Monday, December 13, 2010

Check your Reaction Time -- Nice Game

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf

INTERESTING WEBSITES

http://www.driverguide.com    :  Provides an easy step-by-step process for finding and installing drivers. Offers a huge searchable archive of hundreds of thousands of driver/firmware files, manufacturer information, and links. Includes discussion boards that give members the opportunity to interact with others with their hardware type, and learn from their experiences (very useful!). Offers a drivers found area where members can upload new and hard to find drivers for others to download.

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page :  Project Gutenberg is the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks. There are over 25,000 free books in the Project Gutenberg Online Book Catalog. A grand total of over 100,000 titles are available at Project Gutenberg Partners, Affiliates and Resources.

http://www.howstuffworks.com : HowStuffWorks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Communications, is the award-winning source of credible, unbiased, and easy-to-understand explanations of how the world actually works. Founded by North Carolina State University Professor Marshall Brain in 1998, the site is now an online resource for millions of people of all ages.From car engines to search engines, from cell phones to stem cells, and thousands of subjects in between, HowStuffWorks has it covered

http://www.softpedia.com : Softpedia - the encyclopedia of free software downloads

http://www.boystoys.co.uk : A complete catalogue on toys

http://www.lyrics.com : The most comprehensive directory with lyrics of almost all songs.


http://www.lonelyplanet.com : The de-facto travel guide for tourists


www.4Kids.org : It is a weekly newspaper feature and Web site produced at the University of Kansas by a team of educators and students with support from Advanced Learning Technologies in Education Consortium (ALTEC).


http://www.big6.com/kids : This site offers every thing a school going child would like to know.


http://kids.discovery.com : Discovery channel's wonderful website for kids


http://familyfun.go.com : An ideal website to plan family activities.


http://www.fbi.gov/fbikids.htm : This Kids' Page is designed for children and their parents to learn more about the FBI through age-appropriate games, tips, stories and interactives. It also introduce you to our working dogs and show how FBI special agents and analysts investigate cases.


http://www.thekidzpage.com : Games, puzzles, downloads and little learning


http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org : Science News for Kids is a new Web site devoted to science news for children of ages 9 to 14


http://www.inetfilm.com : This is an independent website with lots of free movies for download


http://www.anandtech.com :  AnandTech, the leading IT source for hardware analysis and industry news


     http://www.techreport.com : Excellent articles on anything related to computers


http://www.referencer.in/WCOLinks.aspx : You can find  Links to various international org.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

"Terrorism & India's Response" - invitation to Seminar

 

Social Cause

(Registered Society No. 614 of 2003)

 

&

 

Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS)

 

Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists had attacked Indian Parliament, the very seat of democracy, on 13th December, 2001 and they came very near to success. Four JeM members were later found guilty by the Trial Court for having played various roles in this incident. Md Afzal Guru, one of the four convicts was awarded death penalty by the Trial court in Delhi on 18th December, 2002. The death sentence was upheld by the Delhi High Court on 29th October, 2003 and the Supreme Court rejected his appeal about two years later (on 4th August, 2005). In fact, the Sessions Court fixed 20th October, 2006 for his hanging in Tihar jail.  On the plea of his mercy petition pending before the President of India, his execution stands indefinitely postponed. Now do you believe that the Government is keen at all on fighting back terrorism?!

 

The families of the security personnel killed in the attack on Parliament expressed their disgust over the delay in hanging Afzal Guru. They felt so humiliated and cheated that on 13th December, 2006 (patiently waiting for 5 years from the date of attack), they chose to return the Keerthi Chakras to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, as a mark of their protest. Doesn't it show that the government's honouring of the dead heroes was only an eye-wash? Doesn't it expose the arrant insensitivity of the government to the supreme sacrifices made by our soldiers?!

 

Afzal Guru hails from Sopore in Kashmir Valley; and the government fears a backlash in the Valley in case he is hanged. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a Kashmiri separatist leader has been consistently demanding the release of Afzal Guru. Do you think that a cowardly government which allows itself to be blackmailed by the secessionists & terrorists, would do anything to weed them out?

