Aimed at ensuring basic rights and better conditions for about 3 crore people in the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=unorganized+sector">unorganized sector</a>, the government might come up with a proposal to make it incumbent on households to hire domestic workers through a placement agency. 
 
The new rule might include paid leave and other benefits for those people. If new rules got implemented, the violators could find themselves in a lot of trouble, reported the Economic Times. 
 
Other key elements of the proposal include proper accommodation. 
 
Moreover, if anyone would be hired outside the placement system, he or she would be treated as bonded labour and employers would be penalised accordingly. 
 
The <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ministry+of+Labour+">Ministry of Labour</a> would soon move a Cabinet note on a national policy for domestic workers. This idea was first mooted by the <keyword id="83449" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="United-Progressive-Alliance">United Progressive Alliance</keyword> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=UPA">UPA</a>) government in 2007. 
 
A senior official told the financial daily that the rules if implemented will make the employer liable to pay for the worker's social security apart from one month of paid annual leave, two months of paid <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=maternity+leave+">maternity leave</a> and a weekly off. 
 
"For the first time, we would have a rights-based policy for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=domestic+workers+">domestic workers</a> in the country. It will be a game changer and would help in formalisation of the country's growing workforce," said the official. 
 
As per the proposal, employees and employers will have to sign a contract that lists standard practices which both sides will have to abide by. "The placement agencies involved will be the third party to the agreement besides two representatives from trade unions to ensure that the employee is not denied of his or her basic rights," he said. 
 The draft agreement, which is being finalised and could be taken up for stakeholder consultation in two weeks, has proposed that the employer will have to mandatorily contribute to the <keyword id="686752" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Employee-State-Insurance-Corporation">Employee State Insurance Corporation</keyword> and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Employee+Provident+Fund+Organisation+">Employee Provident Fund Organisation</a> (<keyword id="6372438" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="EPFO">EPFO</keyword>) to ensure medical and life coverage to the employee. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Placement agencies will help hire domestic help soon

India’s federal auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), gave the Modi government a comfortable headline — the final cost of Rafale jets as negotiated by the incumbent government was cheaper than the deal struck by the previous Congress government. While the report deftly evaded the questions of alleged corruption, it has certainly exposed a set of serious problems in the way India buys its arms and ammunition, no matter which political party is in power. The issues highlighted by Rajiv Mehrishi, the CAG, not only indicate the room for and possibilities of corruption and kickbacks, it may also compel people to question if the country’s unsuspecting forces are wielding substandard equipment. Here are some of the shocking truths: 1. Requirements are changed to include or exclude specific vendors The rules mandate that the Indian Air Force must clearly state its needs in verifiable and measurable terms before inviting bids from suppliers. People do that even before buying phones-- have a clear picture of what features they need and a price range-- before going to a shop or a website to buy a phone. Here, we are speaking about defence equipment. But, the CAG report noted, the requirements of the Air Force are changed several times. The Air Force diluted its needs in the purchase of Attack Helicopter and the <keyword id="134615" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Doppler-Weather-Radar">Doppler Weather Radar</keyword> as no vendor could meet its requirement. What is worse? The audit noted that in case of acquisition of Apache Attack Helicopters and Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters, “the Air Staff Qualitiative Requirements (ASQR) were aligned to products of a particular vendor.” 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Chinook Heavy Lift" msid="67982017" hostid="261"></div>













 India approved the purchase of Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters and Apache Attack Helicopters from Boeing in 2015 for $2.5 billion under the Modi government. Boeing’s Chinook was up against Russian MI-26, which offered nearly double the capacity to transport weapons, supplies and soldiers. Suppose, forces have to be transported to a conflict zone, Chinook would take twice as many trips as the MI-26 would have. But the Air Force reduced its requirement which allowed for Boeing's bid to be accepted. Essentially, the needs of the Air Force were tweaked to match Boeing’s offering. 2. The decision to pick a certain aircraft, weapon or a vendor over another is often ad hoc In an ideal situation, the government would have a benchmark price set for a particular purchase, and the bids can be evaluated in relation to the benchmark. However, in many cases, the government changed the benchmark prices after opening the bids and ended up favouring one vendor over the others. In some cases like the procurement of Doppler Weather Radars and Apache Attack Helicopters, technical bids were rejected when the vendors failed to meet the parameters. But in other cases that included MMRCA, Heavy Lift Helicopters and C130 J30 aircraft, bids were technically qualified even when they did not meet critical ASQRs based on the assurance given by the respective vendors. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Apache Attack Helicopter" msid="67982126" hostid="261"></div>













