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YES .Suresh Prabhu is the worst Railway Minister so far . There is not only one reason behind this . He has brought so many changes to the Indian Railways which we Indians were not habituated of . It was like our long lost habit was snatched away from us.Here are the changes he did to the railways:signNow any part of India in just 12 hoursPrabhu announced four new categories of trains, one for unreserved passengers and three for reserved ones, which will be operational in the next couple of months. He has also announced bullet trains to reduce the travel time of the passengers considerably. Prabhu said his dream is to travel from one part of the country to another in 12 hours. Here's what in storeHumsafar Express: A fully AC train with optional service for mealsTejas: It will showcase the future of train travel in India with operating speeds of 130 kmphUday Express: Overnight double-decker train, which will run on busiest of routes. It will have 40% more passenger capacityAntyodaya Express: A superfast train for those travelling on long routes and will be fully unreservedConnect while you travelHigh-speed WiFi is already in place at key stations. Prabhu has a target of 400 stations by 2018.Choose your foodTrain passengers will soon be able to order burgers and pizzas of their choice on the Indian Railways website and have them delivered right to their coaches. For last-minute purchases, vendor boys will be waiting on platforms with ready-to-serve burgers, pizzas and Indian thalis.Leading quick service restaurants (QSR) such as Domino's Pizza, Burger King, Subway, KFC and Pizza Hut are opening up stores at railway stations.Passengers will also soon get to decide if they want to eat railway food, and not pay for it. They will have the option to drop meals while booking tickets in Rajdhanis and Shatabdis.You are coveredRailways launched a scheme allowing a person to get an insurance cover of up to Rs 10 lakh on booking a train ticket online by paying less than one rupee. A person booking a train ticket through the IRCTC website will be able to opt for travel insurance cover for a premium of 92 paise only . (now it's totally free) For the executivesPrabhu is bringing the airport experience to railway stations with new 'executive lounges'. IRCTC will be setting up these lounges at 49 locations, which will have facilities such as Wifi, buffet services, wash and change, concierge services for pre-departure and post-arrival assistance to passengers of all classes of travel.Book a retiring roomSuresh Prabhu has announced that passengers can now book retiring rooms on an hourly basis instead of the usual 12 or 24-hour slots. This facility will permit passengers to book retiring rooms for a minimum of three hours and a maximum of 48 hours.Increased number of coachesYou don't have to fret over limited Rajdhani, Shatabdi seats. The Railways have increased the number of coaches in these trains so that more people can be accomodated.Go mobileMobile tickets are valid for all trains now. Not just that, online booking services will now be available in several regional languages as well. Automatic ticket vending machines have also been installed.BedrollsMost of us have struggled for bedrolls while travelling, a facility which was earlier available only for those travelling in AC compartments. Now the bedroll kit scheme has been extended to all ticket-holders.The bedroll kit can booked online through IRCTC website. After booking a ticket from the website, traveller can book for bedrolls also. The bedrolls would be delivered to the passenger at his/her berth. Alternatively, passengers can pick up the kits at the IRCTC counter half-an-hour before the train's departure by showing the ticket.Clean my coachPassengers will be able to demand cleaning of a toilet via SMS. The audit will be done by third party and action to be taken based on passenger feedbackNever miss your stopYou need no longer be afraid of missing the station of your destination because you overslept. There will be a wake-up call facility on many trains.Don't like something? Tweet itA responsive 24x7 complaint resolution mechanism employed through the use of social media is up and running. Tweet a problem or complaint and you shall get a prompt reply from the Indian railways.If all the above changes harass you or make you feel uncomfortable while travelling in Railways or if you have any problem with these changes , then he surely is the worst one.For me , he is the best till dateSource : 12 reasons why 59% of India thinks Suresh Prabhu is doing a good job with Railways[1]Footnotes[1] https://www.google.co.in/amp/m.e...

[1] Just go out your house after first 100 feet you will find a change .But Modi govt. is not that much good like before UpaWe have lost our freedom of throwing garbage here and there now we have throw it in Dustbins.Some people lost their freedom to go in open for toilets now modi govt. has created fear of disease if we go in open now some people have to go to toilets of Clean India Campaign.Modi govt. has destroyed life of many poor people who have stored crores of their money in ceilings and walls of houses.Now we do not enjoy that adventurous toilet of Indian Railways we have to go to clean toilet.Now we do not enjoy taste of sand with water in railway station we have to drink pure cold RO water.Now we rarely gets adventurous rides of road that Up and down. We have to move RCC roads and Highways.Now we don't get our favourite news of scams we get news of development.Sarcasm over(an email of sent by Indian Railway)Under digital IndiaAchievement of Indian RailwaysHighest ever 2855 kms of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling commissionedHighest ever 953 kms of new line commissionedEntire meter gauge has been converted to broad gauge in north east regionHighest ever 2013 kms of electrification doneHighest ever 1503 unmanned level crossings eliminatedHighest ever 1306 Road Over Bridges and Subways completed.Launched new train products: Humsafar, a completely air conditioned luxury service at affordable price with improved aesthetics, amenities and Antyodaya, a completely unreserved long distance service with improved coachesWe commissioned 48 lifts and 61 escalatorsHigh speed Wi-Fi was provided at 100+ stationsOn Board Housekeeping facilities were extended to 157 more trains making a total of 830 trainsAttached 586 coaches in regular trains, generating an additional capacity of 43,420 berths150 toilets provided for DivyangTotal 1313 stations have been provided with 100 % LED lightsWe ran 31,438 trips of special trains4 MW of installed solar capacity addedRecord 34,000 bio-toilets fitted. In last six years 36,000 bio-toilets were providedEnergy audit conducted at 205 stations1313 stations have been provided with 100 % LED lightsWe came up with a new Water Policy for efficient use of water resourcesWe came up with Mission 41k to achieve a savings of Rs. 41,000 Cr in next 10 years by energy efficiencyRs. 8.56 Lakh Crore capital expenditure planMission "Zero fatality" to ensure complete safety100% Elimination of Unmanned level CrossingsMission One ICT to leverage IT in all aspects of Indian Railways' functioning for greater efficiencyDedicated freight corridor to segregate passenger and freight traffic and thus reduce congestion considerablySetting up Rail Development Authority (RDA), an independent regulator to recommend passenger and freight fares and set service level benchmarksRs. 1 Lakh Crore Rail Saranksha Fund for spending on upgrading safety standardsMission Raftar to enhance both average and highest speed of trainsImplementation of accounting reforms to ensure co-relation between input parameters and organisational outcomesMission 5 Cr trees to plant trees for environment conservationRedevelopment of stations into world class terminals having best-in-class amenitiesEnhancing non fare revenue through advertisements, monetisation of real estate etc.To connect all capital cities of North Eastern States with broad gauge by 2020Making Indian Railways 100% human waste discharge free through use of Bio-ToiletsGeneration of 1000 MW solar power, thus becoming one of country's largest solar power producerSome more pointsPress Information Bureau Government of IndiaTwo Years Achievements of Ministry of Railways (May 2014 to May 2016) Ministry of RailwaysTwo Years Achievements of Ministry of Railways (May 2014 to May 2016)I.PASSENGER AMENITIES AND DIGITAL INDIA INITIAVES· Indian Railways launched three social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube with the handle @railminindia. Ministry of Railways employed first of its kind, a real time 24x7 public grievance system through Twitter and provided medical, security and other emergency assistance to travelling passengers· All India Security Helpline 182 set up to report any untoward incident and seek emergency help during travel· The All India Passenger Helpline ‘138’ provided for all other query/complaints during travel· A mobile based application viz. Complaint Management System (COMS) launched· E-catering facility launched at 100 stations. 408 railway stations designated for providing E-catering· A massive scheme for providing Water Vending Machines (WVMs) to provide RO Water at affordableprices is under implementation by Railway PSU IRCTC· Reservation quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper class enhanced to four lower berths per coach for Senior Citizens and Women· Tatkal reservation timings have been staggered to serve dual purpose of providing convenience to the passengers and for staggering traffic on the e-ticket portal.All agents are debarred from booking tickets during first thirty minutes of opening of booking· Automatic refund of Confirmed /RAC e-tickets on cancellation of trains similar to waitlisted e-tickets is granted without filing of TDR· Time limit for booking reserved tickets was increased to 120 days w.e.f. 01.04.2015· Destination alert and wake up alarm services launched on 139· Automatic Destination Alerts to passengers through SMS for Rajdhani and Duronto trains.· E-ticketing facility launched for disabled persons and for accredited journalist on concession pass.· Mobile charging facilities in all new general class coaches initiated.· Out of 1252 Stations identified for upgradation to Adarsh Stations’, 986 stations have so far been developed. 160 developed in last two years· Scheme namely ‘SMS Gateway’ launched enabling passengers to get SMS alerts on the status of reserved tickets· New Generation system put in place which can book 7200 online tickets instead of 2000 tickets per minute and can attend 2,00,000 enquiries instead of 50000 per minute· Rationalization of Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) done to enable passengers to buy tickets even after the preparation of reservation charts· Paperless unreserved ticketing including Paperless Platforms tickets through mobile phone introduced in suburban sections of Western Railway, Central Railway, South Central Railway, Southern Railway, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway· Pilot Project of hand Held Terminals for TTEs launched· E-booking of disposable linen started on trains at New Delhi Railway Station and Nizamuddin Railway Station, Mumbai Central (BCT), Chattarpati Shivaji Terminus (CSTM), Southern Railway· E-booking of Wheel chair launched· Currency Coin cum Card operated Automatic Ticket Vending Machines installed at select stations.· Initiated one of the largest free public wifi fi systems in the world. Launched at 26 stations with a plan to extend it to 100 Stations by December this year and to 400 stations by 2018.· The booking of retiring rooms at different railway stations made online making it convenient and transparent· E-Ticketing portal in Hindi launched· 60 lifts and 150 escalators provided in last 2 years at Railway stations· Model Rake (a passenger carrying train with 24 coaches) developedwith improved interiors, colour scheme, aesthetics and amenity fittings. This is running as a train between New Delhi and Varanasi.· Cancellation of confirmed, RAC and Waitlisted PRS counter tickets made easy using IRCTC website or phone No. 139.· Provision made for acceptance of international debit and credit cards for payment of E-ticket through IRCTC website· Yatri Ticket/Sewa Kendra (YTSK) Scheme launched to allow private agents to operate ticketing terminals for selling reserved as well as unreserved tickets· Indian Railways started six pilgrims’ special tourist trains. More such trains being planned in subsequent phases· Dustbins to be provided in non AC coaches also· NIFT, Delhi has been engaged for designing of bedroll etc.· A new ‘Rail Neer’ plant for package drinking water set up at Ambernath (Mumbai).· In order to increase availability of accommodation for general class passengers on long distance Mail/Express trains, GMs were delegated powers to de-reserve Sleeper Class (SL) coaches as General Coaches (GS) in identified trains & sectors· Suvidha Trains with graded pricing structure introduced with facility for booking on PRS in addition to e-tickets and facility of limited refund on cancellation of ticket· The Defense Travel System to eliminate exchange of defense warrants was rolled out on the NGeT platform. Till date about 2000 Defense units have started issuing tickets through this platform without exchange of warrants· Number of berths available for physically challenged has been increased from 2 to 4· ‘VIKALP’, Alternative Train Accommodation System (ATAS) launched with a view to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers and also to ensure optimal utilization of available accommodation. This facility is now available on New Delhi – Jammu, New Delhi – Lucknow, Delhi-Howrah, Delhi- Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Secunderabad Circuits,· Launched pre-cooked (ready-to-eat) meals of reputed brands on some trains.· Commencement of provision of Braille signage on 3000 coaches has been given in order to facilitate travel to visually impaired passengers.