 

With these shuddering questions lingering in many minds, Social Cause & FINS cordially invite you and your friends to a Seminar on

 

 

Terrorism & India's Response

 

 

Sri B. Raman*

Former Head of Counter Terrorism division of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW);

Addl. Secretary (Retd.), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi ;

Director, Institute for Topical Studies, Chennai.

 

Ms. Kalyani Koul**

Co-ordinator, Kashmira Vahini, Delhi

 

 

Sri C. Anjaneya Reddy

Formerly of the Indian Police Service

 

&

 

Sri M.V.R. Sastry

Editor, Andhra Bhoomi

 

will speak.

 

 

 

Maj. Gen. (Retd.) A.B. Gorthi, AVSM, VSM

Chairman, FINS, AP

 

will preside.

 

 

Date & Time:

12th December, 2010 (Sunday) at 4:00 p.m.

 

 

Venue:

Mekaster Auditorium, Institute of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering (IETE), Arts College back-side road,

Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad

 

 

All are welcome.

 

 

Dr. Somaraju Suseela                                                               

President, Social Cause                                                          

 

Col. Prof. Datla Raju

General Secretary, FINS, AP

 

---

 

* Sri B. Raman, served R&AW for 26 years under 10 chiefs and 7 prime ministers, retired as an additional secretary and worked on some of the agency's most important cases. He authored books like Kaoboys of R&AW: Down Memory Lane, A Terrorist State as a Frontline Ally, Intelligence: Past, Present & Future. A prolific writer, he contributes on subjects of topical interest having a bearing on national security and terrorism in many Indian newspapers and journals and current affairs web sites as well as to Asia Times, Hong Kong, Indian Defence Review, New Delhi (of which he is an honorary editorial consultant), and Rediff.com. All his articles appear on www.saag.org, the web site of the South Asia Analysis Group (SAAG) and on the Outlook online edition, www.outlookindia.com .

 

 

** Ms. Kalyani Koul, a senior executive of an MNC, lives in Delhi, having had some exposure in the USA. Hailing from a suffering Kashmiri Pandit family, she is the Coordinator of Kashmira Vahini, NCR-Delhi. She was born and brought up at Sopore in the Kashmir Valley (which incidentally is Md. Afzal Guru's home town) from where her family was forced to leave. She has contributed articles to dailies like Tribune and posts her creative writings on Hyderabad-based literary website www.museindia.com.

 

 

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Civil Service Awareness Programmes on 06 Dec 2010

Dear Friends..
 
Please refer to my earlier posting with reference to Civils Awareness Programme in Kavita degree college,Khammam,Karepally Govt. junior college and Karim Nagar,Navodaya Vidyalaya and this is to inform you that all the programmes went very well and we have received a very good feedback from the students and staff..in this regard ITCSA request you  to attend such programme in Nizam College,Hyderabad on 10th Dec. 2010 at 11AM..Please find links to press coverage..Thank you
 
 

Friday, December 3, 2010

Good work from ITCSA members

Dear Friends..

This is to inform you that on 15 Nov. and on 02 Dec. ITCSA has organised an interactive session with the help of our new members Tejavat Venkanna IRS(IT-2010 batch),Prem kumar RPF in Shanti nagar Govt. Junior College,Khammam and Nelakondapally Govt. Junior College, Khammam Dist. We have received a very good feedback from the college staff and It was a great success as large no. of students participated with enthusiasm and got doubts clarified. In continuation of our efforts to involve some of the 2010 batch officers,as they are having time to spare after recent mains exam , ITCSA is organizing similar programmes on this Monday(06-12-2010) in Karepalli Govt. Junior college@11 AM & Khammam (Kavitha Degree college@3 pm) with the help of Venkanna IRS(IT-2010 batch), L.Prem kumar RPF & Vinay Kumar IRS.cx and in Karim Nagar (Navodaya vidyalaya, choppadandi@2 pm) with the help of N.Prakash Reddy IPS, Shivramkrishna ICAS , Vamshikrishna Reddy IRS . We have also received a invitation from Nizam College for similar programme in next week, hence i request all of you to inform your friends to attend the programmes and mke use of toppers experience..please see below links for press coverage..thank you

http://epaper.sakshi.com/apnews/Khammam/03122010/8
http://epaper.eenadu.net/svww_index1.php

