseas investors, giving a major boost to the segment.
The total capital deployed in the private life insurance sector is close to Rs 35,000 crore. At FDI at 26 per cent, foreign equity is close to Rs 8,700 crore. The Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, 2008 could not be taken up for discussion despite being approved by the Select Committee of the Upper House because of the uproar by opposition parties over the conversion and other issues.
The government has blamed political obstructionism for the disruption of Rajya Sabha, where the ruling NDA does not have a majority. There are 52 insurance companies operating in India, of which 24 are in the life insurance business and 28 in general insurance business. In addition, GIC is the sole national reinsurer.
Black hole telescope snaps Sun
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A NASA space telescope designed to study black holes has taken its first picture of the Sun, producing the most sensitive solar portrait ever taken in high-energy X-rays.
“NuSTAR will give us a unique look at the Sun, from the deepest to the highest parts of its atmosphere,” said David Smith, a solar physicist and member of the NuSTAR team at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Solar scientists first thought of using NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, to study the Sun about seven years ago, after the space telescope’s design and construction was already underway (the telescope launched into space in 2012).
Smith had contacted the principal investigator, Fiona Harrison of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
“At first I thought the whole idea was crazy. Why would we have the most sensitive high energy X-ray telescope ever built, designed to peer deep into the universe, look at something in our own back yard?” said Harrison.
Smith eventually convinced Harrison, explaining that faint X-ray flashes predicted by theorists could only be seen by NuSTAR.
While the Sun is too bright for other telescopes such as NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, NuSTAR can safely look at it without the risk of damaging its detectors.
The first solar image from NuSTAR demonstrates that the telescope can in fact gather data about Sun.
“NuSTAR will give us a unique look at the Sun, from the deepest to the highest parts of its atmosphere,” said David Smith, a solar physicist and member of the NuSTAR team at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Solar scientists first thought of using NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, to study the Sun about seven years ago, after the space telescope’s design and construction was already underway (the telescope launched into space in 2012).
Smith had contacted the principal investigator, Fiona Harrison of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
“At first I thought the whole idea was crazy. Why would we have the most sensitive high energy X-ray telescope ever built, designed to peer deep into the universe, look at something in our own back yard?” said Harrison.
Smith eventually convinced Harrison, explaining that faint X-ray flashes predicted by theorists could only be seen by NuSTAR.
While the Sun is too bright for other telescopes such as NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, NuSTAR can safely look at it without the risk of damaging its detectors.
The first solar image from NuSTAR demonstrates that the telescope can in fact gather data about Sun.
Govt approves 100% FDI in medical devices sector
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NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday allowed 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in medical devices sector to encourage manufacturing of equipments, including diagnostic kits and other devices.
"Easing of norms for medical devices industry by creating special carve out in the extant FDI policy on pharma sector will encourage FDI inflows in this area," said an official statement issued after the Union Cabinet meeting here.
The 100 per cent FDI, it added, will be permitted under the automatic route, meaning a foreign investor will not have to seek the permission of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to acquire an existing company or set up a new manufacturing unit in the medical devices sector.
The condition of 'non-compete clause' would also not be applicable to greenfield (new project) as well as brownfield projects (existing units) of this industry.
Earlier FDI up to 100 per cent was permitted, subject to certain conditions.
While FDI in new projects is under automatic route, brownfield projects are placed under the government approval route.
The policy on pharmaceutical sector covers medical devices since this area is not separately covered.
Now, the Union Cabinet has given its approval to amend the existing policy to carve out medical devices segment.
"So far both in greenfield and brownfield projects, 100 per cent FDI is allowed. Within the same category, a distinct new sub-category has been carved out with regard to medical devices," finance minister Arun Jaitley said.
"Easing of norms for medical devices industry by creating special carve out in the extant FDI policy on pharma sector will encourage FDI inflows in this area," said an official statement issued after the Union Cabinet meeting here.
The 100 per cent FDI, it added, will be permitted under the automatic route, meaning a foreign investor will not have to seek the permission of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to acquire an existing company or set up a new manufacturing unit in the medical devices sector.
The condition of 'non-compete clause' would also not be applicable to greenfield (new project) as well as brownfield projects (existing units) of this industry.
Earlier FDI up to 100 per cent was permitted, subject to certain conditions.
While FDI in new projects is under automatic route, brownfield projects are placed under the government approval route.
