19 MAY 2014

Ø  Congress created a history of sorts in the general elections in Seemandhra with over 150 candidates forfeiting their deposits.

Ø  Narendra Modi has begun consultations with key aides to give his Prime Minister’s Office a central role in decision-making on strategic issues, including national security, and direct oversight of critical infrastructure projects and administrative reforms. Mr. Modi’s PMO could emerge more powerful than any since Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s years in office from 1984 to 1989, the last time when the institution enjoyed unquestioned primacy. His plans, the sources said, centre on creating an architecture which would allow the PMO to fast-track decisions through Delhi’s notorious bureaucracy — further slowed down after a series of corruption scandals which have led to the prosecution of bureaucrats. Mr. Modi wishes for a framework that would allow the PMO to push directly the progress of critical infrastructure, administrative reform and capacity development.

Ø  Veteran Congress leader Nabam Tuki was sworn in as the eighth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the second consecutive term.

Ø  The Mumbai wing of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) issued a Rs.5,500-crore show cause notice to two companies of the Gautam Adani-led Adani Group, and Maharashtra Eastern Grid Power Transmission Company Ltd and its contractor PMC Projects. The notice was sent to Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd and Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd for alleged “over valuation” of capital equipment for power projects by Rs.2,000 crore. The companies have been given 30 days time to reply.

Ø  Despite adverse weather conditions earlier this year, the total foodgrain output for 2013-14 is estimated to reach a record level of 264.38 million tonnes as against 257.13 million tonnes achieved the previous year. The promising output would offset the effects of a delayed and deficient Southwest Monsoon projected for this year.

Ø  An Indian organisation, specialising in prosthetic legs, will supply artificial limbs free of cost to 1,000 physically-challenged Afghan nationals in the war-torn country. Jaipur Foot has signed an agreement with the Afghanistan government to supply 1,000 prosthetic legs to terror attack victims and polio sufferers.

Ø  The 16th Lok Sabha will have the highest number of MPs with criminal cases against them. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analysed the election affidavits filed before the Election Commission, 34 per cent of the new MPs face criminal charges. The percentage in 2009 and 2004 stood at 30 and 24 respectively. Among the major parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal leads the table with all its four MPs facing criminal charges, followed by the Shiv Sena (15 of 18 MPs) and the Nationalist Congress Party (4 of 5 MPs).