· Provision of foldable ladder in First AC coaches launched· Provision of Bio degradable garbage bags to passengers started on pilot basis· Escorting ladies special trains and ladies compartment by security squad· Security helpline 182 activated and real time complaint resolution through Twitter employed with a high priority to women security issues· Fitment of CCTV surveillance cameras for women security in trains initiated with first such fitment undertaken in Amritsar-New Delhi-Shan-e Punjab Express· Development of security App over some of the Zonal Railways· Middle bay reserved for women· Pilot Project of Sale of Unreserved Tickets through Hand Held Terminals initiated at Hazrat Nizammudin Railway Station of Northern Railway.II. INFRASTRUCTURECREATION AND SUPPORT TO MAKE IN INDIA INITIATIVE· Indian Railways has taken a giant leap forward in ‘Make in India’ drive by signing Agreement for setting up of Diesel Locomotive Factory (DLF) at Marhowra, Saran district, Bihar for procurement and maintenance of mainline most modern high power Diesel Electric Locomotives with M/s GE Diesel Locomotive Pvt. Ltd. A separate agreement signed with M/S ALSTOM for setting up of electric locomotive factory at Madhepura, Bihar for procurement and maintenance of most modern high power electric locomotives, both major PPP and FDI tenders of Indian Railways. This would be one of the highest FDI’s in India amounting to order book of almost Rs 40,000 Crore.· The Ministry has initiated process for procuring high speed train sets which will improve average speed of passenger carrying trains thereby reducing journey time.· MoU between India and Japan signed for Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project using Shinkansen Technology covering a total of 508 kms. A new entity named National High Speed Ra Extension of newly introduced cancellation facility for PRS· il Corporation Limited has been set up in February, 2016 to implement the project· Further high speed studies are being conducted by Ministry of Railways on Diamond Quadrilateral High Speed Rail network. Feasibility studies of Delhi- Mumbai, Mumbai- Chennai and Delhi- Kolkata are underway. The feasibility studies of Delhi-Nagpur and Mumbai –Nagpur corridors are being taken up through G2G cooperation with Chinese and Spanish governments respectively· Ministry of Railways launched Gatimaan Express, country’s first semi high speed train with a maximum speed of 160 kmph between Delhi and Agra heralding a new era of high speed rail travel in India· Redevelopment of 400 Stations to be developed on e-bidding on as is where is basis; 10 stations handed over to IRSDC· Indian Railways commissioned 2828 Km of Broad Gauge lines, highest ever in 2015-16 against an average of 1528 Km from 2009-14.· IR commissioned two mega bridges over river Ganga at Patna and Munger.With these, the Railway networks of North and South Bihar have been integrated.· The executions of the biggest infrastructural projects in the country, Eastern and Western DFCs have been fast-tracked. Revised cost estimates have been approved by the Cabinet and funding has been tied up. Rs.25,320 Cr worth of contracts have been awarded in the last two years, which is more than double of the total contracts of Rs.12,240 Cr awarded since commencement. The first ever section on DFC of 56 km between Durgawati-Sasaram has been commissioned. The project is progressing well for commissioning in phases by 2019· Rail Wheel Plant, Bela commissioned and regular production started· Diesel loco factory at Varanasi is being expanded· DEMU factory at Haldia was commissioned and Mid-life Rehabilitation Workshop for coaches at Jhansi completed.· One of the most challenging railway projects, conversion of 1500 V DC to 25000 V AC traction system has been successfully completed over the entire Mumbai division of Central Railway.· During 2014-16, 3105 route kilometres have been electrified, which is an average of 1552.5 RKM/ annum as against 1236 RKM/annum during previous five years.· Construction of Electric Lolo Assembly & Ancillary Unit of CLW at Dankuni in West Bengal completed· Modern LHB Coach manufacturing facility commissioned at ICF Chennai.· The Chhapra factory has started regular production of cast wheels for rolling stock. The installed capacity of the plant is 1Lac wheels per annum.· Foundation stone laid for setting up Traction Alternator Factory at Vidisha to manufacture 100 traction alternators per annum of high horse power diesel locomotives which are currently being imported· signNow boost in elimination of unmanned level crossing which has resulted in safe operations. In 2015-16, a total of 1253 unmanned level crossings were eliminated and 1024 Road over/ Road under bridges were constructed. This marks an improvement of 35% against the average number from 2009-2014III.REFORMS· A Memorandum of Understanding with LIC of India for obtaining funds to the tune of Rs.1.5 lakh Cr signed.· MOF approved issue of tax free bonds by IRFC amounting to Rs.6,000 Cr· Discussions initiated with World Bank for setting up a Railway Infrastructure Development Fund of around USD 30 Bn· Powers delegated and decentralized for improving efficiency and transparency. Measures for E-tendering, E-auctioning, E-ticketing, E-Governance, E-Freight Demand, E-Catering, E-Wheel Chair, E-Concierge etc. takenfor efficiency and transparency· Ministry of Railways (MoR) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for formation of Joint Venture Companies with six State Governments viz. Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. JVs would undertake project development works for an identified basket of projects, which will inter-alia include surveys, preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) and getting requisite approvals, processing for sanctioning of identified projects and monitoring· Ministry of Railways conducted world’s largest online exam for recruitment for almost 90 lakh aspirants. With a view to increase transparency, a new system of handing over the Question Booklets to the candidates has been introduced.A pilot project of uploading of Answer Keys and Cut-off marks has also been initiated.· Deloitte, a consulting firm has been engaged for studying the manpower rationalization of the Group A services. Report submitted and is under examination· Four Centres of Railways Research set up in premier educational institutions· Development of an online system initiated for grievance redressal of both serving as well as retired railwaymen· Railways signed MoU to set up its own Railway Design Centre in collaboration with National Institute of Design (NID)· The process for putting in place a regulator “Rail Development Authority” has been initiated. A concept note was uploaded to receive feedback from all stakeholders. Process for drafting of a bill/executive order underway.· 100 % FDI allowed in identified areas of railway sector and sectoral guidelines on FDI formulated· Ministry of Railways implemented 100% E-procurement solution for all kinds of contracts – goods, works and services. It isIndia’s largest e-procurement system· A web-enabled IT-Application “Project Monitoring and Information System (PMIS)” launched which will be implemented in Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramullah Rail Link (USBRL) project, followed by other mega and complex projects of Indian Railways. This will increase transparency in project monitoring· “Technology Mission on Indian Railways (TMIR)” for Development/Research/Innovations in Railway Technologies in association with Department of Science & Technology, MoHRD and representatives of Industry has been set up· Creation of Mobility Directorate in Railway Board’s Office· Creation of Non-Fare Revenue Directorate in Railway Board’s Office· Release of Handout on ‘Railway initiatives for Ease of Doing Business’ and Nomination of ‘Key Customer Managers’IV. GREEN INITIATIVES· Commissioned 26 MW wind mill power plant at Jaisalmer· 10MW Solar Plants installed in two years. Massive solarisation (1000 MW Solar Power Plants) planned in next Five years with an eye on making Railways, the largest solar power producer in the country· Railways provided27,000 bio-toilets in trains in the last two years.A target of 30000 bio-toilets setfor the next financial year· First ‘Green’ DEMU train introduced on Northern Railway to run between Rewari-Rohtak section· A hybrid toilet system, combining best features of a vacuum toilet system and indigenous bio-toilet system has been installed for trial in a First Class air conditioned coach of Dibrugarh Rajdhani which is running wellsince September 2015. The system does not require any waste handling facilities for evacuation and processing of waste. This system uses signNowly less quantity of water is used for flushing· A new separate Environment Management Directorate formed to address all environment related issues in a focused and integrated manner· M/s. RITES has been engaged for setting up of two pilot plants at NDLS and JP for disposal for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in an environment friendly manner including conversion of Waste to Energy (bio-methanation)· A major push was given to get additional sanction of more than 30 Water Recycling Plants during 2015-16. As against this, less than 30 WRPs have been functioning all these years· Setting up of Automatic Coach Washing Plants in major coach maintenance depots· After field trails, IR has now developed the environmental friendly composite sleepers made up of recycled plastic waste, which will be used over all girder bridges in future for improved maintainability and facilitating higher speeds and higher axle loads.· Indian Railways has started a massive exercise of planting trees alongside Railway Track with the signing agreement with Haryana & Punjab Government in the first phase.V.CLEANLINESS· Indian Railways joined the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan in a big way. It formulated an integrated policy on cleanliness· 27 Charitable Institutions/Social Organizations invited to take part in ‘Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ through Shramdaan campaign· Criterion for qualification of OBHS trains revised to include all importantmail &express trains. 7 more Clean Train Stations added and 240 new trains added on OBHS in last two years· “Clean My Coach” Servicelaunched for any cleaning requirement in the coach. A passenger can send an SMS on a mobile number 58888 or book through app and his request is attended to· 16 more mechanised laundries set up in the last two years. Now around 45 percent linen is cleanedthrough mechanised laundries· Intensive mechanised cleaning of coaching in coaching depots through professional agencies – 132 Coaching Depots in different Railways already have the system· Cleaning of 50 major stations has been outsourced to professional agencies· Cleanliness audit through 3rd party started for Railway stations institutionalised. Ranking of stations based on cleanliness would be generated periodicallyVI. CONNECTIVITY IN NORTH EAST AND J&K· Indian Railways completed Udhampur-Katra Broad gauge line in the State of Jammu and Kashmir bringing Katra on Broad Gauge Railway map· Lumding-Silchar Broad gauge section inaugurated giving seamless BG connectivity to Barak Valley of Assam· Meghalaya came on the rail map with the flagging off the first ever train from Guwahati to Medipathar in Meghalaya· The Prime Minister laid the foundation for a new line to take rail connectivity to Mizoram’s capital Aizwal· The Tripura’s Capital Agartala came on the broad gauge rail map· Meter gauge will be fully eliminated in North-East in near future· IR commissioned 545 KM of Broad Gauge lines in North East in 2015-16 in comparison to 110 KM per year from 2009-2014VII.PPP IN RAIL LINE PROJECTS· In 2015-16, Indian Railways generated an investment of Rs.15,000Cr through PPP. This is the highest achieved till now.· Partnership with State Governments, Industry is being encouraged to undertake coal and mining connectivity projects.· To encourage port connectivity projects, thrust has been given to implementation of projects under the participative model policy of 2012. Rail connectivity to Tuna Port at a cost of 142 Cr has been implemented in 2015. Also approvals under Joint Venture model have been granted to build rail connectivity to the ports of Jaigarh (Rs 771 Cr.), Rewas (Rs.349 Cr), and Dighi (Rs.724 Cr.)· Ministry of Railways for the first time has decided to launch three annuity projects Badrak- Nargundi 3rdline (900Cr.), Nagpur – Wardha 3rdline 550Cr. and Kazipet- Vijayawada 3rd line 1566 Cr in the current calendar year.VIII. FREIGHT· Massive rationalization of freight policies initiated· Merry-Go-Round system introduced to capture short lead traffic near steel plants and thermal power house· Post congestion charges withdrawn which will help in increasing traffic from the Ports to hinterland· Two-Point/Multi Point/Mini Rake facility extended to maximize traffic.· Roll on – Roll off scheme launched on Digha Rail Bridge over River Ganges near Patna. Under this scheme loaded trucks would be moved on the flat wagons to avoid congested roads across Ganges· Busy season charge withdrawn.· Automatic Freight Rebate Scheme for traffic loaded in Traditional Empty Flow Direction introduced· Computerized system to register demands for wagons introduced. Electronic forwarding note and Electronic Railway Receipts introduced to enhance efficiency and transparency in freight operations· Liberalised Wagon Investment Scheme, Wagon Leasing Scheme, Special Freight Train Operator Scheme, Private Freight Terminals, Automobile Freight Train Operator Scheme, accelerated to improve freight· Auto hub at Walajabad in Chennai Division developed for automobiles moment· Flagging off of Roll-On-Roll-Off(Ro-Ro) train Ex.-Bihta to Turki in Bihar.IX. SAFETY IN RAIL OPERATIONS· Working towards ‘Zero Accident’ Mission.· TPWS is a safety Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system conforming to European Train Control System (ETCS) Level-1. TPWS trials at 160 Kmph were successfully conducted.· 282 Level Crossing Gates have been interlocked with Signals to enhance safety.· A cost effective indigenous safety system – Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) is being developed indigenously by RDSO and the trails are on.· Pilot Project initiated for Improving Safety at Unmanned Level Crossing which include automatic warning to road users through flasher light and Sensing of Obstruction on level crossing and visual warning to train driversX. MISCELLANEOUS· In the last two years, 14 MoUs/MoCs/other agreements for cooperation in rail sector have signed with Railways/Governments of Czech Republic, China, South Korea, Canada, Kazakhstan, Slovak Republic, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Russia & Sweden.· Under Skill India Initiative, 53 locations across the country have been identified by setting up training centres· Indian Railways made successful arrangements to transport drinking water to drought-affected areas of Latur district in Maharashtra· Indian Railways lent helping hand during the Nepal earthquake tragedy by providing ‘Rail Neer’ bottles and by transporting Nepal evacuees· Railways also helped during the J&K floods· Railways were in the forefront in extending help to the Indian nationals returning from Yemen· Indian Railway weightlifters (5 Women & 1 Men) represented India in the Commonwealth Youth; Junior & Senior Weightlifting Championship held at Pune from 11th to 15th November, 201. All Railway players won medals in this Championship· Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed Ministry of Railways and PEC University of Technology for setting up of ‘Kalpana Chawla Chair’ on Geospatial Technology for Indian Railways at PEC University of Technology, ChandigarhPS: First long text were copied from email sent by irctc and second long content is from press information bearueMinistry of RailwaysFootnotes[1] Two Years Achievements of Ministry of Railways (May 2014 to May 2016)

