VIDEOS (UPA 1)

No discrimination with states, says Azad

2 months 20 days ago

Sangrur: The Government is committed to provide improved health facilities to the people and does not discriminate
with any state in health matters, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Thursday. He
was speaking at foundation stone laying of PGIMER Satellite C...

Letter from Sonia prompted Govt to change IAS service rules?

5 days ago

New Delhi: It was a letter from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Prime Minister Manomohan Singh on the
suspension of Noida SDM Durga Nagpal that apparently prompted the government to consider changes in All India
Service rules to bring in more safeguards for IAS, IPS and other officers. In...

SC refrains from passing order on Swamy plea

4 months 23 days ago

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refrained from passing any order on the plea by Janata Party chief
Subramanian Swamy questioning the FIPB clearance granted to Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 during the UPA-1 regime
when P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister.

Much-touted Food Security Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

4 months 23 days ago

New Delhi: The much-touted Food Security Bill, which proposes to give the country`s three-fourth population the
right to highly-subsidised food, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with the government rejecting
apprehensions that it would impinge upon the rights of states. Food M...

Mamata urges regional parties to unite to oust UPA

7 months 26 days ago

Panihati (WB): Stopping short of giving a call for a fourth front at the national-level, West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee on Saturday exhorted regional parties to come under one umbrella and oust the Congress-led UPA
government at the Centre.

Delhi govt gears up for food scheme launch

5 months 8 days ago

New Delhi: Gearing up to launch the food security scheme on August 20, the birth anniversary of former Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday issued directions for addressing the nittygritties in implementing the programme. Chairing a cabinet meeting, ...

Important decisions expected in DMK's general council on Dec 1

3 months 4 days ago

Chennai: DMK`s General Council, the top policy-making body of the party, will meet here on December 1 to take
several `important decisions`, party chief M Karunanidhi said today. "DMK`s general council meeting is to take place
at Kalaignar Arangam of Anna Arivalayam (party headquarters) o...

Food Security ordinance to be sent to Prez Pranab for approval

5 months 27 days ago

Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: A day after the Union Cabinet cleared an ordinance on Food Security, the Congress-led
UPA government will send the same to President Prnab Mukherjee for his approval on Thursday. If the President
signs it, then the ordinance will come into immediate effect and...

All UPA allies on board on Food Bill Ordinance: Thomas

6 months 18 days ago

New Delhi: A day before the Cabinet considers issuing an Ordinance to implement government`s ambitious National
Food Security Bill, Food Minister K V Thomas on Wednesday said all UPA allies, including NCP, are on board and
there was a consensus on issuing an ordinance. The Food Security B...

Govt to push food, land bills on first day of Parl session

5 months 14 days ago

New Delhi: With an eye on the Lok Sabha polls, the government will try to push the Food Security Bill and Land
Acquisition Bill as soon as Parliament meets for Monsoon Session on August 5. Sources said the government is likely
to list these two bills in the agenda of the business of the v...

Badal blames Centre for Sarabjit Singh's death

7 months 19 days ago

Bhikhiwind: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday said that had the Congress-led UPA government
at the Centre acted timely and diligently, then Sarabjit Singh could have been saved. Addressing a gathering to pay
homage to Sarabjit Singh, the Chief Minister said that the st...

After Amartya Sen s backing, will Food Security Bill be passed?

7 months 24 days ago

Zee Media Bureau New Delhi: With Nobel laureate Amartya Sen extending his full support to the National Food
Security Bill that was tabled in Lok Sabha yesterday, the UPA government is expected to take all possible steps to
ensure that smooth passage of the crucial legislation on Tuesday. ...

UPA all set to push for ordinance on Food bill

today
The revised Bill along with Food Ministrys 81 amendments will be tabled for approval
at the Union Cabinet meeting.
Ignoring concerns expressed by allies and civil society groups, the United Progressive Alliance
government is all set to push for an ordinance on the Food Security Bill. The revised Bill along with
Food Ministrys 81 amendments will be tabled for approval in the Union Cabinet meeting on
Thursday.
Food Minister K.V. Thomas and key ally and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are known to have expressed
concern over taking the ordinance route. Some of the allies have also let it be known that the
proposal for an ordinance was moved during the previous Cabinet meeting without prior
consultation. The Cabinet however, did not take it up.
It is learnt that Mr. Thomas met Congress president Sonia Gandhi last week after which he spoke to
UPA allies, including Mr. Pawar, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh and Farooq Abdullah of the
National Conference to get them on board. Both Mr. Pawar and Mr. Ajit Singh have made it a point
to attend Thursdays Cabinet meeting.
Despite his reservations, Mr. Pawar stated recently that he was not against the Bill, indicating his
willingness to go along with whatever the Cabinet decides.

