News Analysis India

Tag: Jitendra Singh

  • CBI lodged more than 2000 cases of corruption against over 3000 civil servants in 5 years

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Over two thousand cases of corruption were registered against more than three thousand civil servants in the last five years by the Central Bureau of Investigation, in pursuance of the government’s commitment to ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption and bribery practices in governance and administrative services.

    The charges against the civil servants named in the cases were generally of being directly or indirectly involved in corruption and gratifications.

    According to official information shared by the minister of state Dr. Jitendra Singh recently in the Rajya Sabha, 2,370 cases related to corruption and bribery were registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against 3,730 civil and public servants between 2017 and 2021 in the country. 632 cases were registered against 1142 civil and public servants in 2017 followed by 460 cases against 867 in 2018, 396 cases against 607 in 2019,425 cases against 565 civil servants in 2020, and 457 cases against 549 civil or public servants in 2021.

    Of the above, corruption cases or departmental inquiries are pending against only 27 senior civil servants, who are still in service, including 6 who are currently under suspension. Only 24 senior civil servants were arrested during the course of the investigation of the aforesaid corruption and bribery cases.

    According to official information, the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed charge sheets against 112 officers including 76 officers, who are still in service, during the period from January 1 in 2018 to October 2021.

  • BJP’s double-engine govt gave impetus to develop, established rule of law in UP: Jitendra Singh

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday claimed that Uttar Pradesh had an “atmosphere of riots and anarchy” which changed under the BJP’s “double-engine government” that gave impetus to the development and established the rule of law.

    He claimed the attack on Union Minister S P Singh Baghel, the BJP candidate pitted against Akhilesh Yadav in Karhal, makes evident the “desperation” of the Samajwadi Party chief who is “sensing defeat” in the Assembly polls.

    The senior BJP leader accused Akhilesh Yadav of trying to foist a ‘danga (riot) raaj’ in Uttar Pradesh, so that “criminals associated with Samajwadi Party will have a free run to loot”.

    The people of the state have seen the atmosphere of riots and anarchy in Uttar Pradesh for years. Even the law-and-order machinery and castes were used for political interests, Jitendra Singh alleged.

    Singh claimed that in previous governments, be it of the Congress or the Samajwadi Party, MPs and MLAs belonged to the same family.

    “Promotion of family interests and caste politics were the bedrocks of the Akhilesh Yadav government and that’s an irony as socialists can’t be dynasts.

    ” People have not forgotten that ‘mafia era’ and will make sure the BJP returns to power with a thumping majority, Jitendra Singh claimed.

    “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double-engine government has turned Uttar Pradesh into a dynamic state where people are happy. Those attacking us are promoting anarchy in despair of defeat,” he told reporters here.

    A value-based system has been established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath tried to implement in Uttar Pradesh, Jitendra Singh claimed.

    He also accused Akhilesh Yadav of demoralising policemen by making inappropriate remarks on policemen.

    “By doing so, he is raising the morale of the unruly elements of his party. People will not allow the goons and mafia to return,” Jitendra Singh claimed.

  • Stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine: Union Minister Jitendra Singh rushes to Katra to take stock of situation

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh has rushed to Katra in Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the situation after a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine killed at least 12 people and injured 20 others.

    Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), is Lok Sabha member from Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur constituency.

    ALSO READ: 12 dead, 20 injured in stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir

    “I’m immediately rushing to #Katra to take stock of the situation arising out of the tragedy at Mata #VaishnoDevi Shrine. I look forward to have a detailed discussion with the administration and report it back to Hon’ble PM Sh @NarendraModi,” he tweeted on Saturday.

    At least 12 people were killed and 20 others injured in a stampede at the famous shrine, triggered by a heavy rush of devotees, officials said Saturday.

    The stampede occurred near gate number three outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine atop Trikuta hills.

    ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi monitoring situation at Jammu’s Mata Vaishno Devi

    In another tweet, Singh said the prime minister is personally monitoring and keeping track of the tragic situation arising out of stampede at the shrine.

    “PM has conveyed his sympathies to bereaved families and issued instructions to provide all possible medical aid & assistance to the injured,” the minister tweeted.

  • Grassroots democracy strengthened in Jammu and Kashmir: Jitendra Singh

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said grassroots democracy has been strengthened in Jammu and Kashmir since holding of the District Development Council (DDC) elections, overdue for decades, was given top priority.

    A big change in terms of inclusive development was now evident at the ground level that reiterates the government’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ and in the principle of ‘justice for all, appeasement to none’, he said.

    Elections to 280 DDC seats, 14 in each of the 20 districts, were held in eight phases in Jammu and Kashmir from November 28 to December 19 last year.

    This was proof of the importance that the Narendra Modi government gave to strengthening the pillars of grassroots democracy in the Union Territory, Singh said at a convention on ‘Good Governance Week’ organised by the Kathua district administration.

    He said a new political culture has been set in the country that is based on “equality for all” without discrimination of any kind.

    With this new political culture, all constitutional values and principles are being followed at every level, especially in governance, the Union minister said.

    He said Prime Minister Modi took a personal interest in Shahpur Kandi Dam Project and it is only with his intervention that the work on this project resumed after 45 years.