 3. A vendor is allowed to make changes even after placing a bid In the case of the Basic Trainer Aircraft supplied by Pilatus, the Swiss company was allowed to change its offer after the bids were received from all potential vendors. The two other vendors had offered a better price by including certain hardware within their bid that Pilatus hadn’t. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Basic Trainer Pilatus" msid="67982127" hostid="261"></div>













 However, instead of accepting one of the other bids, the government decided to seek a clarification from Pilatus and allowed it to make its bid competitive again. The contract was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security, under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress, in May 2012. 4. Vendors can get away giving assurances What’s more unfair than allowing vendors to change bids after submission? At times when the vendor does not meet the requirements still, the government has taken the supplier’s word for future improvements, while either undermining the needs of the forces, or putting lives at risk. Both MI-26 and Chinook were cleared based on the presentation/assurance of the vendor to rectify the ASQR non-compliance before delivery. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="MI26" msid="67982128" hostid="261"></div>













 The government does not even maintain proper records of the field trials of the equipments that were considered, making future reviews of such decisions difficult. 5. India could have bought weapons for cheaper prices but... Indians buying cars, or even two wheelers, are notorious for being penny wise. They not only consider the mileage but also the cost of maintenance before making their choice. Similarly, for defence equipment, mid-life upgrades for sustainment of the capabilities, if not for enhancement, should ideally be considered. However, the Indian government is a lot more lax, or selective in enforcing prudence. Out of eight cases, the government did not consider the costs that may be incurred during the life of the product purchased. For example, in 2017, the government decided that it <a href="https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2017/07/20/swiss-firm-not-extending-maintenance-deal-for-indias-pc-7-trainers/">cannot</a> continue using Pilatus’ trainer aircraft because the maintenance cost was raised too high. If this had been considered at the time of purchase, some other vendor may beat the Swiss manufacturer. 6. Endless delays The delay in decisions, signing of the contracts,and eventual procurement by the Indian government can be termed ‘proverbial’. “Against three years envisaged in Defence Procurement Process, four cases took more than three years and seven cases took more than five years to reach the contract conclusion stage. Delays in acquisition was essentially due to a complex and multi-level approval process, where objections could be raised at any stage,” the CAG report said. And delays cost money. 
 
 
 
 
 
 <div type="image" title="Doppler Weather Radar" msid="67982119" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The contract for Doppler Weather Radar was signed in 2012 and the actual delivery was in 2016.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>













 7. Unforced errors leading to higher cost India’s bureaucracy has also acted lazy at times. For instance, for all procurements from Russia or CIS countries, India allows for a 5% annual increase in cost, and for European suppliers the cost is allowed to increase by 3.5% every year of delay. The actual increase, going by market rates, would have been less than half. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cag-rajiv-mehrishi-who-tabled-rafale-deal-audit-report-in-parliament/articleshow/67975553.cms">The man who audited the Rafale deal is now the subject of the controversy</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cag-report-on-rafale-deal-tabled-in-parliament-says-jets-cheaper-under-modi-government-than-upa/articleshow/67970948.cms">CAG report on Rafale deal is a blessing for Modi government</a>

Seven shocking truths about how India buys arms

Within seven months of taking office as the <keyword id="130" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Governor">Governor</keyword> of Kerala, <keyword id="5267" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sheila-Dikshit">Sheila Dikshit</keyword> has put in her papers. She resigned a day after meeting Home Minister <keyword id="6355121" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> and President <keyword id="6359124" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Pranab-Mukherjee">Pranab Mukherjee</keyword> in Delhi. 
 