Benefits given to senior citizens by different Ministries

Statement showing the facilities benefits given to senior citizens by different Ministries / Departments

Sl. No.

Name of the Ministry/Department

Facilities/Benefits given to Senior Citizens

1

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment

  1. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal Ministry responsible for welfare of the Senior Citizens. It has announced the National Policy on Older Persons which seeks to assure older persons that their concerns are national concerns and they will not live unprotected, ignored and marginalized. The National Policy aims to strengthen their legitimate place in the society and to help older people to live the last phase of their life with purpose, dignity and peace. The National Policy on Older Persons inter alia visualizes support for financial security, health care and nutrition, shelter, emphasis upon education, training and information needs, provision of appropriate concessions, rebates and discounts etc. to Senior Citizens and special attention to protect and strengthen their legal rights such as to safeguard their life and property. The National Policy on Older Persons confers the status of senior citizen to a person who has attained the age of 60 years.

  2. The Ministry has also written to all the Ministries/State Governments concerned for adopting a uniform age of 60 years for conferring the status of senior citizen to a person and for extending facilites/concessions to them (copy at Annexure I)

  3. The Ministry is also implementing following schemes for the benefit of Senior Citizens:

  1. The Scheme of Assistance to Panchayati Raj Institutions/Voluntary Organisations/Self Help Groups for Construction of Old Age Homes/multi-service centres for older persons. Under this Scheme, one time construction grant for old age homes/multi-service centre is provided.

  2. An Integrated Programme for Older Persons has been formulated by revising the earlier scheme of "Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Programmes relating to the Welfare of the Aged". Under this Scheme, financial assistance upto 90% of the project cost is provided to NGOs for establishing and maintaining old age homes, day care centres, mobile medicare units and to provide non-institutional services to older persons.

2.

Ministry of Rural Development

  1. Under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, Central Assistance of Rs. 75/- p.m. is granted to destitute older persons above 65 years. This Scheme has been transferred to the State Plan w.e.f. 2002-03.

  2. Under the Annapurna Scheme, free food grains (wheat or rice) upto 10 kg. per month are provided to destitute older persons 65 years or above who are otherwise eligible for old age pension but are not receiving it.

3

Ministry of Finance

  1. Section 88 of Finance Act, 1992, provides income tax rebate of upto Rs. 15,000 or actual tax whichever is less to senior citizens who have attained the age of 65 years at any time during the relevant previous year.

  2. Senior Citizens are excluded from "One by Six" scheme for filing the Income Tax Return under proviso Section 139(1).

  3. For Senior Citizen, the deduction in respect of medical insurance premia is upto Rs. 15,000/- under Section 80 D.

  4. RBI has permitted higher rates of interest on saving schemes of Senior Citizens (persons having the age of 65 years and above). Accordingly, w.e.f. 15.05.01, Banks permitted 0.5 per cent higher rate of interest on fixed deposits.

  5. Separate counters are marked for Senior Citizens at the time of filing the Income Tax Returns. Senior Citizens of the age of 65 year and above as on 31st March of the assessment year, must be a pensioner and should come personally, get priority while submitting their Income Tax Returns. Besides, on the spot assessment facility is also provided.

4

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

  1. The Ministry (on request from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment) has issued instructions to all State Governments to provide for separate queues for older persons in hospitals for registration and clinical examination.

5

Ministry of Railways

  1. Indian Railways provide 30% concession in all classes and trains including Rajdhani/Shatabadi trains for both males and females aged 60 years and above.