The policy on pharmaceutical sector covers medical devices since this area is not separately covered.
Now, the Union Cabinet has given its approval to amend the existing policy to carve out medical devices segment.
"So far both in greenfield and brownfield projects, 100 per cent FDI is allowed. Within the same category, a distinct new sub-category has been carved out with regard to medical devices," finance minister Arun Jaitley said.
ISRO touches new heights-Wins national award
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On the 24th September 2014, India created history by becoming the first country in the world to enter the Mars orbit in the very first attempt. Its Mars orbiter mission also called ‘Mangalyan’, was placed successfully in the orbit of the red planet on this day. India thus joined the elite club of the countries exploring Mars—US, Russia and Europe. It has also become the first Asian country to reach Mars planet.
While all other countries including the US and Russia, had to face initial failures, India did it in one go. The whole operation was watched keenly by the scientists across the world.
The Organization behind achieving this fete is the Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO. To its credit, besides other achievements, is also the unmanned moon mission ‘Chanderyan 1’, which was launched in 2008 for scientific exploration- to map the moon’s surface and look for precious metals. The head of the organization Dr. K.Radhakrishnan says that its second moon mission 'Chandrayaan 2', was also in the pipeline. "In this area of scientific exploration, we have of course the 'Chandrayaan 2', with the Indian lander and the Indian rover, which are to be put in place in another three years’ time,” he said. According to him “What we are now looking for is a major scientific mission and, when that can happen will depend upon the mission, could be 2018 or 2020.
No wonder then that ISRO has been chosen for this year’s Indira Gandhi prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. It has been chosen for the award for strengthening international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space.
While all other countries including the US and Russia, had to face initial failures, India did it in one go. The whole operation was watched keenly by the scientists across the world.
The Organization behind achieving this fete is the Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO. To its credit, besides other achievements, is also the unmanned moon mission ‘Chanderyan 1’, which was launched in 2008 for scientific exploration- to map the moon’s surface and look for precious metals. The head of the organization Dr. K.Radhakrishnan says that its second moon mission 'Chandrayaan 2', was also in the pipeline. "In this area of scientific exploration, we have of course the 'Chandrayaan 2', with the Indian lander and the Indian rover, which are to be put in place in another three years’ time,” he said. According to him “What we are now looking for is a major scientific mission and, when that can happen will depend upon the mission, could be 2018 or 2020.
No wonder then that ISRO has been chosen for this year’s Indira Gandhi prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development. It has been chosen for the award for strengthening international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space.
Harnessing Information Technology for Good Governance
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Globally governments have to communicate regularly with citizens. Efficient and effective communication was, is and will remain as one of the key vehicles to achieve good governance for any government.
Instruments like drums were a medium that governments used to reach out to people, that have been now replaced by internet and data. The power of internet and information technology has helped hasten the speed of communication, resulting in information reaching out to the targeted group seamlessly.
Information Technology has ensured that a policy decision taken by the government can be quickly executed and implemented at multiple locations, across the length and breadth of the country. It also ensures transparency, accountability—while assuring quick and effective responsiveness of government, to citizens’ problems and suggestions.
A SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of Information Technology’s role in improved governance, throws light on the benefits, citizen enjoy from good governance. It also indicates that India as a country has not yet fully benefitted, from the power of IT in achieving good governance. There are only islands of success.
But the success stories, howsoever modest, have demonstrated that each one of them carry a huge potential, for it to be replicated in a large scale, across state and nation—to achieve good governance.
Instruments like drums were a medium that governments used to reach out to people, that have been now replaced by internet and data. The power of internet and information technology has helped hasten the speed of communication, resulting in information reaching out to the targeted group seamlessly.
Information Technology has ensured that a policy decision taken by the government can be quickly executed and implemented at multiple locations, across the length and breadth of the country. It also ensures transparency, accountability—while assuring quick and effective responsiveness of government, to citizens’ problems and suggestions.
A SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of Information Technology’s role in improved governance, throws light on the benefits, citizen enjoy from good governance. It also indicates that India as a country has not yet fully benefitted, from the power of IT in achieving good governance. There are only islands of success.
But the success stories, howsoever modest, have demonstrated that each one of them carry a huge potential, for it to be replicated in a large scale, across state and nation—to achieve good governance.