Click here for Digital Signature CertificateDigital signature certificates or DSC are required for filing income tax returns, company filings, import export clearance and e-tenders.A Digital Signature is the equivalent of a physical signature in electronic format, as it establishes the identity of the sender of an electronic document in the Internet. Digital Signatures are used in India for online transactions such as Income Tax E-Filing, Company or LLP Incorporation, Filing Annual Return, E-Tenders, etc., There are three types of Digital Signatures, Class I, Class II and Class III Digital Signature. Class I type of Digital Signatures are only used for securing email communication. Class II type of Digital Signatures are used for Company or LLP Incorporation, IT Return E-Filing, Obtaining DIN or DPIN, and filing other forms with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Income Tax Department. Class III type Digital Signatures are used mainly for E-Tendering and for participating in E-Auctions. Digital Signatures come in the form of a USB E-Token, wherein the Digital Signature Certificate is stored in a USB Drive and can be accessed through a computer to sign documents electronically.With E-Return filing becoming mandatory for Income Tax Assesses with an income of over Rs.5 lakhs per annum, the requirement and prevalence of Digital Signatures has increased manifold. IndiaFilings can help you obtain your Digital Signature hassle-free online. IndiaFilings is a Registered Partner of SIFY and E-Mudhra.Class II Digital Signatures are used for Income Tax E-Filing, Company or LLP Incorporation, Annual Return Filing, etc., Class II Digital Signatures are required to file documents electronically with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Income Tax Department.Difference between Class 2 and Class 3 Digital Signature CertificatesIn this day and age of technology, physical signatures are increasingly being converted to digital media for security reasons. Digital Signature Certificates, (DSC) are simply the electronic equivalent of physical or paper certificates such as identity proofs, driver�s licenses, passports or PAN cards. These certificates can prove to be helpful for many online transactions that require digital proof of identities and to receive and send information on the web safely.Organizations and firms, today require digital signature certificate to better facilitate communication and transactions between them and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. For companies that have a turnover of more than INR 60 Lakhs have to apply for these certifications mandatorily, and it is considered a legally admissible instrument. Besides, it is always wise to get a digital signature as it offers a high level of security for online transactions by ensuring absolute privacy of the information exchanged. These certificates can also be useful for encrypting information that only the intended recipient can have access to. You can digitally sign information to assure the recipient that it has not been changed in transit, and also verify your identity as the sender of the message.There are two main types of Digital Signature Certificates � Class 2 Certificates and Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate. A Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate is used by individuals and is available for download after verification based on a trusted and pre-verified database. A Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate, on the other hand, is of the highest level as it is issued only after the registrant�s identity verification has been carried out by a Registration Authority.Class 2 Digital Signature Certificates are generally used for filing documents Income Tax, Registrar of Companies and VAT, whereas Class 3 Digital Signature Certificates are needed for e-tendering, which is a procurement process that is conducted online. The aspects where this comes into play include: � Contract download� Evaluation of tenders (May or may not involve e-auctions)� Supplier registration/expression of interest� Submission of bid documentThe Ministry of Company Affairs, Government of India (GoI) has initiated MCA21 program, for easy and secure access to its services in a manner that best suits the businesses and citizens. The MCA21 application is designed to support Class 2 & 3 Digital Signature Certificates (DSC) issued by licensed signNowing Authority under Controller of signNowing Authorities.

Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate can be issued to individual or an authorized individual on the behalf of any organization. Class 2 Digital Signature Certificate is available for download after verification based on a trusted and pre-verified databaseWhereas Class 2B Digital signature certificates are issued to Organization for various purposes. Class 2B digital signatures for organization is personal certificate that provides second highest level of assurance within the RCAI hierarchy setup by CCA (Controller of signNowing Authorities) in India which is mainly used for e tender filing, E Procurement, E Bidding, Bank Auction and Document Signing.

Click here for Digital SignatureTYPES OF DSCBased on the level of validation, DSC is issued in three classes. Class I only validates the email address of the user. You may not be required to provide any documents for this.Such DSCs are used by employers while communicating with employees on email. With a Class II DSC, the certificate may be validated by the signNowing authority or its representative. You will have to provide identity and address proof. These are used for e-filing income tax returns.A Class III DSC is issued directly by the signNowing authority and indicates a higher level of authenticity. To get a Class III DSC, you have to be personally present in front of the signNowing authority, along with identity and address proofs.Such DSCs are used to participate in e-tendering or e-auctions organized by governments or public sector companies. These can also be used for e-filing tax returns.What are different types/classes of Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)?Different classes of DSC are:Class-IClass-IIClass-IIIIncrement in Class is for security reasons and each class of DSC have different usage. Class-I is most basic form digital id and it not used in any of government service.Class-II is most used DSC and it is used for signing documents, filing IT returns, filing MCA forms and GST returns.Class-III is used to tenders and is costly than Class-II DSC.Class of Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for Income Tax FilingFor filing income tax returns, tax audit reports you need Class-II Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).Income Tax website accepts Class-II DSC and you can buy a valid Class-II certificate to file your IT returns or any other form such as Form 15CA.Class of Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for GSTYou need Class-II DSC to file GST returns. GST website allows Class-II DSC for registration, returns and authentication.

A2A;Kerala’s tradition of anti-incumbency has arguably been the result of poor performance in office by a series of governments hobbled by the state’s all-pervasive and dysfunctional politics. This time, however, the outgoing UDF government led by Oommen Chandy is campaigning on a remarkable record of achievement. No single five-year government in Kerala’s history has achieved so much in a single term. Source: UDF’s Impressive Record May Drive its Comeback in Kerala: Tharoor  Kochi MetroKochi Metro is an under-construction metro system for the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. The first phase is being set up at an estimated cost of₹5181 crore (US$770 million)Vizhinjam International Sea PortVizhinjam International Seaport is a proposed port by the Arabian Sea at Thiruvananthapuram in India. The total project expenditure is pegged at ₹ 6595 crores over three phases and is proposed to follow the landlord port model with a view to catering to passenger, container and other clean cargo.Kannur International AirportKannur International Airport (IATA: -, ICAO: VOKN) (Malayalam: കണ്ണൂർ അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര വിമാനത്താവളം) is an upcoming International Airport under construction at Mattanur in Kannur District, 25 kilometers from the citiesKannur and Thalassery, in the state of Kerala, India. It is being built on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model by the Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL).Once completed it will be the fourth and largest international airport in Kerala after Calicut, Cochin and Trivandrum making it the only state in India to have four international airports. Kannur International Airport will be the second greenfield airport to be set up in Kerala. The project is spread over 2,000 acres (810 ha).Proposed Bullet Train ServiceThe first phase of study regarding the Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur high-speed rail corridor project has been completed. The study conducted by DMRC says...Read more at: TVM-Kannur high-speed rail: 430 km in 145 minutesJana Samparka programmeUnfazed by the grim political challenges awaiting the Congress-led UDF in the Lok Sabha polls, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has been visiting several places the state with his 'Mass Contact Programme' by directly engaging with people, mostly the less privileged, and pulling crowds. The second phase of the unique outsignNow campaign, which won the UN award for public service in July, has already seen Mr Chandy meeting hundreds of people in four districts and the exercise is to be completed by the year-end covering the remaining 10 districts. In the three editions of Chief Minister's Mass Contact Programme, a total of 7.89 lakh petitions were resolved, out of a total of 12.5 lakh. In 2011, out of the 5.45 lakh petitions, 2.97 lakh were resolved; in 2013, out of the 3.21 lakh petitions, 3.20 lakh were resolved and in 2015, out of the 3.83 lakh petitions, 1.72 lakh were resolved. The programme received the 2013 UNPS award. CM's Distress Relief FundTill December 31, 2015, Rs 540 crore has been disbursed through the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund and Rs 6.27 crore disbursed to people outside Kerala. It was just Rs 120.24 crore that was disbursed during the period 2006-11. Karunya lotteryRaised Rs 1,200 crore and enabled the government to provide treatment to 23 lakh patients, including free care for cancer patients, a first in India; subsidised medicines for the less well off; and proper supply of medicines to government hospitals and dispensaries. Dozens of welfare schemes abound in other areas, including 35 kilos of free rice to those living below the poverty line.Up to Rs 2 lakh is given as treatment assistance. The income from Karunya Plus was also made part of this fund. The returns from the sale of lotteries in Kerala in 2010-11 were Rs 557 crore, which touched Rs 5445 crore in 2014-15. The commission of lottery sellers has been raised to 26%.Amballoor Electronic ParkAmballoor is located about 25 km from Ernakulam city. It is located along the Ernakulam - Thalayolaparambu main road.  The site for the proposed project is a marshy area full of weeds and coconut palms. Only 10 families reside in this area.First of Its Kind in StateElectronic Park will be the first of its kind facility in the state. The park is being envisaged as an electronic hub to promote the manufacture and assembly of hardware, as well as the supporting infrastructure.Trivandrum AND Kozhikode Light MetroIn 12 June 2013, the State Cabinet gave clearance for an agreement to be signed between KMCL and DMRC. The DMRC will receive 3.25% of the ₹55.81 billion (₹ 35.90 billion for Thiruvananthapuram and ₹ 19.91 billion for Kozhikode) in general consultant fees. The agreement was signed on 19 June 2013. DMRC appointed interim consultant of the Rs 6728 crore Light Metro rail projects at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. DPR submitted to Union government for approval. Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation formed for the implementation of the project. Economic growth higher than national averageBased on current price, Kerala's economic growth has been 17% compared to the national growth rate of 17.5%. In 2011-12, Kerala registered 17% (India 15%), in 2012-13 it was 13% (India 13.3%), 2013-14 it was 13.4% (India 11.5%) and in 2014-15, Kerala registered a growth rate of 12.3% compared to the national growth rate of 10.50%.PSC Appointments Appointments to 1,39,192 persons through PSC till October 31, 2015, which is an all time record. After a gap of five years, 1182 differently-abled were given jobs. 1950 differently-abled persons, who were in service for 179 days from 1999 to 2003 by creating 2677 supernumerary posts.16 Medical Colleges After 35 years, the number of medical colleges in the State has risen to 16 from 5. New medical colleges started in Manjeri, Idukki and Palakkad. Cochin Cooperative Medical College has been taken over by the government. Work progressing on medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Konni, Kasaragod, Wayanad and Harippad. Steps taken for the takeover of Pariyaram Medical College and for the elevation of Parippally ESI Hospital in Kollam to medical college. New dental colleges started at Alappuzha and Thrissur. Total number of MBBS seats risen from 900 to 1250. Rs 1156 crore for providing 585 medicines free of cost Including 69 medicines for the treatment of cancer, 585 medicines are given free of cost to all category of patients at government run hospitals. Already Rs 1156 crore has been spent for the purpose. 