The government has justified an ordinance on the ground that the Opposition had thwarted all its
attempts to bring the Bill in Parliament (although the revised Bill was brought on the last day of the
budget session) and that the rollout would take at least six months.
There is also a view that in case the principal Opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, does not
allow Parliament to function and the ordinance cannot be ratified by Parliament, then the UPA will
go to the polls with the claim that the BJP did not allow a rights-based bill to be passed.
Parties stand
On its part, the BJP wants to show its support for the Bill by seeking an early monsoon session or a
special session to debate it. The Left parties will move amendments mainly for a universal public
distribution system. The Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal and All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam will also move amendments. The Samajwadi Party, which supports the UPA from outside,
has opposed the Bill terming it anti-farmer.
However, it appears that the UPA, particularly the Congress, wants to go it alone, this being an
election promise. Already some of the States have enacted rights-based food Bill and several others
are providing foodgrain through the public distribution system.
The Food Bill seeks to provide rice at Rs. 3 per kg, wheat at Rs. 2 per kg and millets at Re. 1 per kg
per month to 67 per cent of the population to be identified by the State governments. Each
beneficiary will be entitled to 5 kg per month as against 35 kg per household at present.
Keywords: Food Security Bill, food security ordinance, UPA government

Cabinet Ministers (as on 21.12.2013)

S.No.

Name

Portfolio

1.

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister and also in-charge of the Ministries/Departments not

specifically allocated to the charge of any Minister viz.:
(i) Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions;
(ii) Ministry of Planning;
(ii) Department of Atomic Energy; and
(iv) Department of Space.

2.

Shri A.K. Antony

Minister of Defence.

3.

Shri Sharad Pawar

Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Food Processing Industries.

4.

Shri P. Chidambaram

Minister of Finance.

5.

Shri Ghulam Nabi

Azad

Minister of Health and Family Welfare.

6.

Shri Sushilkumar
Shinde

Minister of Home Affairs.

7.

Shri M. Veerappa
Moily

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Minister of Environment

and Forests.

8.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah

Minister of New and Renewable Energy.

9.

Shri S. Jaipal Reddy

Minister of Science and Technology, and

Minister of Earth Sciences.

10.

Shri Kamal Nath

Minister of Urban Development, and

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.

11.

Shri Ajit Singh

Minister of Civil Aviation.

12.

Shri Vayalar Ravi

Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs.

13.

Shri Mallikarjun
Kharge

Minister of Railways.

14.

Shri Oscar Fernandes

Minister of Road Transport and Highways, and Minister of Labour and

Employment.

15.

Shri Kapil Sibal

Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and

Minister of Law and Justice.

16.

Shri Anand Sharma

Minister of Commerce and Industry.

17.

Kumari Selja

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment.

18.

Dr. Girija Vyas

Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.

19.

Shri G.K. Vasan

Minister of Shipping.

20.

Shri Praful Patel

Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

21.

Shri Shriprakash
Jaiswal

Minister of Coal.

22.

Shri Salman Khurshid

Minister of External Affairs.

23.

Shri V. Kishore
Chandra Deo

Minister of Tribal Affairs, and

Minister of Panchayati Raj.

24.

Shri Beni Prasad

Verma

Minister of Steel.

25.

Shri Jairam Ramesh

Minister of Rural Development.

26.

Shri K. Rahman Khan

Minister of Minority Affairs.

27.

Shri Dinsha J. Patel

Minister of Mines.

28.

Shri M.M. Pallam Raju

Minister of Human Resource Development.

29.

Shri Harish Rawat

Minister of Water Resources.

30.

Smt. Chandresh
Kumari Katoch

Minister of Culture.

31.

Dr. Kavuru Samba

Siva Rao

Minister of Textiles.