How mosquitoes transmit malaria
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Simon Fraser University mathematician Cedric Chauve and his student, Ashok Rajaraman, used computational methods to reconstruct ancestral mosquito genomes and analyze their chromosomal evolution over the past hundred million years. Their hope is to understand how chromosomes evolved and to unravel potential adaptation mechanisms that may be related to malaria transmission.
They also hope to determine the genetic differences between these species and others that are merely bothersome and not toxic.
While only mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles genus species transmit human malaria, not all species within the genus, or even all members of each vector species, are efficient malaria carriers. "This suggests an underlying genetic/genomic plasticity that results in a variation of key traits determining transmission capacity within the genus," says Chauve. "This is a very exciting project because there is no way we could sequence the genomes of long-dead ancestral mosquitoes species, without precious data from current species that was supplied by the biological team."
The multidisciplinary team consisted of over 100 biologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, computational mathematicians and geneticists from around the world.
They also hope to determine the genetic differences between these species and others that are merely bothersome and not toxic.
While only mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles genus species transmit human malaria, not all species within the genus, or even all members of each vector species, are efficient malaria carriers. "This suggests an underlying genetic/genomic plasticity that results in a variation of key traits determining transmission capacity within the genus," says Chauve. "This is a very exciting project because there is no way we could sequence the genomes of long-dead ancestral mosquitoes species, without precious data from current species that was supplied by the biological team."
The multidisciplinary team consisted of over 100 biologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, computational mathematicians and geneticists from around the world.
CM turns Santa Claus; gifts state’s first IIM to Nagpur, operation starts next session
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Nagpur: The advantage of the state Chief Minister hailing from Nagpur has started reflecting positive signs. After some activities gearing up on Mihan front and announcement of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Nagpur, CM Devendra Fadnavis is up with another big announcement that will put the city at the top layer of academics. Bringing the joy of Christmas and New Year to the people of Nagpur, especially among the youths, the government announced an Indian Institute of Management (IIM), nation’s top academic institute, to be set up in city. Not only this, the institute will begin functioning from the next academic session.
However the IIM will be set up at sprawling campus near the airport, for time being it will function from the two rented buildings at National Institute of Technology. The rent for these two buildings will come at Rs 6 lakh a month.
Higher and technical education minister Vinod Tawde made a formal declaration in the legislative council on Wednesday while speaking on a bill to clear two private universities. According to prescribed standards for Indian Institutes of Management, Nagpur emerged as the best location in all aspects, he said.
Addressing the media later, CM Fadnavis confirmed that the institution, proposed in the Union Budget this year, was likely to begin operations from the next (2015-16) academic session. The final decision on the launch would be taken by the Union human resources ministry after the government sent its proposal.
The CM, himself from Nagpur, has been taking a special interest in the IIM project and in November finalized 293 acres of Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation land at Mouza Dahegaon in the non-SEZ area of Mihan (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur) for setting up the IIM’s permanent campus, the officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the IIM campus on January 4, along with that for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Mihan, they said.
Academicians and government officials said the announcement would add a new feather in Nagpur’s cap. “It would help the city get the status of an education hub. Nagpur is the most deserving place for the IIM,” said joint director of technical education in Nagpur Gulab Thakre.
Clearly under the CM’s instructions, Nagpur’s administrative machinery moved at lightning speed to finalize the IIM proposal and dispatched it to the principal secretary of higher and technical education department. Thakre, along with collector Abhishek Krishna, were instrumental in drafting the proposal as well as inspecting and finalizing the makeshift facility for starting the prestigious institution at VNIT within a day on November 20.
However the IIM will be set up at sprawling campus near the airport, for time being it will function from the two rented buildings at National Institute of Technology. The rent for these two buildings will come at Rs 6 lakh a month.
Higher and technical education minister Vinod Tawde made a formal declaration in the legislative council on Wednesday while speaking on a bill to clear two private universities. According to prescribed standards for Indian Institutes of Management, Nagpur emerged as the best location in all aspects, he said.
Addressing the media later, CM Fadnavis confirmed that the institution, proposed in the Union Budget this year, was likely to begin operations from the next (2015-16) academic session. The final decision on the launch would be taken by the Union human resources ministry after the government sent its proposal.
The CM, himself from Nagpur, has been taking a special interest in the IIM project and in November finalized 293 acres of Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation land at Mouza Dahegaon in the non-SEZ area of Mihan (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur) for setting up the IIM’s permanent campus, the officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the IIM campus on January 4, along with that for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Mihan, they said.