Her resignation comes after a long-drawn resistance against the Centre’s move to replace the governors appointed during UPA regime. 
 
As per reports, Dikshit will now be back to Delhi to prepare for the prospective Assembly elections in the state. 
 
An FIR is already lodged against the former Delhi chief minister in a streetlight scheme scam that took place prior to the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The FIR was lodged under the Prevention of Corruption Act. 
 
The complaint alleges Dikshit and her ex-Cabinet colleague Rajkumar Chauhan made “illegal gains” for themselves and caused a loss of Rs 31.07 crore to the exchequer. 
 
The complaint accuses her of “displaying an unusual interest in the project and favouring a company which was earlier declared ineligible for the project.” 
 
“…It appears that there was clear collusion with vendors by some officials and the then chief minister/ministers to cause a huge financial loss to the government and wrongful gain to the vendors/contractors and others,” the complaint said. The police would now be free to take action against her as she has lost the immunity that she enjoyed as the Governor.

Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit Resigns, May Face Action In CWG Scam

NEW DELHI: As <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> hunts for an antidote to the 'Modi effect', <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>'s "absent" leadership is being seen as a key factor prompting voters to eye the Gujarat chief minister with favour. Five years after his policies were credited for powering Congress's return to office, party strategists feel <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> could be benefitting in comparison to Singh's "ineffective" leader image. 
 The PM's reluctance to check allies and ministers has made Modi come across as a decisive leader, said sources involved in framing campaign strategy for Congress <keyword id="11696" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Vice-President">vice president</keyword> <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>. 
 
Rahul's backroom feels Singh's image as a leader who is not decisive and who has been unable to prevent mega scams like telecom and coal allocations is a big stumbling block for the party's 2014 campaign. 
 
Though blaming Singh for Congress's weak campaign might seem unfair given the Gandhi family's say in government and party matters, the PM's 'retiring ways' — once seen as a mark of humility – are appearing a liability. 
 In 2009, the <keyword id="106651" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh-government">Manmohan Singh government</keyword>'s rural employment guarantee scheme, farm debt waiver and a strong economic stimulus to counter the 2008 global slow down had helped counter negatives like the 26/11 attacks. 
 Then the prime ministerial contest between Singh and <keyword id="6356617" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="bjp-leader">BJP leader</keyword> L K Advani was settled decisively in the incumbent's favour as the saffron stalwart was unable to dent the PM's appeal in the middle classes. 
 
 
 This time, the story is different, admit sources, who say UPA-II looks worn out and its leadership jaded. Ceaseless fire-fighting to contain the political fallout of scams, a slowing <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> and a PM under siege helped Modi's projection as a leader willing to grapple with problems and take swift decisions. 
 
Singh has vigorously rebutted the "weak PM" charge in the past, saying he did not equate strength with Modi's record of presiding over rioting and deaths, a sharp reference to the Gujarat 2002 riots. 
 
The PMO has also pushed initiatives like the cabinet committee on investment and a project monitoring group to counter the impression that a policy paralysis had made investors cool to India. 
 
The problem, feel sources, lies in the push coming too late to correct the impression that Singh was captaining a ship that was increasingly unresponsive to his commands as the government's authority took a beating. 
 
While Singh has had to overcome resistance in the Congress to accelerating reforms, the larger problem has been his reluctance to influence political management and a failure to discipline errant colleagues.

Team Rahul Believes 'Absent' PM Has Dented Congress Chances

<keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> is back! Congress party is thanking its stars that it will not sound clueless any more about the whereabouts of its heir apparent. If my understanding is right, the BJP will perhaps have even more questions for the Gandhi scion than ever before. 
 
The country, most certainly the Congress party, has been waiting for the last 57 days to find out more about the man who has refused to face questions on several issues. His critics argue, often with a valid reason, that he does not have answers to several important questions. 
 
In the past, Rahul has announced his displeasure at the UPA cabinet clearing an ordinance on convicted members of Parliament. It is “complete nonsense” he had said, adding that it should be “torn and thrown away”. He had raised several questions when he made a surprise appearance at that press conference in September 2013. 
 