A look back at 61 years of top stories

Every year since 1953, reporters and editors at Automotive News have chosen the year's top auto
story. Here are their picks.
2013: General Motors, as part of its biggest personnel shake-up since 1992, named product
development chief Mary Barra to succeed Dan Akerson as CEO. Barra, an engineer and GM lifer
who had spent much of her career working inside the company's plants, will become the first woman
to run a major global carmaker.
2012: North America was the world's hottest auto market. And coupled with that sizzling demand
was a new leanness - painfully achieved during the recession - that helped dealerships, automakers
and suppliers to a very profitable year.
2011: On March 11, a massive earthquake rocked northeast Japan and a devastating tsunami
followed. Thousands died, and Japan's auto industry was severely wounded, deep into the supply
chain. Shortages of vehicles and parts disrupted the global auto market through the year. In the
United States, vehicle shortages stifled a modest sales recovery that had been taking root.

2010: The industry began to claw its way back, but Toyota didn't share in the recovery. Allegations of
unintended acceleration sparked a heated safety controversy, ugly headlines and global recalls of
millions of units. Toyota's prime asset a pristine reputation for quality was seriously tarnished.
The company lost U.S. market share, along with the trust of many shoppers.
2009: The industry slump went from bad to worse, and two of the Detroit 3 GM and Chrysler
filed for Chapter 11 reorganization. The good news
2008: It was a tough year from start to finish, and it ended with GM and Chrysler on their knees
before Congress begging for money to keep operating. Ford was in better shape, but it wanted a line
of credit. They didn't get anything from Congress, but GM and Chrysler did get a $17.4 billion loan
from President Bush and the Treasury Department.
2007: The Detroit 3 closed the gap in labor costs with their Japanese rivals. The car companies
agreed to pay about 55 cents on the dollar to shift nearly $100 billion in combined retiree health care
obligations to UAW-controlled trusts. The UAW also relented on two-tier wages that allow the Detroit
3 to replace workers earning $28 an hour with new hires earning half that wage.
2006: An awful year for Detroit 3. Ford loses $5.8 billion in third quarter; the Chrysler group, felled by
sales bank, loses $1.5 billion; GM makes progress but is still light years from financial health. Detroit
3 lose 3.2 points of market share in 11 months; Japanese gain 2.2 points
2005: Delphi Corp., the world's largest auto supplier, files for bankruptcy protection. GM refuses to
bail out Delphi, its former property; Delphi CEO Steve Miller wants to cut wages in half and reduce
benefits; UAW threatens a killer strike that would cripple GM
2004: Rebates remain sky-high; sales continue near 17 million despite weak fundamentals; Asians
boost market share; Big 3 and others try new incentives
2003: The Big 3 moved the iron with high incentives but lost market share again; Big 3 share fell to
60.0 percent, down 1.7 points from 2002
2002: Ford's financial and quality problems continue; a turnaround strategy, announced in January,
includes a pledge to deliver $7 billion annual pretax profit by 2005 after losing $5.45 billion in 2001;
Bill Ford brings back Allan Gilmour as CFO
2001: Ford fires Jac Nasser as CEO and president; Bill Ford (the fourth generation) succeeds
Nasser as CEO and continues as chairman
2000: Chrysler in crisis
1999: Sales set a record
1998: Daimler-Benz and Chrysler Corp. combine as DaimlerChrysler AG, with Daimler as the lead
pony; headquarters are in Stuttgart; Juergen Schrempp and Robert Eaton are said to be co-CEOs
1997: In less than a year, H. Wayne Huizenga's Republic Industries Inc. becomes the nation's
largest new-car dealership group, with 270 franchises and annual revenue of $10.3 billion;
acquisitions continue; Republic wins fight with Toyota
1996: Airbags kill kids and small adults; NHTSA delay means no action until 1997 on whether to
order lower-powered bags or allow owners to disconnect them
1995: Kirk Kerkorian, Chrysler's second-largest shareholder, makes a takeover run at Chrysler in
April, but Chairman Robert Eaton beats it down
1994: Sixteen former Honda managers and two former dealers are indicted in U.S. probe of bribes
and kickbacks in wholesale organization; all but three plead guilty

