NEW DELHI : Year 2015 dawned with a new hopefor the world’s largest democracy as Mangalyaan clocked 100 days in the Martian orbit, commercial production at nuclear power plant of Kudakulam commenced, LPG cylinders subsidy in consumers bank accounts were deposited and collegium system of appointing judiciary ended.
Opening the year, the historic ‘Yojana Ayog’ was rechristened as ‘NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).
The year’s slate is full of plans to give a major thrust to many hi-tech programmes including free and fast internet, satellites, new trains etc.
Two-day ‘Gyan Sangam’ to discuss threadbare banking sector reforms got underway in Pune today with the bank chiefs interactions with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The annual ‘Vibrant Gujarat’meet, slated from January 11-13 too will be attended by Mr Modi . India’s first astronomy satellite ASTROSAT is all set to be launched by ISRO which had sent Mars Mission for the red planet on September 24,2014.
Indian regional satellite system (IRNSS) will be completed as ISRO plans to launch four more such satellites as three are already in place.
It will give India its own version of GPS with a coverage of 2,000 kms around the country mass. Many other plans like India launching its 3,100 kgs GSAT-15 from French Guiana are also active. The National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) that seeks to scrap the collegium system of appointing judges to higher judiciary, has received the approval of President Pranab Mukherjee.
The NJAC Bill facilitates the setting up of National Judicial Appointments Commission, replacing the 20-year-old collegium.
The nation gears up for another major event on January 26 when US President Barack Obama comes as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade which showcases the country’s military might and cultural and ethnic diversity. Security drills are underway as annual rehearsals by armed forces, para military forces and cultural troupes take place.
February will witness the first full-fledged budget by the Team Modi which was voted to power in May last year. As a large number of people’s oriented plans are linked with banks, the Government plans to ensure Aadhar cards for all by June this year.
Mr Modi has already set the developmental agenda for the good governance.
Several Ministries at the Centre and BJP-led state governments have announced that their 2015 calendar is full of plans and schemes to be implemented with full vigour. As the first month of the year passes, Team India will land up in New Zealand and Australia for the cricket world cup. Its first match is with arch rival Pakistan on February 17 at Adelaide Oval. The Final will be played on March 29 at Melbourne. In between two failures, ISRO saw India’s Mangalyaan- its ambitious Mars Mission- successfully entering the orbit of the red planet on September 24 (MOM). It has completed 100 days on January 1,this year.
The Railway Ministry, under Suresh Prabhu,aims to go hi-tech during the year with plans to run many trains at 160 kms per hour,internet facilities, TV screens on chairs of a select few Shatabadi trains.
The Railways are all set to open Arunachal Pradesh rail link this month to give a major boost to the North-Eastern starts development.
Likewise Silchar-Lumding link is likely to be operationalised by March 31.
The White paper on Indian Railways is also likely to be released this year.
Many ambitious projects like 100 Smart cities, solar cities, clean toilets are all set to be launched in a big way as many ministries and state governments, PSUs and NGOS are at work . The corporate houses are diverting the CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds towards the Swachch Bharat Mission, According to official sources, the government is also closely following the Adarsh Gram Yojana under which MPs are adopting villages in their areas for versatile development utilising MPLADS funds. The year 2015 is set to be an acid test year of the programme.Top leaders, cutting across political lines, have adopted villages and the work at many places has already started.
The PM’s constituency, Varanasi, is waiting with bated breath for the developmental work in the city, located on the banks of the River Ganga, which is top on the government’s agenda to make it pollution free.
The three ministries-Surface transport, Aviation and Railways- are working on strategies to ensure maximum safety for commuters taking lessons from Union minister Gopinath Munde’s death in a car accident, Malaysian air tragedies and past years rail accidents.
Seat belt in cars is to be mandatory by mid of October this year.
With installation of new regime in the flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir in the new year, reconstruction activities of the damaged properties is all set to start.
Likewise, Jharkhand state where Governments changed at the drop of a hat, is hoping that the Raghubar Das Government would herald a new era of administration in the new year. Neighbouring state of Bihar, which was sliced to pave way for Jhrakhand, gears up for the Assembly polls due this year. Currently Ram Ratan Manjhi is holding reins there as leader of the Janata Dal (U) of Nitish Kumar-Sharad Yadav Duo. Speculations are rife that RJD-JD(U) will merge this year. The Janata Parivar leaders are now waging battle of survival after their parties dismal show in last general elections and follow up assembly polls, hope that they would be able to revive erstwhile Janata Dal with Left parties and other non-NDA parties support.
While the new year is set to witness political pacts among various non-NDA parties, marriage alliance between families of two heavyweights Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad is also on the cards. The bethrotal between daughter of Lalu Prasad and nephew of Mulayam Singh Yadav Is set to be solemnised this year. The national capital will witness battle of ballots in a couple of months with Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP bracing up to give a tough fight to BJP.
In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee is redrafting her political strategy after Saradha scam which led to arrests of some Trinamool MPs and members of her West Bengal Government. People are watching closely fate of some high profile prisoners like Subrata Roy,now lodged in the high security Tihar jail, repeated furloughs of cine actor Sanjay Dutt from Yervada Jail Pune, Asaram Bapu and Baba Rampal. Sword of Damocles is hanging atop Saccha Dera Baba,accused of castration of his disciples,amid his mega shows. Microsoft is all set to play a big role in Digital India mission and launching of high Tech Wi-Fi and cheap and free internet connections. Mobile operators are gearing up for the 4G and mobile phones with fixtures like cameras having more than 13 mega-pixel frames for neat selfies.
(AGENCIES)
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