History seems to suggest that Rahul is good at asking questions. 
 
Here are some of the questions that Rahul may perhaps never ask. 
 
1. I have been away for 57 days on a leave of absence. Only a select few people in the party knew where I had gone for introspection. Did you miss me? 
 
2. Would you want to know what all I have been thinking about over the last eight weeks? 
 
3. Have Kamal Nath and Digivijay, yet again, suggested that I should be elevated as the President of the Congress party? Why, then, are Amrinder Singh and Sheila Dixit, suggesting that there should be no change at the top in the party? 
 
4. We have had the same person lead the party for 17 years. Do you think the time is ripe for a change at the top now? 
 
5. The government has sought to amend the Land Acquisition bill and wants it to be passed by the Parliament. Were my specific views sought on the subject, either in the party or in the Parliament? 
 
6. Congress President Sonia Gandhi led a walk to Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the Land Bill. 14 parties presented a memorandum to the President against the Bill. Would my presence have added to the voice of the 43 other fellow Congressmen in Parliament and other political parties? 
 
7. Farmer suicides are now spreading to Uttar Pradesh and it seems the government has not moved much beyond announcing a hike in compensation to the affected farmers. Have I missed out in raising the issue as its impact is now being felt in north India too? 
 
8. I believe that a large number of Valmikis in Uttar Pradesh have converted to Islam to save their homes. Did the Congress party come out in support of them and raise the issue at the state and national level? 
 
9. I believe that some people in the government were trying to snoop on me. Really? Psst… I always knew the impact my presence, or absence, can have on the government! 
 
10. Since I have had an eight-week leave, I feel I am now ready to fight for the Congress party. Would you all want to take leave so that you are charged up too? 
 
Most of us should not be surprised that Rahul will not ask these, and other similar, questions. 
 
A good leader is one who does not ask questions. He is the one who has the answers. 
 
(About the author: This article has been written by Ashutosh Sinha, who is a Delhi-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter @ashutoshsinha00) 
 
(Image credits: www.<a href="http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&amp;source=images&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=0CAcQjB0&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fviwallpaper.com%2Fimages%2Fhd-wallpapers-rahul-gandhi-1557-x-2200-403-kb-jpeg.html&amp;ei=R54vVeXhI8fUuQTBmIGQBA&amp;psig=AFQjCNHxg-SHOmD90GXnk2ULlgJw3Qwnpg&amp;ust=1429270471657960">viwallpaper.com</a>)

10 questions Rahul Gandhi will not ask after
his return

Even as India tries to adjust its head around the new, appearing-to-be-more-aware <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, he has gone ahead and fired a fresh salvo at the ruling BJP government. After having championed the cause of farmer’s and having made his anger against the current land bill evident, he is now out to ‘save the internet’ and champion the cause of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword>. 
 Speaking in the Parliament, during 'Question Hour', Rahul attacked the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> led BJP Government saying, "This government wants to sell-out the internet to the rich industrialists of this country. I am asking the government not to carve out the internet and hand it over to the industrialists.' He further said, "I want the government to immediately stop the <keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="TRAI">TRAI</keyword> consultation and write a clear law on net neutrality.' 
 Earlier in the day, he had moved an a notice of adjournment in the Parliament seeking discussion on the issue of net neutrality. The Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan allowed Gandhi to raise his concern, which was followed by a quick, but sharp rebuttal by Telecom and Information Broadcast Minister, <keyword id="6354886" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ravi-Shankar-Prasad">Ravi Shankar Prasad</keyword>. 
 Prasad said, "When <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> Narendra Modi speaks about Digital India, he wants that every citizen of this country gets access to the internet. The government not only wants e-governance, but wants to give access to mobile governance to all its citizens." He further added, " TRAI is holding a consultation within its jurisdiction, but the final say in the matter lies with the <keyword id="6493697" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Ministry">telecom ministry</keyword> and eventually the cabinet." 
 The telecom minister also made a scathing remark at the previous UPA2 regime, referring to August 2012, when the then telecom ministry under <keyword id="30182" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Kapil-Sibal">Kapil Sibal</keyword> had ordered internet service providers to block 16 Twitter accounts, including those of right-wing entities and leaders such as Sangh Parivar, Panchjanya magazine, and Pravin Togadia's blogposts, as wlee as hundreds of web-pages featuring user-generated content on websites such as <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword> and Youtube. Prasad said, "when we are discussing this matter, why don't we ask Rahul Gandhi, the able politician that he is, about the Twitter handles that were blocked in August 2012." 
 