1993: J. Ignacio Lopez quits GM and joins Volkswagen; GM says he stole secret documents; Lopez
and VW deny it; FBI and German court investigate as year ends
1992: The bloodbath at GM
1991: Car and truck sales drop 12 percent from a mediocre 1990; GM, Ford and Chrysler deep in
red; end of Persian Gulf war fails to ignite sales; GM announces massive cost-cutting program and
cutbacks in personnel and facilities as year ends
1990: GM's Saturn arrives after seven years of development; the car gets good reviews, pleases
shoppers and dealers, but production problems hold output to a trickle, delaying evaluation of
Saturn's sales success
1989: After eight quiet years, Washington again becomes a major thorn in the side of the auto
industry; President Bush and Congress talk about tighter emissions rules, much higher fuel-economy
standards and alternative-fuel cars
1988: The sleeping giant stirs
1987: Chrysler buys AMC
1986: Turmoil at GM
1985: Big 3 on buying binge
1984: Record profits for each of the Big 3 as well as a record profit of $9.8 billion for the four
domestic automakers
1983: A year of recovery for the domestic auto industry; sales and production rise after three bad
years
1982: John DeLorean is arrested on drug-trafficking charges; he is later found not guilty; his sports
car company folds
1981: Another year of recession/depression for the domestic auto industry
1980: GM, Ford, Chrysler, American Motors suffer combined loss of $4.2 billion for the year
1979: Chrysler's financial anguish
1978: The fall and rise of Lee Iacocca, who is fired by Henry Ford II as president of Ford Motor in
mid-July, then becomes president of Chrysler in November
1977: Government orders airbags on new cars, to be phased in with 1982 models; industry fails in
bid to have Congress override Department of Transportation decision
1976: Auto sales rebound after two poor years, reaching 9.96 million for 1976; intermediates and big
cars are hot, but small cars are hard to sell
1975: U.S. automakers offer rebates of $200 to $500 to move huge inventories
1974: New-car sales (U.S. and import) fall to 8.6 million in 1974; 1975 model year is off to a dismal
start
1973: The energy crisis
1972: Wankel engine advances
1971: President Nixon's economic program and its effect on the auto industry
1970: UAW strike shuts GM for 67 days in the United States, 95 days in Canada; the strike costs
GM production of more than 1.5 million cars and trucks and more than $4.5 billion in sales
1969: Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen fired as president of Ford Motor after holding the job for 19 months
1968: Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen named president of Ford Motor a week after he quit as executive
vice president of GM

1967: 61-day strike costs Ford Motor 500,000 cars; Big 3 workers receive a raise of about $1 an
hour in wages and fringes over three years
1966: Safety
1965: The Year of Records
1964: Record truck sales and the first 8-million-car year.
1963: GM wins criminal antitrust suit growing out of Los Angeles discount-house situation
1962: Future of the franchise system
1961: Antitrust actions filed against the Big 3; GM accused in Los Angeles discount-house rhubarb;
Ford's acquisition of Electric Autolite properties questioned; Chrysler charged with pressuring
dealers not to dual with Studebaker
1960: Chrysler's conflict-of-interest problems; a president is deposed, and other executives are
affected
1959: Compact cars introduced by Ford Motor Co., GM and Chrysler Corp.
1958: Enactment of price-sticker law
1957: The rise in imported-car sales
1956: GM begins offering five-year franchise contracts, up from one year, in response to dealer
complaints
1955: (tie) Senate hearings on auto trade practices; attainment of supplemental unemployment
compensation by the UAW
1954: Reduction of "phantom-freight" charges
1953: Fire destroys General Motors' Hydra-matic plant in Livonia, Mich.
Contact Automotive News