  2. Indian Railways also have the facility of separate counters for Senior Citizens for purchase/booking/cancellation of tickets.

6

Ministry of Civil Aviation

  1. Indian Airlines/Jet Airways is providing 50 per cent discount on basic fare for all domestic flights in Economy Class to senior citizens having the age of 65years (men and women)

  2. Sahara India Airlines is providing 50 per cent discount on basic fare for all domestic flights in Economy Class to senior citizens having the age of 62years (men and women)

7

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

  1. Reservation of two seats for senior citizens in front row of the buses of the State Road Transport Undertakings (ASTRU).

8

MCD, Delhi

  1. MCD, Delhi, has opened a separate counter for senior citizens for submission of property tax 1

9

Miscellaneous

  1. Telephone connection is given on priority to senior citizens of age 65 years and above by the Ministry of Telecommunications.

  2. On the request of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India has advised Chief Justices of all High Courts in the country to accord priority to cases involving older persons and ensure their expeditious disposal.



Thursday, December 2, 2010

Census of Central Government Employees

  GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT -  DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING SURVEY & STUDY DIVSION ,JAM NAGAR HOUSE, NEW DELHI (Published on 14.06.2007) :   The present report which is thirtieth in the series, coverd central government employment as on 31 march 2004. The main purpose of the census was to provide employment details on aspects such as pay ranges of employees, sex structure, status, tenure of service, group of posts, (gazetted and non gazetted), location by states and class of cities, etc. As per the results of the Census Enquiries the total regular employment under the Central Government as on 31st March 2004 was 31.64 lakh.

EMPLOYMENT UNDER VARIOUS MINISTRIES
The distribution of regular employees in major Ministries is given in the Table
 
Sl.No.MinistryNumber of regular employees% age to the total
1.Communications & IT 2,65,2058.38
2.Denfence (Civilian)3,92,92312.42
3.Finance1,26,8244.00
4.Home Affairs6,30,84219.94
5.Railways14,41,51345.56
6.Others3,06,926 9.70
Total31,64,233100.00
WOMEN EMPLOYMENT UNDER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
Sl.No.MinistryWomen employment as on 31st March,2004
--Number% age share
1.Communications & IT 64,56824.35
2.Denfence (Civilian)57,55314.65
5. Railways84,6305.87
6.Others99,5479.68
Total 3,06,2989.68
CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES BY GROUP OF POSTS HELD
Groups of PostsAs on March,2004
- No.of employees% age of total
A74,7472.36
B1,49,839 4.74
C20,23,37463.94
D9,16,27328.96
Total31,64,233100.00
More details http://dget.nic.in/publications/ccge/ccge2004.pdf

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Violation of Human Rights


  The number of complaints received against armed forces personnel for violation of Human Rights during last three years and current year are as under:-

 

 

            Year                                                                 Complaints received

            2007                                                                            48

            2008                                                                            51

            2009                                                                            81

            2010 (Upto 15.11.2010)                                              50

                                                                                             --------

            Total                                                                          230

                                                                                             ---------

            

Investigation has been initiated into all the complaints and in 175 cases complaints were found to be devoid of merit. In 4 cases, 8 armed forces personnel found blameworthy have been awarded punishments so far.              

    

           

            This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to  Shri Bhisma Shanker @ Kushal Tiwari and others in  Lok Sabha .