Academicians and government officials said the announcement would add a new feather in Nagpur’s cap. “It would help the city get the status of an education hub. Nagpur is the most deserving place for the IIM,” said joint director of technical education in Nagpur Gulab Thakre.
Clearly under the CM’s instructions, Nagpur’s administrative machinery moved at lightning speed to finalize the IIM proposal and dispatched it to the principal secretary of higher and technical education department. Thakre, along with collector Abhishek Krishna, were instrumental in drafting the proposal as well as inspecting and finalizing the makeshift facility for starting the prestigious institution at VNIT within a day on November 20.
Bharat Ratna Award
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Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honour, given for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, Sports and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order. The provision of Bharat Ratna was introduced in 1954.
The original specifications for the award called for a circular gold medal, 35 mm in diameter, with the sun and the Hindi legend "Bharat Ratna" above and a floral wreath below. The reverse was to carry the state emblem and motto. It was to be worn around the neck from a white ribbon. This design was altered after a year.
The first ever Indian to receive this award was the famous scientist, Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. Since then, many dignitaries, each a whiz in varied aspects of their career has received this coveted award.
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honour, given for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, Sports and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order. The provision of Bharat Ratna was introduced in 1954.
The original specifications for the award called for a circular gold medal, 35 mm in diameter, with the sun and the Hindi legend "Bharat Ratna" above and a floral wreath below. The reverse was to carry the state emblem and motto. It was to be worn around the neck from a white ribbon. This design was altered after a year.
The first ever Indian to receive this award was the famous scientist, Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. Since then, many dignitaries, each a whiz in varied aspects of their career has received this coveted award.
List of recipients
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Name Awarded Note Sachin Tendulkar 2014 Cricketer C. N. R. Rao 2014 Scientist Bhimsen Joshi 2009 Hindustani classical singer Bismillah Khan 2001 Hindustani classical shehnai player Lata Mangeshkar 2001 Playback singer Gopinath Bordoloi 1999 Posthumous, independence activist, Chief Misnister of Assam Amartya Sen 1999 Economist from Kolkata and a Noble laureate Ravi Shankar 1999 Sitar player from Calcutta Jayaprakash Narayan 1998 Posthumous, independence activist and politician Chidambaram Subramaniam 1998 Independence activist, Minister of Agriculture M. S. Subbulakshmi 1998 Carnatic classical singer Aruna Asaf Ali 1997 Posthumous, independence activist Gulzarilal Nanda 1997 Independence activist, interim Prime Minister A. P. J. Abdul Kalam 1997 Aeronautical Engineer, 11th President of India Satyajit Ray 1992 Bengali Filmmaker J. R. D. Tata 1992 Industrialist and philanthropist Abul Kalam Azad 1992 Posthumous, independence activist, first Minister of Education Morarji Desai 1991 Independence activist, fourth Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel 1991 Posthumous, independence activist, first Home Minister,Was responsible for unification of all Indian princely states. Rajiv Gandhi 1991 Posthumous, Sixth Prime Minister. Nelson Mandela 1990 Second non-citizen and non-Indian recipient, Leader of the Anti-Apartheid movement and Noble laureate B. R. Ambedkar 1990 Posthumous, Chief architect of the Indian Constitution,Crusader against Untouchability, Dalit Icon, Social Reformer, Historian, politician, economist, and scholar M. G. Ramachandran 1988 Posthumous, film actor, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan 1987 First non-citizen, independence activist Vinoba Bhave 1983 Posthumous, social reformer, independence activist Mother Teresa of Calcutta 1980 Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata and Noble laureate K. Kamaraj 1976 Posthumous, independence activist, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu State V. V. Giri 1975 Trade unionist and fourth President Indira Gandhi 1971 Third Prime Minister,The First Woman Prime Minister of India(1966-1977,1980-1984) Lal Bahadur Shastri 1966 Posthumous, independence activist, second Prime Minister Pandurang Vaman Kane 1963 Indologist and Sanskrit