HEADLINES

• Lokpal bill may be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday; Cabinet to discuss contentious issues after PM returns from Russia; Anna says Jail Bharo from Jan 1 if the bill is not passed
• Opposition calls for Home Minister's resignation over allegations of using his position to quash an FIR against his formet client
• Tamil Nadu State Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Kerala Govt to amend the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2006 to increase the water level in the Mullaiperiyar dam to 142 ft as per the Supreme Court directive
• 148 dead in West Bengal due to consumption of spurious alcohol as other victims are still pouring in
• Afghan envoy to Qatar is recalled after Qatar says it will permit the opening of a Taliban mission there

NATIONAL NEWS

• CAG raised objections to flaws in military intelligence contract
  • The CAG raised objections to a 38 cr contract given to Indian firm, Rolta by the Indian army for image analysis equipment which is used to scan raw images gathered by satellite and unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicles;
  • The CAG says that the army is entitled to software upgrades for free under the contract, but the army has gone ahead and placed another Rs.165 cr contract with the company inspite of this.
• Indo-Israel air defence project gains momentum
  • The medium range surface-to-air missile (MRSAM), an Indo-Israeli joint weapon system development project, undertaken by the DRDO and the Israel Aerospace Industries is finally gaining momentum;
  • Billed to replace the aging and outdated Pechora SAM systems, currently being used by the IAF, the project proposes to deliver over 450 MRSAMs and 18 firing units at an approved cost of Rs.10,075 crs;
  • The MRSAM system has an intercept range of 70km for a fighter class aircraft target. The missile carries an active radar seeker, dual pulse rocket motor for effective end-game and a bi-directional data link for mid-course guidance and kill assessment. It is also equiped with a modern ground-based multi-function 3D rotating active phased array radar to provide high quality pictures and weapon support. The system can be integrated with the existing AWACS.
• Now ex-servicemen can get Group B posts in paramilitary forces
  • In a measure to open up greater avenues for ex-servicemen, the Govt has agreed to fill 10% of the Group B posts in paramilitary forces from their poolo of disciplined and talented workforce;
  • Nearly 60,000 armed forces personnnel retire or are released from active service every year and there is a provision for reservation of 10% in Group C and 20% in Group D paramilitary forces. Opening up the group B category as well would be that ex-servicemen would be able to join as sub-inspectors and above as well.
• Prasar Bharati Board may soon get financial autonomy
  • After, 5 years while Doordarshan and All India Radio struggled with equipment that was falling apart and becoming obsolete, the parent organisation, Prasar Bharati could finally get the power to approve its own purchases;
  • A proposal is being formed at the Ministry of Infomration and Broadcasting to give the official broadcaster some long-awaited financial autonomy and bestow decision making powers for about half of its Rs.5000 cr annual budget on the Prasar Bharati board;
  • While Prasar Bharati has been an autonomous body for over a decade, its board has hardly any financial powers to go with that title. The Govt had indicated that their financial powers would be that of a secretary to the Govt of India – 20cr only. Consequently when Prasar Bharati was formed in 1997 the powers of the Director Generals of Doordarshan and AIR dropped to just 1cr each;
  • Internal fighting between the previous CEO, B.S Lalli and the board had lead to delays in procuring equipment.
• Govt for collaborating with Social networking sites
  • IT minister Kapil Sibal sought the help from social netowkring sites and internet companies to propagate Govt's e-governance initiatives and make people more aware of the online environment.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• India and Russia to discuss comprehensive economic pact
  • India and Russia will add another facet to their bilaterial relationship by holding talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), an omnibus free trade agreement, during the current visit of the PM;
  • India and Russia have very close ties in defence, science & technology, nuclear and space sectors but have been trying to plug the gap of low bilateral trade for many years. The Govts say that the ultimate aim is to have a common Eurasian market.
• Former French President, Jacques Chirac was given a two year suspended sentence for misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement during the days he was Mayor of Paris
• US military operations in iraq end finally after 9 years

EDITORIALS, OPINIONS & COLUMNS

• Read this article on the parliamentary standing committee's recommendation to suspend the Aadhaar project
• Read this article on the recent growth of Chinese influence around India