    Asserting that India has “more than 70 per cent of the youth population of the world”, Singh said their dynamism and exuberance is required for making of the ‘New India’ in governance and civil services.

    The prime minister has emphasised that development should not be restricted to a few places.

    It should be taken to far-flung areas where the development was earlier only talked about but never done, he said.

    Singh said the Shahpur-Kandi project, north India’s first cable-stayed bridge Atal Setu, Jammu and Kashmir’s first interstate bridge at Keerian-Gandyal, the new national highway from Lakhanpur-Bani-Basohli-Doda via Chattargala Tunnel, centrally funded Government Medical College, engineering colleges among others have placed Kathua as one of the most enviable districts of India.

    On the occasion, he also virtually laid the foundation of a 100-bed girls hostel under RMSA to be built at Government High School, Basoli, development projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, long vented causeways at Stoora and Badala and span type steel bridges at Mashka and Ghatti.

    He also distributed cheques to the beneficiaries under the Ladli Beti Scheme and State Marriage Assistance Scheme.

  • Two unmanned missions to be launched before flying Gaganyaan by end of 2022: Minister

    Singh, the Minister of State in the Department of Space, said space projects have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Rajasthan Cabinet expansion: Now Gehlot gets six MLAs as advisers, Mayawati calls it ‘deception’

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Six MLAs, including three independents, have been appointed advisers to CM Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan, hours after 15 ministers took oath in a cabinet expansion.

    The Congress MLAs who have been appointed advisers are Jitendra Singh, Rajkumar Sharma and Danish Abrar.

    Independent legislators Babu Lal Nagar, Sanyam Lodha and Ramkesh Meena have also been appointed advisers to Gehlot, according to a list released by the Chief Minister’s Office.

    Fifteen ministers took the oath in Rajasthan on Sunday in a cabinet expansion that included 12 new faces, fulfilling a key demand of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot whose rebellion last year shook the state’s Congress government.

    Gehlot had earlier in the day said those who did not make it to the council of ministers will be adjusted in other political appointments.

    Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Friday described the cabinet expansion of the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan as a “deception” by the Congress to arrest the “declining support of the people”.

    Fifteen ministers, including 12 new faces, took oath on Sunday in Jaipur, fulfilling a key demand of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot whose rebellion last year shook the state’s Congress government.

    The list included three ministers of state, all Dalits, from the old team who were elevated to the cabinet rank.

    The Congress also made room for an MLA who had switched over from the Bahujan Samaj Party.

    “To arrest the declining support of the people, the Congress made a Dalit chief minister of Punjab and in Rajasthan, some Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe members have been made ministers. This is similar to the expansion of the Union council of ministers by the BJP to project themselves as well-wishers. This is just depection,” Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi.

    In another tweet, she said, “The Congress has neglected Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. Far from giving him respect and honouring him with the Bharat Ratna, these casteist parties have always neglected and despised him. Then how can these parties be true well-wishers of SCs, STs and OBCs?”

    Chief Minister Gehlot told reporters after the oath-taking ceremony that representation has been given to all, be it scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, backward classes or minorities.

    He said that portfolios will be allotted while keeping in mind preparations for the assembly elections in 2023.

  • Union Minister Jitendra Singh urges for collaborative efforts

    By Express News Service

    BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh urged researchers and academic institutions to adopt a proactive approach for more collaborative efforts. Presiding over the annual general body meeting of the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS) Society at New Delhi on Friday, Singh advised ILS to promote 75 start-ups in commemoration of 75 years of Independence with an aim to create skilled human resources and develop innovative products as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    “The institute should increase its skill development promotion programmes by providing training to unemployed and science teachers in order to substantiate the schemes such as doubling the farmers’ income, Poshan Abhiyan, Skill India and Startup,” he said. The Minister reviewed current status of Covid research, development of vaccines and other protocols as well as contribution made biotechnology institutions.

    Attending the event virtually, State Science and Technology Minister Ashok Chandra Panda proposed the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Marine Bio-technology in view of the vast coast line. He said a comprehensive proposal on establishment of the centre for Eastern Ghat has been submitted to the department of Bio-technology. “The proposal aims at bio-prospecting for novel compounds and drug candidates, generating genomic resources and contributing to the ecological restoration and enhanced livelihood of the coastal communities,” he said.

  • Lateral entry into government jobs taking place since 1960s: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said lateral entry into government jobs has been taking place since 1960s and its twin objectives are bringing in fresh talent as well as augmenting the availability of manpower.

    The ‘lateral entry’ mode is referred to the appointment of private sector specialists in the government.

    Singh, the minister of state for personnel, said that the lateral entry recruitments by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) are being done through a proper selection process by the Union Public Service Commission.

    Commenting on the recent recommendation for lateral recruitment of 31 candidates to the posts of joint secretaries and directors in Government of India, he said lateral recruitments have been taking place since 1960s and the most notable lateral entry appointments was that of Dr Manmohan Singh as chief economic advisor in 1972 and as secretary in the Ministry of Finance in 1976 when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister.