 

Poll Bank Account for Election Candidates

 

Dr.M.Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice, informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the Election Commission of India has suggested/ issued new directives requiring all election candidates to henceforth open exclusive poll bank accounts and have their expenses monitored by shadow expenditure registers. The Minister said that the Election Commission of India has issued instructions for monitoring of election expenditure of candidates in on going General election to Legislative Assembly of Bihar-2010 and Bye-election to 27-Banka Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, 333-Nidhauli Kalan and 54-Lakhimpur Assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. As per the said instructions, the candidates are required to open a separate bank account for the purpose of all election expenditure and to submit the same before the Returning Officer concerned at the time of filing of nomination. The candidates are required to incur all their expenses except petty minor amounts, through cross account payee cheque from the said account. Major items of election expenditure of each candidate would be monitored through a Shadow Observation Register, maintained by the Accounting Team for each constituency, after getting feedback from Video Viewing Team, Video Surveillance Team, Media Expenditure Monitoring Team and other agencies. In case of any discrepancy in the amount, the candidates would be informed about such discrepancies at the time of inspection of their Election Expenditure Register by the Expenditure Observers. 

Age-Limit for Senior Citizens Facilities

 

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 defines 'Senior Citizen' as a person who has attained the age of 60 years or above. The Act provides for claim for maintenance allowance; geriatric and health care; shelter and protection of life and property.


The Act comes into force upon notification by individual State Governments. 22 States and all Union Territories have notified the Act so far. The Act is not applicable to the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The remaining 5 States have already been requested to notify the Act.


This information was given by Shri. D. Napoleon, the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha

NRIs can now vote, Govt issues notification

 

A longstanding wish of millions of NRIs for voting right in India has come true with the Centre issuing a notification to this effect to enable them to exercise their franchise.

 

Parliament had in the monsoon session passed the Representation of People (Amendment) Bill, 2010 to allow NRIs to vote in Indian elections and now government has issued a gazette notification in this regard.

 

"Gazette notification has been issued giving voting rights to Non-Resident Indians," Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi told Lok Sabha, replying to a question.An estimated 11 million NRIs are living in various countries across the world.

 

However, the person will be able to exercise the franchise only if he or she is present in the constituency on the polling day.

 

Ravi said NRIs, "who have not acquired citizenship of any other country and are living abroad owing to employment, education or otherwise, are now eligible to register their names in the electoral rolls" in their places as mentioned in their passport.He said the Election Commission is likely to soon finalise the rules and regulations prescribing modalities for entry of names of NRIs in electoral rolls.

 

The Government had decided to allow the NRIs to participate in the democratic process to further boost the two-way engagement.As per the existing rules, an NRI's name gets deleted from the voters' list if he or she stays outside the country for more than six months at a stretch.

 

The new law will allow an Indian citizen residing abroad to enroll in voter's list and exercise his franchise even if he or she remained away from place of residence in India for more than six months owing to employment, education or otherwise.

 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, addressing the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas earlier this year, had indicated that Indian passport holders living abroad could get voting rights by the time of next Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

Law to provide services within stipulated time in Bihar

In a bold move to weed out corruption, the Bihar govt will soon enact a law, making it mandatory for state agencies to extend services to people within a stipulated time frame, CM Nitish Kumar said.

 

"We will soon bring the Right to Service Bill so that the government and its agencies extend services to people within a stipulated time frame," Kumar told reporters in Patna on Tuesday.

 

He said the proposed legislation would come in handy in weeding out red-tape and corruption.In this regard, Kumar said people suffered a lot in obtaining income certificates, depositing bills and other services related to transport department.

 

"The new legislation will fix accountability and responsibility of officials for reaching the services required by the people," he said.

 

"It is the right of the people to avail services to be provided by the state government and its agencies and lapses on the part of officials in discharge of their obligations will amount to violation of proposed act," Kumar said.

 

Referring to his election promise that the state government would ensure confiscation of property of corrupt public servants and run schools there, he said applications were being filed by the prosecution agency in this connection.

 

Kumar said a Common Minimum Programme for governance would be evolved for the next five years after the winter session of the state legislature that will end on 9th December.

 

The Chief Minister said he would resume his popular 'Janata Ke Darbar men Mukhyamantri' programme to get a first-hand account of problems facing the common man.

 

He also pledged to implement all the promises he made during his election campaign in accordance with his party's manifesto.

Fake SC Certificates

 

Issuance and verification of caste certificates is the responsibility of concerned State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.