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Rajya Sabha passes food bill but this is no NREGA for UPA by Sanjay Singh Sep 3, 2013 #Congress #Food Sceme
#Food Security Bill #Garibi Hatao #Land Acquisition Bill #Lok Sabha elections 2014 #NREGA #PoliticsDecoder
#Sonia Gandhi #UPA 2 #Uttar Pradesh Tweet EmailPrint Note: A version of this article was published yesterday
before the Rajya Sabha decision to pass the Food Security Bill. The Congress says the Food security bill is a
fulfillment of Sonia Gandhis dream, while the land acquisition bill was a long cherished idea for Rahul Gandhi. The
enactment of these hugely populist, economically destructive bills no doubt give big talking points to the ruling
Congress, which has been so deeply starved of positive things to talk about in recent times. But the big question that
everyone in political and social circles is asking, is if the food security scheme will work for UPA 2 in the same way
the farm loan waiver and NREGA worked for UPA 1 in 2004 and Indira Gandhis Garibi Hatao slogan worked for the
party in 1971. AFP The Congress has already started boasting of their pro-poor and pro-farmer credentials. A nicely
crafted advertisement for the food security scheme is all over television and FM radio channels to convey the
message that UPA 2 has taken care of hunger and malnourishment in the country. The ruling party leaders hope that
if food security becomes the main talking point among people in rural, sub-urban, and economically weaker in urban
areas, then land acquisition will become the talking point among the dominant farmers sections of society from
where the maximum votes are polled. The affluent land holding farmers tend to influence the voting pattern of some
others, particularly the socially and economically backward sections of society. If the Congress is successful in
garnering their support, then the angst of the middle class and the intelligentsia's criticism of these bills and the
sinking Indian economy would not hurt Congress as much. After all, as the argument goes, not many of them vote.
But this line of thinking could just be misplaced optimism, and for more than one reason. First, NREGA, unlike the
Food Security, did not come as a vote catching scheme, at least to begin with. In UPA 1, the Left Front was one of the
main driving forces behind the employment guarantee scheme for the rural poor and also gave it social and
intellectual push. Consider the timing. NREGA (it was renamed as MGREGA on 2 Oct, 2009) was launched just a
year after UPA 1 came to power. It was discussed and passed by both houses of Parliament and signed by the
President for enactment by 5 September 2005 with the gazette notification issued on 7 September 2005. Five months
later on 2 February 2006 the scheme was launched from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. By the time the 2009
parliamentary elections were held, this rural employment guarantee scheme covered almost all districts in the
country. It was a new idea where payment was made in cash to rural poor and despite criticism of all kinds, the
scheme appeared it appeared to be in sync with the Congress' electoral catchphrase aam admi as opposed to the
NDAs "India shining" slogan. Contrast that with the Food security scheme. It comes barely six months ahead of the
2014 parliamentary elections and given the high degree of logistical issues involved it is impossible for UPA2 to
ensure that it will reach targeted beneficiaries by Feb-March next year, when the real electioneering would have
kicked off on the ground. The Congress will have to compete with rival political parties to claim credit in different
states. The high voltage ad-campaign could boomerang if the targeted beneficiaries dont get delivery of Rs 3, Rs 2
and Re1 food grain from the local Lala, as the ad claims. Moreover, subsidized ration to the poor is not a new concept
and has successfully been implemented in various states for a while now. The two south Indian leaders MGR in Tamil
Nadu and NT Rama Rao have been pioneers in the one rupee ration. In contemporary politics, leaders like Raman
Singh and Jayalalithaa have made such schemes more broad based and accessible. Also how can Congress explain
the implementation of a food security scheme where a failed Vijay Bahuguna government couldn't even distribute
relief material to Uttarakhand survivors in a sustained manner? Uttrakhand along with Delhi and Haryana are three
states, which announced implementation on Rajiv Gandhis birthday 20 August. Congress won't benefit from the food
bill the way it did with NREGA: Reuters So can the land acquisition bill be a vote catcher with the farmers in 2014 the
same way the farm loan waiver did in 2009?. The answer again, is no. A Rs.52,280 crore farm loan waiver came
more than year ahead of the 2009 parliamentary elections. It was announced by then finance minister Pranab
Mukherjee in his 2008 budget speech. Whether or not it benefited the intended beneficiaries by the time elections

were held in April-May 2014, the farmers had the psychological relief of not having to pay back whatever debt they
owed to the banks. As compared to the farm loan waiver, the impact of Rahul Gandhis cherished new land
acquisition law will be far more limited. The benefits of land acquisition compensation would be mainly restricted to
affluent farmers and land sharks, which have lately sprouted all over. This class has its own voting preferences and
are often guided by various local factors rather than being swayed by one big announcement. The results of the Uttar
Pradesh assembly elections could well be a case in point. Rahul Gandhi had made land acquisition out to be a huge
issue -- he sat on dharna amid high drama, walked miles on foot in the villages along the Yamuna Express way and
made it one of his principal talking points in the run up to the polls. The Congress had high hopes in these polls held
last year but in the end finished a pathetic fourth. The party was routed even in the region where he had started his
dharna, challenging Mayawatis land acquisition policy. Also this time Congress will be fighting hard to convince
people on rising prices, which is pinching all sections of electorate. High prices of essential commodities could weigh
much heavier against the UPA than a promised subsidized ration and presumptive compensation of land that the
government may acquire. High compensation of land prices also has the potential of antagonizing another set of
people, those who propose to develop the land for industry or homes.
Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/politics/rajya-sabha-passes-food-bill-but-this-is-no-nrega-for-upa1077649.html?utm_source=ref_article