    Some of the other important lateral entry appointments made during the earlier regimes include that of Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia as economic advisor in 1979 and later as special secretary to prime minister and commerce secretary in 1990, Singh said.

    The credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that in order to institutionalise the selection process and also to make it more objective, it was decided that the entire lateral entry recruitment process will be conducted by the UPSC, he said.

    The minister said that pre-appointment formalities have also been incorporated which include police verification and IB clearance among others while recommending the candidates recently.

    Singh said such appointments meet the twin objectives of bringing in fresh talent as well as augmenting the availability of manpower.

    He said this also helps to select individuals with expertise and specialist domain knowledge for a particular assignment, especially when the government has introduced a number of path-breaking schemes in every sector which require specialised skills for implementation and governance.

  • Cong govts underplayed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s contribution, legacy, says Jitendra Singh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh Friday accused past Congress governments of underplaying Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s contribution and legacy for political and dynastic considerations.

    He was speaking after inaugurating a digital exhibition on the life and contribution of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the North Block here.

    The minister said the event was an occasion to seek to restore the deserved glory of unsung heroes and undo the injustice done to them by history for whatever reason.

    Singh said the nation owes it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reviving and reminding people of the contribution of unsung heroes and freedom fighters including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Baba Saheb Ambedakar, Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Sardar Patel.

    He said their sacrifices and achievements were always “downplayed” by successive Congress governments for political and dynastic considerations.

    He also mentioned the call given by Modi from the ramparts of red fort on Independence Day when he had reminded people of the significance of the 75th year of independence, describing it as “Amrit Mahotsav”, and also advised them to prepare the roadmap for the next 25 years when Independent India turns 100.

    Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, said the next 25 years of journey of ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’ will definitely establish India as a Vishwaguru and, therefore, there is need for the young generation to take a pledge to rededicate themselves in the service of the nation, an official statement said.

    The minister reiterated that the celebrations which will continue till 15 August, 2023 will have five pillars — freedom struggle, ideas at 75, achievements at 75, actions at 75 and resolves at 75.

    The minister informed that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will organise exhibitions on different themes every year, it said.

    Secretary, DoPT P K Tripathy, Additional Secretary Rashmi Chowdhary and senior officials took part in the exhibition.

  • India-US revamping strategic partnership to focus on clean, green energy: Minister Jitendra Singh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said India and the US are revamping their strategic partnership to focus on clean energy sectors such as biofuels and hydrogen.

    During a meeting with a high-level US delegation led by Deputy Secretary of Energy David M Turk, he also said that India’s commitment to promote its atomic and nuclear programme is not only for providing a major source of clean energy but also a major tool of application in areas like healthcare and agriculture.

    “In the next 10 years, India will produce more than three times nuclear power and it is expected to reach 22,480 MW by the year 2031, from the current 6,780 MW, as more nuclear power plants are planned in the future,” Singh, who is minister for science and technology, and atomic energy, said.

    Calling for greater Indo-US cooperation in the field of clean and green energy, Singh said, “India and the United States are revamping their strategic partnership to focus on clean energy sectors such as biofuels and hydrogen.”

    Deputy Secretary of Energy Turk, who called on the Union minister here, promised deeper engagement with India in the green hydrogen sector as recently announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech.

    He said that it is also imperative for climate change and mitigation related issues.

    The two countries have also signed up for the transformation of the US-India gas task force.

    This will entail emphasis on the intersectionality between bio-energy, hydrogen and renewable fuels with natural gas.

    Noting that gamma irradiation technology for food preservation has already been shared with private players, Singh highlighted that at present, 26 gamma radiation processing plants are operational in the country in private, semi-government and government sectors for irradiation of various products.

    Singh also underlined the proposal for establishing a research reactor on the public-private partnership mode for production of medical isotopes to provide affordable treatment for cancer and other diseases.

    Deputy Secretary Turk assured Singh that the US will deepen its collaboration with India in nuclear energy as there is a lot of complementarity there.

    On clean and green energy, Singh said with the rapid introduction of biofuels, renewable energy and green hydrogen, India is well poised to play an important role towards carbon neutrality.

    He informed that the government is already encouraging adaptation of hydrogen fuels and technology for the mobility sector and many industries like steel, cement, and glass manufacturing have already started using hydrogen for heating requirements.

    Referring to all-encompassing cooperation in science and technology and academia exchange programmes, Singh said India has proposed to launch a Mission Integrated Bio Refineries where the US is actively supporting the initiative.

    Few areas of potential research and development for collaboration in advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals and materials have been identified.

    On coronavirus pandemic front, the US-India science and technology endowment fund awarded 11 bilateral teams under the category of COVID- 19 Ignition Grants.

    They are working on solutions that include novel early diagnostic tests, anti-viral therapy, drug re-purposing, ventilator research, disinfection machines, and sensor-based symptom tracking.

    Dwelling on the bilateral artificial intelligence initiative, Singh said a curtain raiser of IUSSTF’s US India Artificial Intelligence Initiative (USI-AI) was held on March 17.

    The objective of this initiative is to provide a unique opportunity to both the countries to strengthen their strategic partnership by focusing on AI cooperation in critical areas at the interface of science, technology and society, he said.