   

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes(NCSC) has, however, intimated that information of 106 cases regarding fake caste certificates has been received from their State Offices. State wise details are as under:-

 

 

Sr. No.

State

Number of cases

1

Assam

01

2

West Bengal

04

3

Punjab

07

4

Chandigarh

01

5

Maharashtra

03

6

Tripura

87

7

Bihar

01

8

Haryana

02

                Total

106

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NCSC has informed that in these cases either the concerned State Government/their Scrutiny Committee is conducting enquiries or the cases are pending in courts.

 

 

In regard to appointments in Central Government against the reserved vacancies extant instructions of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training provide that the appointment would be provisional and subject to verification of caste certificate. In case the claim to belong to Scheduled Caste is found false on verification, the service will be terminated and without prejudice to such further action as may be taken under provisions of the Indian Penal Code for production of false certificate.

I-T dept introduces new number for taxpayers for tax filing

 

Taxpayers will now have to procure a 'new number' for filing returns and making any communication with the Income Tax department.

 

The unique Document identification number (DIN), on the lines of numbers like PAN and TAN, will be quoted on "every" income tax-related communication, including returns to be filed next year for the financial year 2010-11.

According to the new guidelines brought out by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the DIN will be mandatory "in respect of every notice, order, letter or any correspondence" with the department, by the taxpayers.

The 'Aykar Sampark Kendras' will hand out the DIN from this month.

Assesses will not be put to any trouble, as the numbers will be generated and allotted by the department itself.

I-T officials will also be allotted the numbers in order to streamline the process, the official said, adding, the number has to be produced thereon for every activity with the department.

Taxpayers and tax collectors are currently required to quote Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Tax Deduction and Collection Account Number (TAN) among others when returns are filed with the department.

According to section 282B of the Income Tax Act that deals with DIN, if the document sent to the tax authority does not bear this unique computer-generated number then "such document, letter or any correspondence shall be treated as invalid and shall be deemed never to have been received."

DIN is aimed at bringing more transparency in tax administration as the whole exercise involves a number of documents and proformas.

Apart from regular filing of taxes, a taxpayer deals with the department for various other financial services, which DIN will help to ease. 

Fwd: {NEXUS2006} Petition praying for amendments in Section 498A of IPC


Petition praying for amendments in Section 498A of IPC

 

**********

 

The Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha, under the Chairmanship of Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Member, Rajya Sabha, is considering a petition praying for amendments in Section 498A of Indian Penal Code, 1860. The petitioner in his petition has pointed out the extensive abuse and misuse of this provision of the Penal Code. According to the petitioner, the abused population undergoes tremendous harassment and torture. As these provisions of the penal code presently go, a complaint without much authenticity or any weight of evidence is enough to arrest the husband or the in-laws or anyone else named in the complaint, irrespective of whether any crime has taken place or not. The petitioner, accordingly, has prayed for suitable modification in section 498A of Penal Code so as to check its abuse and protect the interest of innocent persons.

 

 

2. The petition is available on the Rajya Sabha's website (www.rajyasabha.nic.in) under the link:Committees → Standing Committees → Committee on Petitions → Petitions with the Committee.

 

 

3. The Committee has decided to undertake consultations with a wide cross-section of the society and invites written memoranda thereon. Those desirous of submitting memoranda to the Committee may send two copies (each in English and Hindi) thereof to Shri Rakesh Naithani, Joint Director, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi – 110 001 (Tel: 011-23035433 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              011-23035433      end_of_the_skype_highlighting(O), 23794328 (Telefax) and E-mail: rsc2pet@sansad.nic.inlatest by 30th December, 2010.

 

 

4. Comments/suggestions, etc. submitted to the Committee would form part of its record and would be treated as confidential. Any violation in this regard may attract breach of privilege of the Committee.

 

 

5. Those who are willing to appear before the Committee besides submitting written comments/suggestions may indicate so. However, the Committee's decision in this regard shall be final.