Indian Army to brief Ministry on restructuring plans
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army will make a presentation to the Defence Ministry this week on radical plans to reorganize and restructure the world’s third largest force. Initiated by Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, the reorganisation aims to turn the Army into a lean and mean fighting force.”Senior Army officers of Lieutenant General rank will make a presentation to the senior level officers of the Defence Ministry about the studies done by the different directorates of the Army,” sources in the Army said here. The Defence Ministry and the Army Headquarters have ordered separate studies to facilitate restructuring and resizing of 1.2 million-strong Army to save money for modernisation of the forces. The matter has also been discussed at the level of the Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee. The three services chief also held a meeting recently to discuss tri-services issues. The mammoth drill of reorganising the Army is based on four comprehensive studies led by the army’s topmost generals. The plan is expected to change the complexion and direction of the 1.2 million- strong force and transform it into a deadlier fighting machine fully prepared for future wars. Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra also ordered a study through the National Security Advisory Board to do a parallel study on the reorganisation of the force. (ANI)
Shimla, Manali receive heavy snowfall
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh’s capital city Shimla and other tourist places of the state like Manali, Kufri and Narkanda received heavy snowfall since the wee hours Tuesday, the meteorological department said. Shimla received 5 cm snowfall till 8.30 am and it is likely to continue during the day, MeT Centre Shimla director Manmohan Singh said. Besides Manali received 5 cm snowfall, Kothi 20 cm, Saluni 6 cm and Kalpa 7.4 cm snowfall till 8.30 am, he said. Tourists in large numbers gathered at the historical Ridge and Mall road in Shimla to enjoy snowfall. Meanwhile, cold wave conditions intensified across the state as widespread rain and snowfall occurred during the last 24 hours. Ghamroor received the highest 62.8 mm rainfall followed by Dharamsala 47.4 mm rainfall, Kangra 39.6 mm, Palampur 32 mm, Saluni 25 mm, Kheri 28 mm, Banjar 33 mm, Kasauli 40.5 mm, Dharampur 30.2 mm, Jogindernagar 25 mm, Naina Devi 32 mm, Una 21.8 mm and Shimla received 13.2 mm rainfall. Light to moderate rain and snowfall is expected at some places Wednesday as well, weatherman said. Fresh snowfall and rain also brought down the minimum temperature in most parts of the state. (PTI)
Kerala intl art auction raises Rs 3.2 crore for flood relief
KOCHI: First-ever international live contemporary art auction in Kerala saw all its works getting sold out, said an official on Tuesday and added that the entire Rs 3.2-crore proceeds will be donated to the state government’s fund for rebuilding the areas affected by the natural calamity five months ago. The auction — Art Rises, organised jointly by Mumbai-based Saffronart and the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) on Saturday — comprised 42 artworks donated by leading Indian and international artists, gallery owners and collectors. The entire amount of Rs 3.2 crore will go to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund for the benefit of the people hit by the floods and landslides in August last year, according to an official statement. The sale was led by eminent artist Anish Kapoor’s “Untitled, 2018”, a vivid blue canvas-and-resin work that was sold for Rs 1.3 crore. (IANS)
Rashtriya Kavi Sammelan to honour ‘valour and words’
THANE: The 26th Rashtriya Kavi Sammelan scheduled to be held on the forthcoming Republic Day will witness a string of coveted awards being given to various eminent personalities, including Major Kaustubh Rane, who laid down his life to foil an infiltration bid near Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir last year. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the event organizer Advocate B L Sharma stated that the persons who have made worthy contributions in their respective fields will be honoured in the event. Naming the recipients of the awards, Mr Sharma said that the journalist vimal Mishra and Marathi actor Subodh Bhave will be given the prestigious ‘Dr Harivanshrai Bacchan Sahitya Ratna Puraskar’ and ‘Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Gaurav Puraskar’, respectively. (UNI)
Dragging my mother’s name for political vendetta: Vadra
NEW DELHI: Claiming that his mother has not received any summon from the Enforcement Directorate, businessman Robert Vadra on Tuesday said that her name is being dragged as part of political vendetta and that going to such an extent is deplorable.Vadra is the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)”My mother has not received any summons from the Enforcement Directorate. She is a 75-year- old lady who lives a completely private life and has nothing to do with politics.” wrote Vadra. (ANI)