39 Karunya pharmacies started to check prices of medicines and medicines sold at reduced prices of 20 to 93 per cent. Comprehensive Healthcare Scheme With an objective to bring various healthcare assistance schemes under one roof, families with annual income of less than rupees three lakhs will come under the Comprehensive Healthcare Scheme, announced in the State Budget for 2015-16. Through a smart card, beneficiary can avail of assistance up to Rs 2 lakhs and would benefit 42 lakh families. Welfare Pensions Worth Rs 15,911 crore Four types of welfare pensions from the department of social justice worth Rs 14,400 crore; eight types of pensions from the department of Labour worth Rs 1511 crore and the farmer’s pension from the department of Agriculture worth Rs 400 crore have been disbursed. Pension from Social Justice Department goes to more than 32 lakh people. Welfare pensions are disbursed by the 18th of every month. An average of Rs 240 crore is spent through local self-government bodies for the disbursal of welfare pensions and Rs 14,400 crore spent in a five-year period. Per month Rs 600 is spend on all categories of labour pensions and signNowes 17.60 lakh beneficiaries. In 2013, disbursal of farmer’s pension to small and medium scale began at the rate of Rs 600 per farmer above the age of 60. Total beneficiaries in this category stand at 3.35 lakh and Rs 400 crore spent within a period of two years. Strong Social Welfare Measures 2546 persons were given treatment and 1922 persons follow-up treatment under the free cancer treatment scheme for children up to 18 years. Project ‘Thalolam’, providing free treatment to seriously ill children of up to 18 years was implemented in 15 hospitals. 8146 new persons were provided free treatment and 2355 persons follow-up treatment. Persons assisting bedridden patients round-the-clock are being provided monthly financial assistance through the project – Aswasa Kiranam. There are 63,544 beneficiaries in this category. It was just 680 persons when this government assumed office. The aim is to provide assistance to 90,000 in the current financial year. Free Cancer Treatment Free cancer treatment through the Sukritham project is now available at RCC Thiruvananthapuram, Malabar Cancer Centre, medical colleges at Thiruvananthapuram, Alalppuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and General Hospital Ernakulam. RCC secured the NABL accreditation through a Rs 117 crore expansion programme. Cancer institute and research centre is getting ready in Kochi. Mammogram unit started at General Hospital Thiruvananthapuram. Facilities for cancer treatment made available in all districts of Kerala. Mother and Child Implemented free delivery related treatment and neonatal care up to 30 days, under the Mother and Child project. Newborn screening to detect genetic disorders and 59 neonatal care centres started at 59 hospitals. Started school health programme that provides treatment and medicines to 48 lakh students in 13,270 schools.17,000 to benefit from teachers’ package The new teachers’ package will benefit 17,000 recognized aided teachers serving in regular posts till March 31, 2015. Neera Production Farmers given permission to tap alcohol-free Neera from coconut trees after amending the 112-year-old Abkari laws. Licence issued to 173 coconut producing federations and three pilot Neera production centres sanctioned under Kerala Agriculture University. State Coconut Development Corporation is in charge of marketing. By tapping Neera, an average monthly income of Rs 2100 is expected from a coconut tree. 42,225 acres of land to tribal people Project ‘Aasikkum Bhoom’ (the desired land) has provided land ranging from 25 cents to one acre. 524 landless scheduled tribe families were given 184 acre of land through the project. In the TRDM rehabilitation programme of landless scheduled tribes 6814 families were given 8971 acre of land. Based on ‘Right to Forest Land Act’ 25,649 persons residing in the forests were given possession certificates and 33,070 acres of land provided. Subsidy of Rs 837.27 crore for checking price hike Government was able to check rise in prices of essential commodities by distributing them at subsidized rates. Compared to Rs 344.31 crore given as subsidy to Supplyco during the period of the previous government, the subsidy amount has been Rs 538.37 crore during the period of the current government. Rice was also included in the subsidized category of items in 2014-15 and 95,188 metric tons of rice was distributed at reduced price. Rs 44.4 crore was given to Horticorp for the supply of vegetables at reduced rates. Currently, through the 20,428 outlets of Nanma Stores under the ConsumerFed, 10 essential commodities are being distributed at 20% less the rate in the open market. ConsumerFed has already been provided Rs 254.50 crore compared to the Rs 117.71 crore given by the previous government. Rs 300 crore for 15,000 Coastal Houses 15,000 houses built free of cost to homeless fishermen in the State. Rs 300 crore was provided for the purpose. Flats were also provided to 450 fishermen families for which Rs 48.75 crore was spent. Financial assistance for house construction hiked from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh, which will be provided as 100% subsidy. 3.86 lakh petitions resolved at revenue adaalatOf the 4.72 lakh petitions received at the revenue adalats held in all districts of the State, 3.86 lakh were resolved. Orders also issued for effecting mutation the next day itself, following the registration of land. Earlier, this was allowed only after a period of 30 days from the date of registration. 2132 Arrested in 'Operation Kubera'14,155 raids were conducted and 2132 persons arrested as part of 'Operation Kubera' meant for nabbing privately run loan mafia. Rs 466 lakh was seized as part of the operation. The government also launched focused operations that included 'Operation Suraksha' for checking the activities of thugs and anti-social elements; 'Subha Yatra 2015' for creating awareness on traffic rules; 'Operation Vatsalya' for tracing missing children and 'Operation Clean Campus' for preventing use of narcotic drugs inside campuses. Land Provided to 10,271 Families Three cents of land each were provided to 10,271 families, under the 'Zero Landless' scheme. Districts of Kannur, Kasaragod and Idukki became the first in the country to become 'zero landless'. Phase II of the scheme is progressing. Title Deed to 1.24 lakh Persons Title deeds given to 1.24 lakh persons within a period of four years, compared to Rs 84,606 title deeds during the period of the previous government. IT Exports Touch Rs 15,000 Crore IT sector in Kerala has grown to the extent of direct employment to one lakh persons and income generation of Rs 15,000 crore from IT exports. It was just Rs 3000 crores worth IT exports when the UDF government came to power in 2011. The annual income on rentals from Technopark and InfoPark is now Rs 70 crore. With the commissioning of phase 1 of SmartCity and CyberPark, IT exports from Kerala would signNow Rs 18,000 crore in 2016 and two lakh direct employment. Number One in MSMEs in the Country Kerala topped the nation in terms of number of enterprises and employment generation in a national survey of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, based on population and land area. During the period 2006-11, only a total of 31,995 MSME units were registered and 2.23 lakh job opportunities and an investment of only Rs 3247.11 crore, compared to the last four financial years that saw 51,899 new MSMEs, 2.97 employment opportunities and investment of Rs 8225.05 crore. SC Medical College For the first time in the country, a medical college was started under the department of Scheduled Caste in Palakkad in 2014-15. Rs 24.33 crore was spent for project. Of the total admissions, 70% is for scheduled caste students and 2% for students belonging to the scheduled tribe. 35th National Games Kerala won acclaim for organizing the 35th National Games in a commendable manner. 1.52 crore people took part in 'Run Kerala Run' a publicity campaign held at 7000 centres in Kerala, which found a place in the Limca Book of World Records. As part of the national games, nine playfields were built and 17 got modernized. For the first-time in India a green-field stadium was built through public-private partnership in Thiruvananthapuram. All medal winners of Kerala were given cash awards and jobs. Domestic Milk Production Increased by 83.08% Achieved 83.08% increase in domestic milk production. State's milk production in 2011 was 67% of the domestic demand. Stability ensured for milk price and steps taken to check price of fodder. Year-long subsidy provided to farmers for purchasing fodder. Production of milk has signNowed 11 lakh litres from 6.42 lakh litres five years ago. The daily import of milk by Milma from neighbouring States in 2010-11 has come down from 6.5 lakh litres to 2.2 lakh litres. Timely Interventions in NRK Issues Government helped 3835 persons who were stranded in strife torn countries like Iraq, Libya and Yemen to return home safely, for which Rs 1.43 crore was spent. Provided assistance to Malayalees during floods in Jammu Kashmir, Uttarakhand and for their safe return back home. Free Power Supply to Life-Support Users People on life-support systems are being provided with free-of-cost power supply. Power connection given to houses of less than 100 sq m on lands not under anyone's possession. Consumer given the choice for purchasing meters directly from the manufacturer for avoiding the meter rent to KSEB. LED Bulbs at Token Rates Two LED bulb of nine watts, costing Rs 400 each are being given to households at a token rate of Rs 95. Four By-Passes @ Rs 1466 crore Four by-passes worth Rs 1466 crore are nearing completion. Completed the 28.1 km long, Rs 145 crore Kozhikode by-pass in 18 months. By-passes in Alappuzha (Rs 348.43 crore), Kollam (Rs 352.05 crore) and Thiruvananthapuram (Rs 621 crore) are fast progressing. Rs 1824 crore sanctioned for renovation of roads in 2016. 28 More Municipalities28 panchayats that have attained urban characteristics made municipalities and Kannur municipality elevated to corporation. 15 B grade municipalities elevated to A grade and 17 C grade municipalities to B grade. 1.75 crore Digital Certificates As part of Project e-District, 1.75 crore digital certificates issued till December 10, 2015. 24 types of certificates are issued online by the Revenue department. All the 14 districts of Kerala are included in the 50 e-Districts in India. Completed the procedure for providing 1 GB connectivity in all grama panchayats, making Kerala the first digital State in India. Emerging Kerala Work has commenced on 56 projects, worth Rs 32,137 crore that were submitted during the global investor meet - Emerging Kerala. Of these projects, 14 projects of Rs 23,334 crore are under the department of Industries. Projects like BPCL Downstream, Kochi Petrochemical Park, Poly Isobutene project, BioNutra Park, Biomedical Devices Hub are some of the projects that would add to the outlook of Kerala in future. Already, projects like the joint venture by Mercedes Benz and the department of Higher Education, Bosch and department of Higher Education, Kids Lab by BASF India and the department of Science and Technology have started. Massive Participation in Start-Ups The Start-Up village at Kalamassery in Kochi has become a role model for rest of the country. Within a short period, student and youth entrepreneurs have come up with 7000 odd concepts and have registered at the Start-Up Village. These young entrepreneurs are provided 4% grace marks and 20 per cent relaxation in attendance. During 2014-15 the turnover of start-ups from IT and IT related ventures was Rs 7.84 crore. Basic facilities for the start-ups were provided through government IT parks and Micro, Medium and Small-Scale clusters. Rs 20 lakh Loan to Young Entrepreneurs 'Young Entrepreneurship Summit' held to assist youth with innovative industrial ventures to become young entrepreneurs and 'We Mission' meet held for the first time in India for women. Angel fund was formed to create initial capital and Seed fund to give additional assistance to young entrepreneurs. Incubation Centers were formed in colleges to realize the business concepts of students. For encouraging young entrepreneurs, Kerala State Entrepreneur Development Mission was formed. Already 2,834 ventures have been selected for the Rs 20 lakh interest-free loan scheme. 5000 persons were given training. Financial assistance provided to 650 ventures, out of which 450 have become fully functional. This scheme has provided direct jobs to 3000 persons and indirectly to almost the same number. Rs 220 crore National Waterway The 205 km Kollam-Kottappuram National Waterway, the only one in the State is getting ready for inauguration. For commencing the transportation of goods, Rs 150 lakh has been sanctioned for the construction of permanent berths at Udyogamandal and Chavara. The whole project is of Rs 220 crore. Rs 24,000 crore for PanchayatsRs 24,000 crore from Panchayat Plan fund provided to panchayats, which is an all-time record. For its activities in decentralization of power and empowerment of democracy, at the national level, Kerala stood second in 2011-12 and 2013-14, third in 2012-13 and took the first spot in 2014-15. Kollam district panchayat bagged the national award for the comprehensive welfare and development activities. Idukki and Veliyanadu block panchayats; Nadaapuram, Kaviyur, Marangattupally, Maneedu and Iraviperur grama panchayaths also won national awards. Kerala also won the national award for digitization of grama panchayats. Rs 3000 crore Japan drinking Water Project The Rs 3000 crore Japan Drinking Water Project has been implemented successfully in Thriuvananthapuram, Meenadu (Kollam), Cherthala, Kozhikode and Pattuvam (Kannur). 41 lakh people are getting the benefit. 