scholar Zakir Hussain 1963 Independence activist, Scholar, third President Rajendra Prasad 1962 Independence activist, jurist, first President Purushottam Das Tandon 1961 Independence activist, educator Bidhan Chandra Roy 1961 Physician, Chief Minister of West Bengal Dhondo Keshav Karve 1958 Educator, social reformer Govind Ballabh Pant 1957 Independence activist, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Home Minister Jawaharlal Nehru 1955 Independence activist, author, first Prime Minister Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya 1955 Civil engineer, Diwan of Mysore Bhagwan Das 1955 Independence activist, author, Founder of Kashi Vidya Peeth Radhakrishnan 1954 Philosopher, India's First Vice President (1952-1962), and India's Second President(1962-1967) C. V. Raman 1954 Physicist from Madras and a Nobel laureate C Rajagopalachari 1954 Independence activist, last and the only Indian Governor-General of India
| Name | Awarded | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 2014 | Cricketer |
| C. N. R. Rao | 2014 | Scientist |
| Bhimsen Joshi | 2009 | Hindustani classical singer |
| Bismillah Khan | 2001 | Hindustani classical shehnai player |
| Lata Mangeshkar | 2001 | Playback singer |
| Gopinath Bordoloi | 1999 | Posthumous, independence activist, Chief Misnister of Assam |
| Amartya Sen | 1999 | Economist from Kolkata and a Noble laureate |
| Ravi Shankar | 1999 | Sitar player from Calcutta |
| Jayaprakash Narayan | 1998 | Posthumous, independence activist and politician |
| Chidambaram Subramaniam | 1998 | Independence activist, Minister of Agriculture |
| M. S. Subbulakshmi | 1998 | Carnatic classical singer |
| Aruna Asaf Ali | 1997 | Posthumous, independence activist |
| Gulzarilal Nanda | 1997 | Independence activist, interim Prime Minister |
| A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | 1997 | Aeronautical Engineer, 11th President of India |
| Satyajit Ray | 1992 | Bengali Filmmaker |
| J. R. D. Tata | 1992 | Industrialist and philanthropist |
| Abul Kalam Azad | 1992 | Posthumous, independence activist, first Minister of Education |
| Morarji Desai | 1991 | Independence activist, fourth Prime Minister |
| Vallabhbhai Patel | 1991 | Posthumous, independence activist, first Home Minister,Was responsible for unification of all Indian princely states. |
| Rajiv Gandhi | 1991 | Posthumous, Sixth Prime Minister. |
| Nelson Mandela | 1990 | Second non-citizen and non-Indian recipient, Leader of the Anti-Apartheid movement and Noble laureate |
| B. R. Ambedkar | 1990 | Posthumous, Chief architect of the Indian Constitution,Crusader against Untouchability, Dalit Icon, Social Reformer, Historian, politician, economist, and scholar |
| M. G. Ramachandran | 1988 | Posthumous, film actor, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu |
| Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan | 1987 | First non-citizen, independence activist |
| Vinoba Bhave | 1983 | Posthumous, social reformer, independence activist |
| Mother Teresa of Calcutta | 1980 | Catholic nun, founder of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata and Noble laureate |
| K. Kamaraj | 1976 | Posthumous, independence activist, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu State |
| V. V. Giri | 1975 | Trade unionist and fourth President |
| Indira Gandhi | 1971 | Third Prime Minister,The First Woman Prime Minister of India(1966-1977,1980-1984) |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri | 1966 | Posthumous, independence activist, second Prime Minister |
| Pandurang Vaman Kane | 1963 | Indologist and Sanskrit scholar |
| Zakir Hussain | 1963 | Independence activist, Scholar, third President |
| Rajendra Prasad | 1962 | Independence activist, jurist, first President |
| Purushottam Das Tandon | 1961 | Independence activist, educator |
| Bidhan Chandra Roy | 1961 | Physician, Chief Minister of West Bengal |
| Dhondo Keshav Karve | 1958 | Educator, social reformer |
| Govind Ballabh Pant | 1957 | Independence activist, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Home Minister |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | 1955 | Independence activist, author, first Prime Minister |
| Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya | 1955 | Civil engineer, Diwan of Mysore |
| Bhagwan Das | 1955 | Independence activist, author, Founder of Kashi Vidya Peeth |
| Radhakrishnan | 1954 | Philosopher, India's First Vice President (1952-1962), and India's Second President(1962-1967) |
| C. V. Raman | 1954 | Physicist from Madras and a Nobel laureate |
| C Rajagopalachari | 1954 | Independence activist, last and the only Indian Governor-General of India |
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