National: Union Government appoints Najib Shah as Chairman of CBEC Union Government has appointed senior IRS officer Najib Shah as the chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customers (CBEC). His appointment was confirmed by Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will have tenure of 2 years i.e....
National: First Scorpene class submarine, Kalvari, set afloat in Mumbai Kalvari, the first ship of Scorpene class submarines being manufactured at Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), was set afloat in the Mumbai naval dockyard on 29th October, setting the stage for its sea trials, and eventual commissioning on schedule in Sept...
Worried over India's future, scientist P.M. Bhargava to return Padma Bhushan He expressed concern that "RSS people" had attended a meeting of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research labs recently. He was critical of the Government's decision to reduce funding for CSIR labs. Dr. Bhargava's decision to return the Padma Bhushan, country's...
Centre backs publishing CMs' photos in govt. advertisements Noting that people have the right to know about government welfare work in a participative democracy, the Centre on 27th October sought a review of the Supreme Court judgment banning the publication of photographs of political leaders and Chief Ministers in government-issued advertisements. Attorney-General...
OROP likely before Diwali The order on One Rank One Pension (OROP) for the armed forces will be issued “in a few days,” after the assembly elections in Bihar and the code of conduct comes to an end. “I am trying to have it before Diwali,” Mr. Parrikar said when asked...
SC declares NJAC unconstitutional, upholds Collegium The SC rejected the plea of Centre that the petition challenging NJAC Act be referred to a larger Bench. In a collective order, the Supreme Court has struck down on the NJAC law meant to replace the two-decade old collegium system of judges appointing judges...
Marlon James’s novel wins Man Booker prize The panel selected the third novel by James, 44, from a shortlist of six titles. Marlon James was named as the first Jamaican winner of the Man Booker prize for fiction on 13th October for his reggae- and drug-infused novel...
Modi Express’ bus launched in UK Indian community groups in the UK have launched a ‘Modi Express’ bus for a month-long tour around iconic landmarks here to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the country next month. The bus, which was launched on...
Veteran communist Khadga Prasad Oli elected Nepal PM A total of 587 members had cast their votes. Lawmakers were not allowed to stay neutral during the voting Political turbulence in Nepal appears to be far from over despite the election of veteran communist leader K.P. Sharma Oli on Sunday as the country’s...
Karnataka to announce special package for farmers today In the backdrop of crop loss and farmer's suicides in Karnataka, the State government will announce a special package to famers either in the form of crop loan waiver or interest waiver on loans at a farmer's rally, which will be attended by...
Urdu writer joins protest, to return prize After writer Nayantara Sahgal and poet Ashok Vajpeyi, Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas announced that he would be returning the Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Academy Award, which he won in 2011 for his third novel Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Aankh Micholi (Hide-and Seek in the...
After Nayantara Sahgal, poet Ashok Vajpeyi returns Sahitya Akademi award A day after writer Nayantara Sahgal returned her Sahitya Akademi award against what she described “unmaking of India, poet Ashok Vajpeyi also handed back the prestigious literary honour to the government, criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking up against...