National:
India, Singapore ink pacts on defence, cyber security
India and Singapore signed 10 bilateral agreements including a joint declaration on 'strategic partnership’ and pacts for enhanced cooperation in areas like defence, cyber security and civil aviation, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong and President of Singapore Tony Tan Keng Yam.
On the second day of his two-day visit, Mr. Modi called on the Singapore President after a ceremonial welcome was accorded to him this morning. Later, he held official talks with his Singaporean counterpart. Bilateral pacts were also signed for greater cooperation in areas like urban development and cultural exchange.
The two Prime Ministers also released commemorative stamps on Rashtrapati Bhawan and Istana (the official residence and office of the President of Singapore).
Indo-Pak border in Jaisalmer lighted with Solar power
India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan has been successfully lighted with solar power generated form first ever project of its kind undertaken in the country.
The floodlights, along with fencing and border posts managed by Border Security Force (BSF) were supplied with the solar power generated from 5 MW solar power plant installed at Tata area, Jaisalmer.
Key facts
The solar energy vapour plant was installed by the Union Home ministry at a cost of 6 crore and 45 lakh rupees in Sarkari tala area of Jaisalmer.
The pilot project was set up the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
Power generated from the plant would be sold by SECI at the rate of 5 rupees 45 paise per unit.
If this project is successful, all the international borders of the country will be powered with solar lighting and fencing by installing such solar plants.
The major advantage of final implementation of this method would save crores of rupees on power bills of the government and end the huge diesel expenses for running the generator sets.
Death:
Noted economist T.S. Papola passes away
The noted labour economist Dr. T.S. Papola passed away in Delhi on Monday. He was 74.
A founder Member, former director and currently honorary professor at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), New Delhi, Dr. Papola was also chairman, Giri Institute of Development Studies, Lucknow; founder member of the Institute for Human Development (IHD), New Delhi and Chairman of the Fourth State Finance Commission of Uttarakhand.
He was an Advisor with the Planning Commission, Government of India for eight years (1987-1995) and Chairman/Member of several State and National level bodies including the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He worked in consultative and advisory capacities with international organisations such as ILO, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNICEF and UNDP.
Dr. Papola was president, Indian Society of Labour Economics, an association of teachers, researchers and practitioners in the field of labour in India, during 1994-2008. He was also president of the Indian Economic Association, for the year 2005&ndash2006. Dr. Papola was awarded VKRV Rao Young Social Scientist Prize for outstanding contribution in Economics in 1984. He was also conferred VKRV Rao Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution to Social Science by the Indian Social Science Association and Kautilya Award by the UP-Uttarakhand Economic Association in 2007.
A well-known development economist, Dr. Papola specialised in the areas of labour and employment, development planning, industrial economics, regional development and enterprise development. He taught at the Universities of Lucknow and Bombay, Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad), and University of Cambridge, U.K.
Sports
Kagiso Rabada named newcomer of the year at SA awards
Rising cricketer Kagiso Rabada has been named the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ at South Africa’s annual Sports Awards.
Rabada, a pacer bowler, has shown his mettle in the ongoing tour of India after making his debut for the Proteas at the age of 19 last year.
His ODI debut came against Bangladesh at Mirpur where his figures of 6/16 were the world’s best ever by a debutant and the best ever for the Proteas, beating Makhaya Ntini’s 6/22 against Australia.
Rabada was also only the second player to take a hat-trick on debut.
He has since made his Test debut and has thus represented the Proteas in all three formats by the age of 20.
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