4.5 Crore Tourists State Tourism Department is placed second in terms of contribution to the State’s GDP, which is 10%. In 2011-14, the State received 4.53 crore tourists and earned an income of Rs 87,754 crore.Backward Classes Development Department, Corporations Backward Classes Development Department, Backward Classes Development Corporation, Backward Classes Commission and Minority Commission and Kerala State Welfare Corporation for Forward Communities Limited to promote the comprehensive development and welfare of the economically backward sections among the forward communities of Kerala were formed. Loans worth Rs 1003.83 crore were disbursed by Backward Classes Development Corporation to 1.40 lakh people. Converted Christian Development Commission under the Backward Classes Development Department gave loans to the tune of Rs 28.09 crore to 10,534 people. Rs 6082 crore Through Aswas Aswas project was launched with the objectives of reducing loan arrears due to Cooperative Societies and Banks and also to provide relief to those struggling with loan repayment. Through the project, Rs 6082.19 crore was collected in terms of arrears and benefits of Rs 935.14 crore provided to loanees. Three Flyovers Worth Rs 212 crore Nearing completion are the flyovers at Palarivattom (Rs 72.60 crore) and at Edappally (Rs 108.77 crore). The Rs 30.17 crore Kanjikuzhi flyover in Kottayam town will be completed in 18 months' time. 245 Bridges of Rs 1600 crore Construction of 245 bridges in different districts has been completed for which Rs 1600 was spent. The tenure of the current government witnessed the construction of maximum number of bridges in the State. Rs 2,403 crore KSTP Phase II Received World Bank assistance for the Rs 2,403 crore Phase II project of KSTP. Under this project, nine roads of 363 km is being developed as per international standards. They are Kasaragod-Kanhangad, Pilathara-Pappinissery, Thalassery-Valavupara, Thiruvalla by-pass, Chengannur-Ettumannur, Ponkunnam-Thodupuzha, Punalur-Ponkunnam and Perumbilavu-Perinthalmanna. The project will be over by September 2018. Construction of Six Major Roads of Rs 3,272 crore Construction of Ramapuram-Nalambalam Darshanam road (Rs 50.75 crore), KanjikuzhiVettathukavala-Karukachal road (Rs 45.35 crore), Karamana-Kaliyikkavila NH (Rs 263 crore), Kuttippuram-Puthuponnani road (Rs 54.22 crore), Vallarpadam-Kozhikode coastal road (Rs 117.14 crore), Airport-Seaport road (Rs 216.97 crore) roads have become an asset to Kerala's basic development. Rs 100 crore Sewerage Plant at Muttathara A Rs 100 crore sewerage treatment plant with capacity of 107 MLD has started functioning at Muttathara in Thiruvananthapuram. Steps are being taken to start plants at Kozhikode, Kochi and Kollam. Work on the first Septage Treatment Plant in the country has been completed at Brahmapuram in Kochi. Plastic Wastes at Rs Two Clean Kerala Company has been formed for the collection and processing of wastes. Kerala is the first State in the country to collect plastic wastes and e-wastes by giving money. Steps are being taken to start the first plastic processing plant in Kochi Corporation. Clean Kerala Company is collecting plastic wastes at a rate of Rs 2 per kg and e wastes at a rate of Rs 25 per kg. So far, 150 ton e-waste and 134 ton plastic waste have been collected. Discarded CFL bulbs, CDs and tube lights are also collected. Online Payment of Electricity Bill All section offices of KSEB Ltd have been computerized. Centralized Customer Care and Call Centre started for the consumers to register complaints and to get essential information. Online payment system provided for payment of electricity bills. Provided internet based remittance of electricity bills in all section offices. Electricity signNowes 1.7 lakh rural homes 1.7 lakh rural houses provided electricity connection through Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme. 65,659 houses that come under the BPL category were given free of cost electricity connection. Rs 201.64 crore has been spent for the project. Record Financial Assistance to Public Sector An all-time record financial assistance of Rs 899.90 crore has been sanctioned to 44 public sector undertakings under the Industrial department. e-Tender and e-Payment facilities introduced. Procedure completed for implementing e-Auction system in public sector undertakings. Rs 6,510 crore Spent on MNREGS Marked changes affected in the rural sector by spending Rs 6,510 crore through MNREGS. Each year, an average of 17 lakh families got employment. During 2006-11, the amount spent was just Rs 1508 crore. Work-time re-scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm. and the daily wage of Rs 150 was raised to Rs 227 in 2011. Assistance for education of children and gifts during Onam season were also provided to the families of workers by the government. Electronic Fund Management System introduced in all grama panchayats to credit wages of labourers directly to their bank accounts. Three lakh New Pipe Connections Three lakh new pipe connections provided. Drinking water made available through 2.07 lakh publics taps. The target is to provide 4.19 lakh new connections this year. Paddy Procurement: 1.5 lakh Farmers to Benefit Achieved good progress in paddy procurement. In 2014-15, 5.50 tons of paddy was procured from 1.25 lakh farmers. Support price of paddy became Rs 21.50. 1.25 lakh farmers got the benefit. Raw Coconut Procurement For the first time in the State, a record 70213.69 tons of raw coconut was procured by KERAFED. For units that undertakes processing of raw coconut to copra, apart from the price of coconut the government is giving Rs 500 as financial assistance for a quintal of copra. The procurement price of raw coconut is Rs 25. Compensation to Crops Damaged by Wild Animals Compensation to crops damaged by wild animals can be given four times. The maximum is Rs 75,000/- Treatment assistance to those injured in wild animal attack has been raised to Rs 75,000. Sanction has been given to kill wild boars that destroy crops, subject to certain conditions. Stamp Duty: Benefits Worth Rs 1800 crore The Stamp duty for partition, release, gift and settlement deeds executed between family members have been reduced to Rs 1000 and registration fees reduced by 1%. This will benefit 49 lakh people by Rs 1800 crore in terms of Stamp duty and Rs 300 crore in terms of registration fees. Undervaluation: Benefit of Rs 403 crore One-time settlement scheme was implemented to settle arrear undervaluation cases. All undervaluation cases of title deeds involving land transactions of less than five cents in panchayats have been exempted. This will benefit about two lakh people by Rs 100 crore. 1,31,111 undervaluation cases were settled through one-time settlement scheme by paying a token amount as fee, which benefited that much number of families by Rs 303 crore. Motorized Tri-Scooters to 5010 Persons Motorized Tri-Scooters were given to 5010 persons through the State Handicapped Persons’ Welfare Corporation and LSGs. Janani and Jathik, two mobile phone applications that utilizes GIS to monitor the health of newborn babies in Attapadi was introduced. Schemes for Endosulfan Victims Those endosulfan victims who are getting disability pension from LSGs are given Rs 1700 per month and Rs 2200 to those who are not getting pension. Other endosulfan victims, suffering health issues are given monthly financial assistance of Rs 1200. Students in families affected by endosulfan are given Rs 2000, Rs 3000 and Rs 4000 as assistance for studying up to Plus Two. A special fund has also been sanctioned by Kasaragod district collector for the treatment of these students. Rs 51.30 crore has been sanctioned to the district collector for giving compensation of up to Rs 5 lakhs to victims of endosulfan. Hearing Ability to 581 Cochlear implantation surgery done on 620 children through the Sruthi Tharangam project. The inability to hear was identified in these children at a very young age and got included in the project. The government gives Rs 5.10 lakh for a cochlear implantation surgery. Classical Language Status and University for Malayalam Malayalam University started at Thunchan Parambu and achieved Classical Language Status for Malayalam. Malayalam language got this status along with Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Sanskrit. Viswa Malayala Mahotsavam celebrated after 34 years. Technology University Kerala Technological University set up under the department of Technical Education. All engineering colleges in the State are members of this University. 50,000 students will get the benefit. Police University National University for Police Sciences and Security Studies started. Graduate and postgraduate courses will be conducted on subjects related to police. Facilities for research will also be provided. Sree Narayana Studies in School Syllabus Sree Narayana studies have been included in Malayalam and Social Science text books of class seven. In connection with the centenary celebrations of Daiva Dasakam of Sree Narayana Guru, the prayer song was published bearing the picture of the Guru. A topical book to evaluate the visionary values of Daiva Dasakam published. Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned to Sivagiri Sreenarayana Dharmasangham Trust for the constructing of a Convention Centre. 720 new buses A subsidiary corporation by the name of KURTC started and 320 buses sanctioned. Purchase order given for buying 400 buses in the next phase. Bus terminals at Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvalla and Kozhikode were commissioned on BOT basis. 10 multi-axle Volvo buses have been rolled out for service by spending Rs 10 crore. ePayment system and courier service started. See Kuttanad Double Decker 'See Kuttanad' service started by using two double-decker passenger-cum-tourist boats that can accommodate 90 persons each. 45 steel boats are currently in operation. Bio toilet facility provided on passenger boats. Zoological Park Zoological Park is turning into a reality in Thrissur. e-Auction facility introduced for auctioning of wood. 390.50 lakh saplings distributed as per Haritha Keralam project. Kutti Vanam project started. 700 posts of tribal watchmen created and appointment given. 215 core for Settlements For the development of 436 Scheduled Caste settlements in which 50 or more families are living, Rs 215 crore has been sanctioned at the rate of Rs 1 crore each for developing 215 settlements. So far Rs 94.42 crore has been spent and development activities at 25% of the settlements completed. Rs 665 crore for Buying Land; Rs 568 crore for House Construction The financial help that is being given to the landless and homeless belonging to the SC category has been increased from Rs 75,000 to Rs 3.75 lakh in rural areas, Rs 90,000 to Rs 4.50 lakh in municipal areas and Rs One lakh to Rs 6 lakh in Corporation areas. Assistance for construction of houses increased from Rs One lakh to Rs Three lakh. Installments of grants given at a lower rate to beneficiaries earlier have been given remaining installments at higher rate. Rs 664.86 crore was given to 29,465 families for buying land and Rs 568.33 crore to 24,141 families for construction of new houses. Rs 43 crore for 43 Model Colonies The Model Colony project for which Rs One crore is being spent for one ST colony has so far come up with 43 model colonies at a cost of Rs 43 crore. Janani Janmaraksha Scheme The scheme provides pregnant women belonging to ST community and lactating mothers with monthly financial assistance of Rs.1000, starting from the third month of pregnancy and up to 12 months after delivery has so far benefited 11,000 persons. Debt Relief To 12,216 Persons Loans worth Rs 140 crore, taken by 12,216 persons belonging to the ST category from banks and various other institutions had been written off. These were loans of up to Rs One lakh, pending payment as on 01-04-2014. Snehaveedu to 30,308 By combining the general housing project of ST Development department, housing project using HUDCO loan, Indira Awas Yojana project of Rural Development department and the housing project of panchayats, the amount for constructing 30,308 houses under the comprehensive housing project, started in 2015-16 was increased from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh. Package for Primitive Tribes The package for primitive tribes worth Rs 148 crore saw 8001 persons getting the benefit of land, house, basic facilities and livelihood. 12 New Taluks, 31 New Villages 12 taluks and 31 villages were newly formed. Manjeswaram, Vellarikundu, Iritti, Thamarassery, Kondotti, Pattambi, Chalakkudy, Idukki, Konni, Kattakada, Varkala and Punalur are the new taluks. Title Deed for Revenue Land Steps taken to amend laws for providing title deeds to people who are living in revenue land for years. This will be completed within the tenure of this government. Coastal Ship Transportation Costal ship transportation project started. Commenced merchant ship service from Kollam, Beypore, Azheekal ports to ports in other States. As part of the project, ships transporting one ton of cargo will be given an incentive of Rs 1 for a km and Rs 1 for a km for passengers. Ponnani has become the first PPP port in the State. CIAL - Total Solar Powered Airport CIAL has become the first airport in the world to totally run on solar power. Work on the new Rs 1000 crore international terminal has begun. It has registered a record increase in terms of passengers and cargo. Debt Relief Projects Relaxed interest rate to those who repay short term agriculture loans without default, debt relief projects to members of SC / ST who have taken loans from cooperative societies and banks and special debt relief project for fishermen implemented. Rs 300 crore Cancer Care Centre Rs 300 crore cancer care centre, equipped with the most modern of facilities, coming up in Kozhikode district at the initiative of cooperative bank. Flat complex is also coming up in Thiruvananthapuram. Vegetable Farming in 90,533 Hectares Area of vegetable farming increased from 42,447 hectares in 2011-12 to 90,533 hectares in 2014-15. Production also increased from 8.25 lakh tons to 15.32 lakh tons. Vegetable farming carried out on commercial basis through 2479 clusters of farmers in 12,400 hectares of land. 22 lakh vegetable seed kits were distributed to school students and women free of cost and achieved vegetable farming in household premises. Vigilant KeralaVigilant Kerala project started with public participation to combat corruption. Welcome to Vigilant Kerala Web Portal started as part of the project. If convinced that there is conviction in a government project or work then that can be post on website. Facility in place at Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau for receiving complaints through social media. Jail Chapati Chapati making unit started at Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison and food processing units started at Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam and Kozhikode prisons for providing quality food to the public at rates lower than the market rates. The income from this was Rs 8 crore in 2014. Rs 26 crore solar projects of 1078 KW capacity implemented at different prisons. CCTV system provided at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kannur and Ernakulam prisons at a cost of Rs 4.20 crore. Water Tax: 7253 Complaints Redressed In the adalats that were conducted in all districts of the State, 7253 complaints related to arrears in water tax were resolved. Rs 1769 crore Rural Drinking Water Project Under the rural drinking water project, 209 projects, estimated at Rs 1769 crore are being implemented and that too in a manner that a person gets 70 liters of drinking water per day. Taking into account the outstanding implementation of accelerated rural drinking water projects, Kerala Water Authority received an additional amount of Rs 169.70 crore from the Central government. Pipes Worth Rs 445 crore Rs 445.37 crore spent for laying quality pipes. Use of concrete and AC pipes avoided. The diameter of drinking water pipes in the city area has been fixed at 150 mm and 80 mm in rural areas. The new drinking water projects should only use MS (mild steel), DI, PVC, PE pipes. PVC pipes should not be used where the diameter exceeds 160 mm. This new pipe policy has been formulated to prevent bursting of pipes. As part of the measures to prevent pipe bursts, Mild Steel pipes were laid from Aruvikkara to Peroorkada, replacing the old ones. 22 Arts and Science Colleges For the first time in the history of Kerala, 22 Arts and Science colleges were started in the government sector. 