Post his 56-day vacation, this is the second time that Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Modi Government, providing a sense to the country that he might just have returned with an improved sense of issues to target, even touching all the correct ‘raw nerves’ of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. 
 A month ago, Airtel’s Zero Plan and the TRAI’s consultation paper on over the top website usage created a huge furor amongst the youth in the country. The debate on net neutrality in India has reached such proportions that even Facebook Founder and CEO <keyword id="475824" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mark-Zuckerburg">Mark Zuckerburg</keyword> had to face the IRE OF India’s youth, resulting in many top internet companies leaving the internet.org platform. 
 Since then, TRAI has set up a consultation committee to discuss and debate the matter and arrive at a policy recommendation to the Telecom Ministry. Prasad, had earlier in the day said that the government has always been pro net neutrality and that a committee had already been set-up in January 2015 seeking opinion on the matter, the report on which will be submitted to DoT by the second week of May 2015. He further said that even this matter floated by TRAI will be first discussed by the department of telecom followed by the <keyword id="158388" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Commission">Telecom Commission</keyword> and then a consolidated view will be taken. 
 
Going by the current momentum of things, this session of the Parliament is clearly all about showcasing the fact that Rahul Gandhi is ‘back for good’ and the new rejuvenated Gandhi scion will be making it rather tough for the BJP. But, above all the noise, there is only one factor that will determine how successful Rahul Gandhi really is, and that is his consistency in picking up the correct issues and the aggressive, well-researched manner he goes about charging at the BJP.

This is Rahul 'crusader' Gandhi's bid to 'save the internet'

Even as India tries to adjust its head around the new, appearing-to-be-more-aware <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, he has gone ahead and fired a fresh salvo at the ruling BJP government. After having championed the cause of farmer’s and having made his anger against the current land bill evident, he is now out to ‘save the internet’ and champion the cause of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword>. 
 Speaking in the Parliament, during 'Question Hour', Rahul attacked the <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> led BJP Government saying, "This government wants to sell-out the internet to the rich industrialists of this country. I am asking the government not to carve out the internet and hand it over to the industrialists.' He further said, "I want the government to immediately stop the TRAI consultation and write a clear law on net neutrality.' 
 
Earlier in the day, he had moved an a notice of adjournment in the Parliament seeking discussion on the issue of net neutrality. The Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan allowed Gandhi to raise his concern, which was followed by a quick, but sharp rebuttal by Telecom and Information Broadcast Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad. 
 Prasad said, "When <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> Narendra Modi speaks about Digital India, he wants that every citizen of this country gets access to the internet. The government not only wants e-governance, but wants to give access to mobile governance to all its citizens." He further added, " TRAI is holding a consultation within its jurisdiction, but the final say in the matter lies with the <keyword id="6493697" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Ministry">telecom ministry</keyword> and eventually the cabinet." 
 The telecom minister also made a scathing remark at the previous UPA2 regime, referring to August 2012, when the then telecom ministry under Kapil Sibal had ordered internet service providers to block 16 Twitter accounts, including those of right-wing entities and leaders such as Sangh Parivar, Panchjanya magazine, and Pravin Togadia's blogposts, as wlee as hundreds of web-pages featuring user-generated content on websites such as <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword> and Youtube. Prasad said, "when we are discussing this matter, why don't we ask Rahul Gandhi, the able politician that he is, about the Twitter handles that were blocked in August 2012." 
 
