Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Visit to India.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Visit to India.

·         India and Russia identify new areas for partnership.

·         Agreements sealed in defence and strategic spheres including civil nuclear sphere.

·         This is Putin’s fifth visit to India, perhaps the maximum ever by a top Kremlin leader

Giving a boost to their ties India and Russia on March 12, 2010 signed 19 pacts, including three in civil nuclear field and one for purchase of 29 MiG 29 fighters besides inking the revised agreement on Gorshkov aircraft carrier.

The two countries plan to set up a joint venture to produce GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), enable equipment and sign a contract for construction of two reactors at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Under the agreements  in civil nuclear field, Russia will build 12 atomic plants—six in Kundankulam and six in Haripur in West Bengal.

Read More

Women's Reservation Bill Passed in the Rajya Sabha.

Image via Wikipedia

Women's Reservation Bill Passed in the Rajya Sabha.

The Rajya Sabha on March 9, 2010 took a ‘historic and giant step’ by voting (191 for and 1 against) to amend the Constitution, providing one third reservation of seats in Parliament and State Assemblies for women. The Bill has to be passed by the Lok Sabha and ratified by 50 per cent of the States before it comes into effect.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who was present through the stormy debate said that “landmark

legislation was a living proof that the heart of India is democratically sound and in the right place.”

Key Features and Implications of Women's Reservation Bill

One-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies (inlcuding Delhi) will be reserved for women. In the case of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the reservation will work as a quota within quota—a third of the seats currently reserved for the two categories will be sub-reserved for SC/ST women. Reservation of seats for women will be in rotation and will cease 15 years after the  commencement of the Act. Seat allocation will be done in a manner determined by Parliament through enactment of a law.  Since a third of the seats will be reserved during each general election, each seat in

the Lok Sabha and each seat in each of the Assemblies will have one reserved term and two free terms in the course of three elections.

Read More