320 courses were also sanctioned in government-aided colleges. IIT Indian Institute of Technology will come up in an area of 400 acres at Kanjikode in Palakkad District. Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge Centre for Career Studies and Research Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge Centre for Career Studies and Research formed for the education and training of fishermen children and youth in the coastal area. 22,300 Students Admitted to Plus Two 62 government higher secondary schools and 167 aided higher secondary schools sanctioned. 22,300 students given admission to plus two courses in the 110 newly allotted 110 batches in the government sector and 336 in the aided sector. Aided Status to Buds Schools Aided status given to special schools that are having strength of more than 100 students including Buds schools. In-principal approval has been given for granting aided status to special schools having strength of more than 50 students. Italian Marines to Abide by Indian Laws The two Italian marines who shot dead fishermen off the Kerala coast were eventually made to abide by Indian laws and face trial in India. Kerala Model Healthcare Kerala has become the first State in India to have Allopathy, Ayurveda and Homoeo hospitals in all panchayats. Kerala has also become a totally Ayurveda State by starting Ayurvedic treatment centers in all panchayats. Department of Ayush formed by coordinating the treatment streams of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy. Permanent Ayurvedic treatment centers were started at 77 places where the treatment was not available. 343 posts were created for this and postings done. 110 Homoeo dispensaries started and 446 new posts created and postings done. Rs 61 crore for Sabarimala Master Plan Works worth Rs 61.27 completed as part of Sabarimala Master Plan, which is meant for providing basic facilities. Rs 10 crore given for Zero Waste Sabarimala project. Waste processing plant started at Sannidhanam. Works of walkway canopy, eight queue complexes and underpass from Pamba to Sannidhanam completed. Swami Ayyappan road readied for tractors to ply. Arogyabhavan at Pamba, Rs 523 crore renovation and repair of roads to Sabarimala undertaken. Rs 7 crore new bridge at Kanamala for making travel from Erumeli to Pampa easy and Rs 8.14 crore worth roads (14 m wide) with sidewalks at Nilakkal, facility for parking more than 10,000 vehicles, water-tank of 10 lakh liter capacity and two bore wells constructed. The roads to Sabarimala were renovated by spending 518 crore in connection with the pilgrimage season. Works of major roads leading to Sabarimala (75.2km) under heavy maintenance scheme and with five years guarantee were completed. These roads were constructed under heavy maintenance project which has a guarantee of 5 years. 124 km roads were renovated with a guarantee of three years. Centres for Imparting Skill Started, the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence, the nodal agency for providing skill excellence to the youth. Under this, Nursing Institute for Career Enhancement and Centre for Excellence in International Security at Thiruvananthapuram and Enlightened Skills Programme in Oil and Rig stated at Angamali. Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction started functioning at Chavara in Kollam. IIIC would soon start to function for making labourers skilled for undertaking model construction works of high standards at Chavara. Benefit to 10 lakh Workers More than half a century old Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Law and Rules amended in a timely manner. There are norms in the law for providing experience certificate to workers / employees, appointment order and hostel facility, which are to be given by the owner. The new law ensures crèche facility for the children of women workers, retiring room, clean toilets, seating facility inside retiring rooms and facility to deposit sanitary napkins. About 10 lakh workers will benefit through this amendment. Three Welfare Projects for Workers About 10 lakh plantation workers, 2.5 lakh coir workers has been included in the Aam Admi Beema Yojana, which ensures comprehensive insurance protection from accidents to the families of workers in the unorganized sector. Rs 75,000 for death due to accident and permanent disability, Rs 30,000 for natural death and Rs 37,500 for partial disability are being given. Scholarships are also given to the children of those enrolled in the project and studying from classes 9 to 12 (including ITI), the amount being Rs 1200 per month. CHIS Plus project has been implemented for giving an additional amount of Rs 70,000, apart from the Rs 30,000 given for treatment of serious illnesses. This is for members of Comprehensive Health Insurance, meant for treatment assistance. Implemented Sanjeevani scheme for giving financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the descendants in the event of accidental death of a family head, who is a member of the Comprehensive Health Insurance and CHIS plus schemes. Minimum Wages Revised Wages were revised on two occasions in the plantation sector and were the highest increase in the history of the State. The new rates for rubber, coffee, tea and cardamom are Rs 381, Rs 301 and Rs 330 respectively. Wages were revised in the cashew sector too. Fair wages were also revised for the motor workers. Steps are being taken at a fast pace to renew minimum wages in all labour sectors that have completed its term. Minimum wages renewed in 16 labour sectors. In addition five new labour sectors included in the list of minimum wages. Nokku Kooli abolished Nokku Kooli has been banned State-wide. Complaints can be registered by calling the call centre number 155214 or the toll-free number 180042555214. Eleven Autonomous Colleges Eleven autonomous colleges started in the State. Autonomous status awarded to Thiruvananthapuram Mar Ivanios College, Kollam Fathima Matha College, Changanassery S B, Sacred Heart, Maharajas College, St Theresa's College, Rajagiri College, Farook College, MES Mambadu, St Josephs Devagiri and St Thomas Thrissur. Over a period of time, these colleges can start new courses. In future, they will become autonomous universities. They can prepare syllabus, conduct exams and can announce results independently. Autonomous colleges will get aid from UGC. Wages Protection System Wages protection system implemented for giving wages through banks to workers employed in different private sectors. Kerala is the first state to implement such a project. The officials of Labour department can now monitor online whether the wages as prescribed by the law are signNowing the workers. Five Projects for Construction of Houses Kerala State Housing Board freed from the loan liability to HUDCO by paying Rs 730.67 crore inclusive of interest. Five projects Saphalyam, Santhwanam, Sayoojyam, Saubhagyam and Grihasree were formulated to provide houses to the people belonging to all sections. The Budget share for the housing sector in these five projects was Rs 2,077.65 crore during 2010-11. This was increased to RS 3,259 crore during 2014-15. 2064 persons belonging to lower income group having 2 or 3 cents of land as their own has been given assistance for construction of homes ranging from 30 sq m to 60 sq m, under the Grihasree housing project. Rs 55.59 crore given to 8,235 houses under M N Laksham Veedu reconstruction project and 218 houses reconstructed at Bangladesh colony at Rs 15 crore. 216 flats under Saphalyam project for constructing flats to those belonging to the weaker sections at Chathannur in Kollam, Chelannur in Kozhikode, Chottanikkara in Ernakulam, Puthukadu in Thrissur are under construction. 500 more flats will be constructed in the second phase. Major Laws Right to Service Act: This law ensures that the public gets the required service within a stipulated period of time. Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of violence) Act: Intended to prevent violence against healthcare service personnel and prevention of violence and property loss of healthcare service institutions. Kerala Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act: Law for banning exorbitant interest rates on loans and for giving rigorous punishment for taking excess interest. More effective measures for the protection of river banks and for checking sand mining. Kerala Lifts and Escalators Act: For the erection, maintenance and security of lifts and escalators in Kerala. Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University Law: For the establishment of Malayalam University to enrich the studies and research on Malayalam language, literature and culture. State Minority Commission Act: Formation of the commission for the educational progress, welfare, protection and empowerment of minorities. State Youth Commission Act: Formation of a commission for the preparation of projects for making the youth well educated, empowerment and also for the protection of the rights of youth. Kerala Anti-Social (prevention) Activities Amendment Act: Amendment to make KAPA more rigorous and flawless. Fish Seed Law: Law to check production quality, marketing and storage of of fish seeds. CESS on KSRTC tickets to provide more facilities for commuters and for the social security of employees. Law to protect the interests of investors in different financial institutions. Devaswom Recruitment Board Law: Law to form a recruitment board for making appointments to various posts. APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Law: Law pertaining to the formation of Science and Technology University to encourage scientific and technological education. Real Estate Regulation Law: Law for the formation of a regulatory authority for controlling and supporting the real estate sector. Expatriate Indians (Keralites) Commission Act: Law for the formation of a commission to protect the interests and welfare of the expatriate Keralites inside the State. Law for the formation of a State Commission for forward communities. Law that allows PSC to undertake University postings. Malayalam Language (propagation and enrichment) Bill: Law that ensures adaptation of Malayalam as the official language, its usage at all levels and its propagation, enrichment and sustenance. 100-Day Magic Out of the 107 programmes announced 102 could be completed within 100 days. 24x7 Call Centre, Disclosure of Personal Assets, Whistle Blower System, Settlement of Moolampilli, Chengara struggles and Enhanced security to Padmanbha Swamy temple were implemented successfully. Seven Streams Projects Seven-Stream Projects were implemented following the 100-day magic of the government. Seven paths were announced to attain the aim of development and care. The Seven-Stream Projects were announced on 17 November 2011. A total of 664 projects were announced under the seven streams. 91.71% of the projects have been achieved. Recognitions CM’s Jana Samparka Paripadi received the UN Award for Public Service in 2013. It was for the first time that a chief minister in the country was selected for this prestigious award. CM’s Website received the Web Ratna Award of the Union government in 2012. Kerala received the IBN 7 Diamond State Award for its performance in the fields of education, health, environment and poverty alleviation. India Today State of the States Award in 2013 for achieving outstanding growth in the fields of education, macro economics, agriculture, consumer market and investment. Kerala received the first prize of the Union government in 2014-15 for its performance in decentralization of power and empowerment of democracy. The responsible tourism project implemented at Kumarakom won the Ulysses Prize, known as the Oscar in tourism sector. The publicity event ‘Run Kerala Run’ a mass run for National Game witnessed the participation of 1.52 crore people and earned a place in the Limca Book of World Records. The mass run was arranged at 7000 centers across Kerala. Kerala has continuously received the Energy Award from 2012 instituted by the Ministry of Power. Kerala also received the India Power Award in 2014 and the award of the Ministry of Power in 2015 for implementing the most number of Pico hydro electricity project.Courtesy: Achievements of UDF Government in Kerala : Ready Reckoner 