Post his 56-day vacation, this is the second time that Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Modi Government, providing a sense to the country that he might just have returned with an improved sense of issues to target, even touching all the correct ‘raw nerves’ of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government. 
 A month ago, Airtel’s Zero Plan and the TRAI’s consultation paper on over the top website usage created a huge furor amongst the youth in the country. The debate on net neutrality in India has reached such proportions that even Facebook Founder and CEO <keyword id="475824" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Mark-Zuckerburg">Mark Zuckerburg</keyword> had to face the IRE OF India’s youth, resulting in many top internet companies leaving the internet.org platform. 
 Since then, TRAI has set up a consultation committee to discuss and debate the matter and arrive at a policy recommendation to the Telecom Ministry. Prasad, had earlier in the day said that the government has always been pro net neutrality and that a committee had already been set-up in January 2015 seeking opinion on the matter, the report on which will be submitted to DoT by the second week of May 2015. He further said that even this matter floated by TRAI will be first discussed by the department of telecom followed by the <keyword id="158388" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-Commission">Telecom Commission</keyword> and then a consolidated view will be taken. 
 
Going by the current momentum of things, this session of the Parliament is clearly all about showcasing the fact that Rahul Gandhi is ‘back for good’ and the new rejuvenated Gandhi scion will be making it rather tough for the BJP. But, above all the noise, there is only one factor that will determine how successful Rahul Gandhi really is, and that is his consistency in picking up the correct issues and the aggressive, well-researched manner he goes about charging at the BJP.

Rahul 'crusader' Gandhi now wants to 'Save the Internet'

The Bharatiya Janata Party, led by <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword>, created history in the just-concluded elections by becoming the first party since 1984 (the year Indira Gandhi was assassinated) to win majority on its own. The exit polls had predicted a Modi tsunami but it turned out to be a tsuNaMo. 
 The only chunk in the armour for the <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> was the defeat of Arun Jaitley from Amritsar. Jaitley was widely speculated to get a major portfolio in the next government (probably the finance ministry). However, he might find a Cabinet berth despite losing the <keyword id="6359191" type="EVENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="election">election</keyword> as Rajnath Singh has said that “the party would fully utilise his abilities.” 
 The <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>’ entire India tally was reduced to a meagre 44, which is way below the BJP’s tally of 71 from UP alone. The drubbing was so massive that the ruling party could not even manage to get 55 seats (10% of the total number of Lok Sabha seats) required to nominate the leader of opposition. 
 
The decimated Congress failed to open its account in as many as nine states – Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Goa. On the other hand, the BJP, riding on the Modi wave, conquered all the seats in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Goa. 
 
With such a strong mandate in his favour, now Modi needs to live up to the expectations of the people and usher in all round development and good governance. Modi showed his humble side after his victory. Addressing his supporters in Vadodara, Modi spoke about taking everyone along and gave the mantra of “sabka sath, sabka vikaas.” 
 
The most positive outcome of the result has been the fact that the new government will not be constrained by or subjected to blackmailing by the coalition partners. The outgoing Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, had often referred to coalition compulsions and admitted that he had to make some compromises in the name of coalition dharma. 
 
Any analysis of the election results would remain incomplete without a special mention of Uttar Pradesh, where people rejected caste-based politics, reducing Mayawati’s BSP to nought. It shows that voters have become aspirational and can no longer be swayed by empty caste rhetoric and symbolism. However, it would be premature to write her off completely as her party, though could not win any seat, managed to get a vote share of 19.6%. 
 In Bihar too, the Modi wave shattered Lalu’s dream of making a comeback and he could not increase his party’s 2009 tally of just four seats. <keyword id="6358190" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nitish-Kumar">Nitish Kumar</keyword>’s JD (U) also faced a rout and could win just two seats. Following this, he put in his papers on ‘moral grounds’. However, it seems more of a face-saving exercise as there were reports of growing discontent within his party. Now, JD (U) President Sharad Yadav has extended a lifeline to Lalu by signalling an alliance between the arch rivals. 
 The results also show Congress Vice-President <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>’s growing disconnect with the masses over the years. When scams after scams propped up during UPA II, he seemed oblivious to it. Neither he nor outgoing PM Manmohan Singh ever took any step to crack down on graft. Gandhi never talked to the media on uncomfortable issues and was seen as a leader who refused to own up responsibility. 
 
The BJP had undergone a transition within the party before the polls as it required a new face after the debacle under LK Advani. The Congress, too, after successive debacles under Rahul Gandhi, needs to look for a new face with fresh ideas.

Election 2014: An
Absolute Analysis

Even after a high turnout that was witnessed for the first time in last 28 years, <keyword id="17605" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jammu-and-kashmir">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword> failed to get a government. Eighteen days after the results to tumultuous assembly elections were declared, political parties could not cobble up together to stake a claim. This results in the state slipping into Governor’s rule and N N Vohra taking over the reins of the administration. 
 
The Governor’s rule has disappointed people at large as they were expecting a government in place. Since Omar Abdullah, who headed the NC-Congress coalition for six years declined to continue as care taker chief minister which he could have till January 18 when the term of the Assembly would end, there was no alternative but to fill the vacuum with a spell of Governor’s rule. 
 
Not only the people had voted for a change, that was reflected in results and looked forward for better governance, but people particularly in Kashmir had pinned hopes for a speedy rehabilitation process for flood victims. Kashmir had seen severe floods in September, affecting nearly a million people. A proper government was need of the hour to address their requirements. 
 However, the fractured mandate that these elections threw up temporarily blocked the road to formation of a government. Not only were the seats divided among many parties but the clear division on the communal lines also played a significant role in this delay. As Jammu preferred <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword>, this marked the beginning of the end of a fragile unity of a state that is diverse in nature. In contrast, Kashmiris have voted for all from <keyword id="42369" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="PDP">PDP</keyword> to NC and Congress. Regional aspirations must have played a role in Kashmir but not the religion. Even as people were outraged on the hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during Congress-led UPA, the Sopore constituency where from he hailed ironically returned a Congress candidate to the Assembly. 
 Out of 87-member house, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emerged as the single largest party with 28 followed by BJP with 25, <keyword id="43898" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Conference">National Conference</keyword> 15, Congress 12 and others seven. Both NC and Congress extended support to PDP to form the government to keep BJP away and this could be possible with the support of few independents. Reports suggested that both BJP and NC had a “failed” round of negotiations in Delhi two days after the results were declared. But both parties denied the same. 
 
For PDP, the situation turned piquant. On the one hand they maintained that they couldn’t trust NC and going with Congress, according to a PDP insider was “against the mandate of people”, but on other they had to walk on a razor’s edge to deal with BJP. 
 
Both PDP and BJP are ideologically poles apart. BJP’s integrationist agenda for Kashmir is diametrically opposite to PDP’s Self Rule. Still they had opened up back channel communication and even exchanged papers for stitching up an alliance. PDP’s patron and old hoarse of Kashmir politics Mufti Mohammad Sayeed weighed more on having BJP alliance and to give time to mature it was not his worry. By exploring this option he wants to carry along the Jammu region, which has overwhelmingly voted for BJP. “There would be a vacuum if we would go with NC or PDP as there would be zero participation in the government from Jammu as no elected member could join cabinet from the Hindu dominated belt” a senior PDP leader explained. So the motive was to seek more time to find a middle road. 
 
But Omar Abdullah’s decision to call it a day halfway prompted the Governor to recommend his rule. The talks between PDP and BJP have not been called off and BJP has not refused to discuss three crucial points of Mufti’s agenda viz resumption of dialogue with Pakistan and separatists, keeping Article 370 off the table, strengthening cross LOC CMB’s and withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas. Sources say that structured dialogue may begin next week. 
 
However, the fact is that the state is in a chaotic situation where the administration has to be manned by a few bureaucrats. The successful elections, which always are a challenge in Jammu and Kashmir, had rekindled the hope for a stable government but it worsened those prospects and a commoner in Kashmir is fuming that why political parties could not put their inherent acrimony behind and move forward to give them a government they deserved. With Governor’s rule in place, only worry now is that Delhi is not repeated in Jammu and Kashmir. No one wants a re-election in the state. 
About the author: The writer is a senior journalist and Editor of Rising Kashmir, Srinagar. 
Disclaimer: This is the author's own opinion.