Recently I participated in the “Prime Minister’s Silver Cup Essay Writing Competition 2017” which is one of the most prestigious essay writing competitions, being conducted by the SVP National Police Academy, Hyderabad for all the police officers from all departments, of all ages and ranks, across the entire country.The winner of the competition gets a Cash Prize, a Silver Cup and will be felicitated at the IPS Officers’ Passing Out Ceremony which is held at their Graduation Day in Hyderabad.The topic of that competition for this year was “National Security Strategy - From Cold War to Code War”. I shall be writing the essay here which I had submitted to the competition. I would lose the intellectual property rights for this essay to the Academy if I win the competition. If not, I would retain the rights to publish this essay anywhere I like. Since the results would come later this year, so writing it here wont be any problem. :P (Will delete this post, if by mistake, I get a prize :P)Anyways, here is the essay. The answer to this question. The national security strategy for India.“National Security Strategy : From Cold War to Code War”“Conflicting ideals are a virtue; they keep us on our toes, in a constant vigil” – AnonymousEons ago, when the earth was still uninhabited by the intriguing Homo sapiens, there existed a distant relative species of the contemporary cow, called the aurochs. This ancestral relative of the modern cattle was a highly ferocious and territorial animal, much unlike the present docile cow. The aurochs used to rule the lands of mid-Europe for centuries, and domesticating it was an unthinkable thought. But, a few centuries after the arrival of the humans, the ferocity of the aurochs was extinguished, the once undomesticable animal was domesticated, and the private parts of the aurochs were even squeezed by humans to extract nutritious milk. The aurochs was exploited, both physically and mentally, and was slowly transformed into the modern day humble cow. The aurochs, as we know it, is extinct, and now can be found only in the fossilized bones which are preserved in the museums, built by humans. There was no security for the aurochs. There was no strategy for the aurochs to save itself from the wrath of the humans. This is what happens when one does not have a viable security strategy against the threats of nature – Massacre and Extinction.In the last one century, our planet earth has witnessed major in-fighting amongst one of its species, the humans. The human beings have been fighting amongst themselves for millennia, but the last one hundred years had outdone all that. With the Great War of 1914 – 1918, the entire world witnessed enormous destruction, and it was thought that such destruction can never happen again. Then came the next Great War, aptly called the World War II, from 1939 till 1945, which again witnessed unprecedented destruction and loss of life. The dropping of the two nuclear bombs showed the capacity of the human intellect to destroy; to demolish; to devastate.The wreckage created by these two Wars taught a very valuable lesson to the human beings – Do not fight each other. But, this lesson was too short-lived, and we saw the rise of two super-powers, with conflicting ideas, ideals and ideologies, two countries that were competitive enough to start a race. A race to spread their ideology; A race to gain maximum number of members for their bloc; a race to build sophisticated arms; a race to explore space; a technological race; an ideological race; a hegemonic race – A race which paved the path for impending global destruction.For over five decades, the United States of America (USA) led the capitalist ideology bloc against the communist countries group, which was led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) (Soviet Union) for unopposed global leadership, at the cost of each other. Soon after the famous Cuban crisis of 1962, the rise in the race for accumulation of dangerous arms shocked the entire world, as it shocked these two countries as well. To slow down this race and to ensure a strong control of arms proliferation, the two superpowers started holding bilateral conferences called the SALTs – Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, which paved way to treaties called the STARTs – Strategic Arms Reduction Treaties. Due to this self-realization on their abilities to destroy the world, due to these plans to put aside their ego and come to an agreement, due to these security strategies to avert mutual destruction, the entire planet has been saved. Even though the USSR disintegrated due to its internal crumbling issues later and ensured USA wins the Cold War Race, but these talks and treaties had sound security strategy to avert a full-blown War between the two blocs. This shows the importance of bilateral talks, strategic plans and the importance of peace for our own survival.The same can be said about the history of the security issues of independent India as well. Gifted by a long coastline, a longer land border with a myriad of interesting countries with interesting bilateral relationships, a rising economy, an increasing hegemony in the global international affairs, a nation that is abundant with resources and thrives with a diverse chaotic population which is divided by religion, region, language, caste, class, gender, race and what not, it is a miracle indeed that India still is a functioning vibrant democracy and has not been internally disintegrated or externally destroyed yet.With internal problems ranging from intense home-grown armed naxalism, an ideological and violent Maoism, the divisional insurgent movements in the North-East, an increasing number of cyber threats, a rising crime rate, a constant fear of cross-border religious fundamentalist terrorism, India does face a continuous variety of constant issues, simultaneously, which can be witnessed nowhere else in the world. No other country has such diverse internal cleavages amongst its own populace, no other country faces so many varied security issues at the same time and no other country has survived and thrived in such immense chaos, as does India.The most intense struggle is against our neighbouring brother, Pakistan, with whom we have already indulged in three and a half wars. Tensions seem to be never-ending and any improvements in peace talks are marred with disappointing incidents like the Uri attack or the Pathankot attack, which we retaliate again through surgical strikes and by bringing up the Indus Water Treaty and Balochistan issues. Construction of the Kishenganga, Ratle and Baglihar dams on the cross-border rivers are becoming an issue as well. But, the recent victory of India in the International Court of Justice gives us a moral advantage in the international scenario. To also ensure that a minimum deterrence is established, India came up with the Cold Start doctrine, which aims to destroy all important strategic locations in Pakistan, if instances of unwanted cross-border terrorism occur. Not just cross-border terrorism, but also border demarcation issues through the Sir Creek estuary and the Thalweg doctrine are major impediments in the bilateral relationship with Pakistan. To further establish deterrence, India has the Nuclear Triad - Ability to fire nuclear weapons through land, water and air. And at the same time, to build better friendship, India also undertakes Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and has the ‘No-First Use’ nuclear attack policy. To analyse all these trends the Central Government had set up a Committee under Madhukar Gupta to understand ways and means of border protection, especially along the Indo-Pakistan border.Whereas, with China it is a totally different issue. With the rise of the Chinese economy, China wants to portray its hegemony in the Asian affairs, at the cost of the rise of India. It wants to coerce India into signing the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative; it wants to weaken India by making her have a trade deficit by dumping lots of Chinese goods into the market; it wants to ensure that India loses all its friends by subtly influencing their neighbours. China has started subverting the entire Pahadi (Northern Mountainous) region of Nepal, and now it has set its eyes on subverting the Madheshi Terai (Southern Plains) region. China is coercing Nepal into making the Government teach Chinese language in the schools and colleges of Nepal. It has also set up branches of the China Study Centre, China Cultural Centre, Buddhist Study Centre and Confucius Centre throughout the cities of Nepal to proliferate and spread the Chinese culture in the daily affairs of Nepal. It is also known that China controls a few-Nepal based newspapers and they get anti-India articles published in these newspapers, which the local Nepali citizens read and unknowingly get influenced by the Chinese propaganda. This subtle subversion is slowly and mildly influencing the entire Nepalese population to become pro-China and anti-India. These kind of mind games need to be countered by similar mind-games from the Indian side as well.The issue with Bangladesh is more complicated, mainly due to the infiltration of unregulated refugees and migrants into the north-eastern states which is changing the racial dynamics of these states, especially Assam. A large migrant Bangladeshi population is creating a Law & Order issue in the Assamese region mainly due to the xenophobia amongst the local populace, and the illegal settlement and citizenship registration of these Bangladeshi immigrants. The Myanmar border is stained with the stronghold of various drug cartels, due to the presence of the famous Golden Triangle, the world’s drug manufacturing horde. This is combined with the internal insurgency issues of the North-Eastern states, the violent Naga ethnic problem and an absence of economic development due to inaccessibility of the seven sister states with mainland India.Afghanistan is a friendly state, but is suffering from its own crumbling internal problems. India has ensured to maintain a cordial relationship with the Government, so that the rise of the Taliban can be monitored. India has helped Afghanistan in constructing the parliament building, dams and other essential infrastructure. India has hosted the Heart of Asia Conference of the Istanbul Process many times to gather international support for the Afghans. Overall, there are no border skirmishes with Afghanistan as India is respected by the people of this country. The same applies to the relationship with Bhutan as well, where mutual respect and understanding is the prevalent predominant norm, as propounded by the I.K. Gujral’s Doctrine of India helping its friendly neighbouring countries unilaterally, without expecting much in return. For every other strained border, including that of Sri Lanka, there are the Armed Forces which take care of the safety and security of the country.The effectiveness of the Armed Forces keeps increasing as the country faces and overcomes many of the violent incidents, which occur on a daily basis, in some or the other part of the country. The Ministry of Defence is in a constant vigil with its constituents, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard ever committed to their duties. The Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal controlling Ministry to a plethora of organizations including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) which takes care of internal intelligence collection and analyses, Border Security Force (BSF) at the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh border, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to ensure anti-naxal operations, Assam Rifles (AR) at the Indo-Myanmar border, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to give security protection to vital installations and strategic industries, National Security Guard (NSG) to combat against terrorist activities, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for the Indo-Nepal open border, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) which takes care of the Indo-Chinese border, the Special Protection Group (SPG) gives protection to VIPs such as the Prime Minister, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigating corruption charges and complicated cases of national importance, National Investigation Agency (NIA) which focuses on investigating terrorism related incidents and the Indian Police Service (IPS) personnel who head various State Police services. Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), takes care of the external foreign intelligence collection and analyses, reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office. Each of this organization has a specific task cut-out, which increases its specialization and specificity to handle these security issues with a focussed agenda. On top of these tasks, the Indian Government sometimes takes part in extraordinary exercises such as Operation Sankat Mochan where Indians were airlifted from South Sudan and Operation Raahat where Indians who were stuck in Yemen during their civil war were taken to safety. These new and upcoming challenges need a lot of presence of mind, training and an upgradation in the equipment used by the Armed Forces.Modernization of the Armed Forces has become a top priority for the Central Government after the establishment of the Vijay Kelkar Committee which focussed on the Defence Production and Acquisition of arms & ammunition from various foreign defence industries. As an aftermath to this committee, the Government also set up the Dhirendra Singh Committee for Defence Modernization which included recommendations like transfer of technology to ensure indigenous development and production of defence arms locally. This can be achieved with the help of the many Ordnance Factories established in the country under the overall technical supervision of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).Based on these recommendations, the Indian Army has recently announced the formation and formal establishment of the Army Design Bureau. It is aimed to act as an interface of the Indian Army that will provide high-tech defence products with the help of the collaboration between academics, various research organisations and the industry. This indigenous method will provide a better understanding of the Army’s requirements and would indigenise procurements and reduce the dependence on the massive imports. This will add an impetus to the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Central Government.Even the Navy is getting an upgrade with the approval of “Project 75”, where a series of advanced Scorpene submarines are being built, along with the induction of new naval attack ships INS Khanderi, INS Kalvari and others to the Indian Navy. In the same way, French Rafale fighter jets are being procured and are being inducted to the Indian Air Force. These will be on the lines of the Russian Sukhoi, which has helped the Air Force in innumerable ways. The Committee set up under the Chairmanship of Naresh Chandra gave its recommendations on the ways and means to ensure effective Defence Management which called for a better collaboration between the various Armed Forces.This enhanced collaboration can already been seen in the annual inter-service military exercise called the Theatre Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX) involving the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard which is designed to test the inter-operability and combat readiness of these Forces. Not just the TROPEX, but inter-national and inter-country military exercises are being organized annually to ensure inter-operability at a global scale, for example, the annual Malabar Trilateral Exercise between the naval forces of India, Japan and the United States. Even India and China have their own annual joint military exercise called Hand-in-Hand. This ensures an increased cooperation and mutual understanding of various countries, which may subtly increase friendship and strengthen the relationship.Such global initiatives are very common, especially in a post-Cold War era, most of the initiatives try to increase the collaboration between various countries, and many other initiatives try to control and restrict the proliferation of weapons. The Australia Group is one such initiative whose sole purpose is to reduce the usage of Chemical Weapons. The countries of this Group try to stop the trade in Chemical weapons and are pro-active in destroying the storage of chemical weapons in various countries. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which won the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize works to prohibit the proliferation of chemical weapons and aims to destroy any stack held by any country.In the same way, another grouping by the name of Wassenar Agreement was created to monitor the trade and transport in conventional arms and weapons. The Hague Code of Conduct and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) works to control and monitor the production and trade of ballistic missiles made by the signatory countries. In a similar way, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) restricts the trade of nuclear fissile material in the global scenario. India’s security strategy presently is to become a part of these four Agreements to ensure that it equips itself with the latest technology to ward away and deter any forms of external and internal aggression. The joining of these four groups also would enhance India’s global hegemony which would further enable her to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council later.India has changed its international strategy considerably, from those days of neutrality and non-alignment when it started the Non-Aligned Movement at the Bandung Conference in 1955, to the current bilateral and multilateral agreements being made with all the strategically important countries. The Prime Minister also is exhibiting diminished interest in the outdated NAM principles, as he did not attend the summit this year. We can also see alignment with countries like USA, with the signing of the LEMOA agreement and an increasing procurement of arms from USA instead of Russia. USA also recently announced India as one of its Major Defence Partners for upgrading the bilateral relationship to the next level. India has also started signing important Agreements with conflicting countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran in these security matters. The careful balancing of the Indian foreign policy juggling between these three triangularly ideologically opposite countries is a modern day wonder indeed.If things seemed complicated in the international scenario, they are no less in the internal scenario as well. The State Police which takes care of the Law & Order situation, reduction of crime rate, management of prisons and other policing is facing a tough situation indeed. With the rising drug related problems, rapes, murders, thefts, corruption, bribery etc., the local citizenry is facing a lot of issues in their day-to-day problems which needs to be solved by their locally available policemen. A Committee was set up under Justice Malimath to suggest recommendations in revamping the Criminal Justice system. It reiterated the need for D. K. Basu Guidelines that are to be followed by the policemen to adhere to the Procedure of Arrest. The revamping of the existing police machinery to suit the needs of the current times is a must. With an enhanced citizen – police interactional interface, what needs is an upgradation in the maintenance of police records. This can be achieved through digitization of court records, police official documents and connecting the internal systems of all the police stations and courts with each other. An online interface and an ability to lodge FIRs online should also be encouraged. Utilizing the internet for establishing e-Governance will help the common man in approaching the police easier. The increase in the usage of internet through smartphones and laptops by today’s India is a testimony for this fact indeed.The increase in the interconnectivity of the entire world due to the explosive proliferation and penetration of the internet in the last two decades has brought a plethora of new security threats that need to be understood and neutralized soon. The Government had set up a Committee under A P Shah to understand the threats of the cyber world and ways to enhance the country’s cyber security. It also set up the Gulshan Rai Committee for Data Privacy which recommended ways to ensure that the data we generate and store is secure and safe. The inventions of new virtual digital crypto-currencies like the Bitcoin have also brought up new challenges in the cyber and financial sectors. The Bitcoins, which are unregulated, have the ability to disrupt the cyber space and disintegrate the financial world.The setting up of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has been an excellent initiative to tackle the futuristic problems of the contemporary times. Especially at a time when our neighbouring countries are building armies of cyber warfare forces whose sole purpose is to attack the cyber networks of the vital installations of our country. With the help of CERT-In, the Central Government has also brought out initiatives like Cyber Swachata Kendra to help secure the cyberspace which is still at an early nascent stage. Now, the need of the time for the Indian Government is to build an army of IT specialists and cyber analysts who can both defend the country’s cyber infrastructure and if the need be, attack the enemy country’s online vital installations.The country anyways exports coding experts to the developed countries in the pretext of “brain drain”, whereas the Indian Government can hire the same computer specialists for managing her own cyber security. It is said that the Cold War was actually a war between the two blocs’ mathematicians, statisticians and coders whose work was to solve and break codes of the enemy country’s strategies and plans. From that Cold War, to the current Code War, the importance of this intelligentsia cannot be overemphasised. They have been the unsung heroes of those times, and they still will be the true heroes in these times.Along with conventional armies and conventional security strategies, India needs to learn to use unconventional means to win over the unconventional threats that she faces in the contemporary times in order to survive. Our country is a curious case where it has been successful in attracting all sorts of complications including terrorism, insurgency, Maoism, underworld gang wars, smuggling, theft, rapes, crime, border infiltration and every kind of possible issue that can be thought of. Our country has also created a viable organizational capacity to control each one of these intimidating activities.For over seven decades since Independence, the young country has gained experience in tackling each threat with its own focussed strategy, with its own viable plan and with its own appropriate ideation. Learning from the historic tale of the aurochs, in the current cluttered international context, and the more chaotic internal context, India has learnt to take good care of herself. Much unlike the fabled extinct aurochs, to ensure her own survival, India has constantly strived to have a viable National Security Strategy, right from those days of the Cold War, to these times of the Code War.

Rafale vs Typhoon: The facts!Thrust to weight ratio:Maximum:Rafale = 1.50Typhoon = 1.76Nominal:Rafale = 1.03Typhoon = 1.21Minimum:Rafale = 0.62Typhoon = 0.82RafaleEmpty weight = 10220 kgFuel capacity (internal) = 4680 kgMinimum weight = 10220 kgNominal weight (without external loads) = 14900 kgMaximum weight = 24500 kgMaximum Thrust = 2*75 kNMaximum Thrust-to-weight = 2*75/(9.81*10.220) = 1.50Nominal Thrust-to-weight = 2*75/(9.81*14.900) = 1.03Minimum Thrust-to-weight = 2*75/(9.81*24.500) = 0.62TyphoonMinimum weight = 11000 kgFuel capacity (internal) = 4.996 kgNominal weight = 15996 kgMaximum weight = 23500 kgMaximum Thrust = 2*95 kN (war setting)Maximum Thrust-to-weight = 2*95/(9.81*11.000) = 1.76Nominal Thrust-to-weight = 2*95/(9.81*15.996) = 1.21Minimum Thrust-to-weight = 2*95/(9.81*23.500) = 0.82Wing loading:Minimum:Rafale = 224 kg/m²Typhoon = 215 kg/m²Nominal:Rafale = 326 kg/m²Typhoon = 312 kg/m²Maximum:Rafale = 536 kg/m²Typhoon = 459 kg/m²RafaleWing area = 45,70 m²Nominal weight = 14900 kgMinimum wing loading = 10220/45.70 kg/m² = 224 kg/m²Nominal wing loading = 14900/45.70 kg/m² = 326 kg/m²Maximum wing loading = 24500/45.70 kg/m² = 536 kg/m²Typhoonwing area = 51.2 m² (with extended leading edges)Minimum wing loading = 11000/51.2 kg/m² = 215 kg/m²Nominal wing loading = 15996/51.2 kg/m² = 312.5 kg/m²Maximum wing loading = 23500/51.2 kg/m² = 459 kg/m²Service Ceiling:Rafale = 15.240 kmTyphoon = 16.765 kmRate of Climb:Rafale = 250 m/sTyphoon = 315 m/sFerry Range:Rafale = 3750 kmTyphoon = 3790 kmMaximum payload:Rafale = 9600 kgTyphoon = 7500 kgMinimum Speed: Rafale = 148 km/hTyphoon = 203 km/hMaximum Speed:Rafale = Mach 1.97Typhoon = Mach 2.35The Rafale has two advantages over the typhoon. It has a lower minimum speed, which makes it more suitable for landings on aircraft carriers. It can carrier a higher weapons load, which makes it more suitable for ground attack missions. The respective range of both aircraft is approximately equal. In all of the parameters relevant for aerial combat, i.e. thrust-to-weight ratio, wing loading, climb rate, service ceiling and top speed, the typhoon is superior to the Rafale.Both Rafale and Typhoon were built to be aerodynamically instable along the longitudinal axis, which results in the natural tendency to lift the nose of the aircraft, i.e. to pitch. The canards are used in order to balance this tendency such that the aircraft can be redirected from a looping into a straight flight path. The Rafale's canards are positioned right in front of the wings, whereas the typhoons canards are positioned further away from the wings right below the cockpit. This means that the typhoon's canards are further away from the axis of rotation. The longer lever means that the typhoon's canards can apply a greater leverage force (torque) in order to redirect the nose of the aircraft. Consequently, the instantaneous as well as the continuous pitch rates of the typhoon should be considerably better than the Rafale.PerformanceTyphoon is the faster aircraft and has a signNowly superior thrust-to-weight ratio which gives it better acceleration at all altitudes. This also allows Typhoon to retain and regain energy faster than Rafale in a horizontal dogfight situation. It also has a signNowly higher service ceiling of over 60,000ft which allows it to operate uniquely well alongside the US F-22 Raptors ‘high and fast’ in the air superiority role which is exactly where it was designed to excel. Rafale has a signNowly superior load-carrying capability and its manoeuvrability at low speeds and altitudes is also better than Typhoon’s although the margin is slim except where both aircraft are very heavily loaded. In terms of horizontal manoeuvrability, Rafale has the better instantaneous turn rate allowing it to reverse its turns more quickly but Typhoon can sustain higher g’s for longer without bleeding speed. High alpha performance is similar, with both aircraft limited by their air intake placement and lack of thust vectoring although Typhoon’s intakes can at least ‘gape’ slightly to increase airflow at high Alpha and low speeds. Range is almost identical at around 2000nmi with three drop-tanks in ‘ferry’ configuration but in terms of strike missions, Rafale’s greater payload capacity allows it to carry greater under-wing fuel loads for a given strike payload. The high availability of aerial refuelling in both air force’s standard operating scenarios means the small differences are almost unimportant for overall combat effectiveness.the french rafalethe eurofighter typhoonsource:Typhoon versus Rafale: The final word

This seems to be a game-changing budget fortunately not populist as had been expected just before some major state elections due shortly. Neither is this a pro-rich budget as the opposition had predicted in the event of it not being pro-poor. For the first time, the railway budget has been clubbed with the general budget.Some of the key takeaways:MNREGA scheme gets 48K crore, participation of women 55%SC/ST schemes get over 50K crore in allotments - populist no doubt!Tax cut for MSMEs with turnover up to 50cr.Incomes in the range 2.5L-5L get IT reliefDigital transactions get a big thumbs upRailway to focus on safety, improvement of basic amenities, 7000 stations go solar, 500 stations to get lifts and escalators, bio-toilets, 3500 km of new tracks laid by 2020Most welcome move of all is that there is a push for more transparency in political funding with a cap of 2K as the maximum allowed per donation and a nudge towards cashless transactions even here - finally, the government has decided to walk the talkThis is being referred to as clean-up budget:Clean-up of the way politics shall be played in the country henceforth - cleaner funding, cleaner campaigningEach political party will have a bank account and donors would draw bonds of amount to donate which the party would deposit and encash. Just not too sure about the “anonymity” of donations. Hopefully, legitimate cash enters this system and is traceable back to the donor.**The nature of the bond was made clear only after the budget was declared. I have amended my answer to reflect this - I agree that black money in election campaign has not come to a halt with this, just made it a tad more difficult.**Clean-up of taxesCashless push - digitizationHigh on investment pushCreation of jobs by easing taxation in micro, small and medium enterprisesMollifying rural poorOne crore houses for poor by 2019! Credible?Tax benefits for the agricultural sectorAllocations in major sections:Defence: 2.74L croreTransport: 2.4L croreAgriculture/Rural: 1.87L croreWomen welfare: 1.84L croreRailways: 1.3L crore (with a promise to improve safety by 2020)MNREGA: 48K croreInfrastructure sector to get a boost of 3.96K croresTruth be told, the statistics quoted by the FM about people not being as poor as the tax collections show, seriously throws light in the fact that more people have been evading paying taxes than the other way around. Businesses need to shape up and this clean-up shall be good for all of us in the long run.The education sector seems to have been glossed over, considering that jobs cannot be created without empowering the youth with requisite skills.