A Fractured Verdict Paves Way For Governor’s Rule

NEW DELHI: Telecom regulator Rahul Khullar has faulted the Centre’s Digital India initiative for lacking specifics, especially on the critical aspect of content development, and called the 2019 deadline to implement the project “ambitious”. “Is it possible to get a birth or a death certificate online in Delhi? If not, what sorts of applications are we really talking about? A lot more thinking and resources must be devoted to flesh out these applications instead of simply calling them e-health or e-education,” Khullar, <keyword id="6364480" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Chairman">chairman</keyword> of the <keyword id="30356" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Telecom-Regulatory-Authority-of-India">Telecom Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> (TRAI), said in an interview. 
 
If the government doesn’t put more thought into content, the private sector, which has raced ahead in developing applications, will in all likelihood “end up being leaders in delivering content to end-consumers” using the government’s broadband network, he said. 
 
The Rs1.13 lakh-crore Digital India initiative aims to deliver government services to the common man mainly through applications on mobile phones. The initial announcements, which came after the Cabinet ratified the project last week, spoke about the government delivering health, education, judicial, banking and other social services over a mobile device, but didn’t specify who will be responsible for developing content for the applications on various services. 
 
Khullar said just announcing a plan wasn’t enough as it wasn’t an infrastructure project like a Bhakra Nangal Dam for which a team of engineers and architects could draw up a blueprint and execute a plan. “The government needs to set up expert panels across areas of education, medicine, public services, and in whichever field it wants to deliver content. This will have to be a wide-ranging consultative process, without that quality of applications will be in doubt. That, in turn, will affect actual pickup of the service by the end consumer,” Khullar said. Also, the content has to be in multiple languages to ensure wide adoption. 
 Khullar’s comments come just over a week after Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> spoke about his vision of a digitally connected India through the Digital India initiative, while delivering his maiden Independence Day speech at Red Fort. 
 
The TRAI chairman doubted if the government will be able to meet the 2019 timeline, given that backbone for the venture – the National Optic Fibre Network project – is running over three years behind schedule, since being launched under the previous UPA-II government. 
 
“There are legacy issues pertaining to infrastructure rollout for digitally connecting the country. Moreover, there is a challenging task of devising the relevant content to be delivered in terms of e-governance. Given the mammoth task, I think it (2019) is an ambitious target,” he said. “Nevertheless, at least if the government does put its mind to the issue, it one of readying the e-governance content will be more difficult.” 
 
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Only 8% of the 1.8 lakh kilometres of optic fibre ordered has been delivered so far, Khullar said. Of the 6 lakh km of planned ducting, only 2,000 km has been done, while the actual cable pulled is just 250 km, or about 0.05% of the target. 
 
Khullar said Trai will next month float a consultation paper on broadband to find ways to address severe delays in laying down the fibre and discuss alternative options for lowering broadband costs. 
 <keyword id="46149" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Telecom-minister">Telecom Minister</keyword> Ravi Shankar Prasad has recently admitted to ET that the optic-fibre project had seen virtually “no progress” for the past three years. But with the current focus on Digital India, which is being monitored by the prime minister himself, the project will meet all its deadlines henceforth, he said. Prasad said the government will continue to implement the project through public sector units Bharat Sanchar Nigam, Power Grid Corporation and RailTel. 
 
Khullar was of the view that the private sector should be involved both in the optic-fibre rollout as well as in designing content. “Involvement of private players could significantly reduce the costs of the entire project, thereby lowering final tariffs,” he said. 
 
Digital India will be built around nine pillars of broadband highways, providing universal access to phones. It seeks to completely substitute imported electronic equipment through domestically manufactured ones, focus on IT literacy, public Internet access programmes, e-governance, electronic delivery of services and early harvest programmes. can easily achieve the first leg of laying optic fibre in about two years. The second

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