Union Government has launched Consular Grievances Monitoring portal named MADAD (Help)- Because You Are Us.
MADAD an e-portal will help Indian citizens living abroad to file consular grievances online on the services offered by the Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
It was launched by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the MEA headquarters in New Delhi.
Features of MADAD
  • MADAD allows direct registration of the grievances by the members of the public and effective monitoring of the grievance handling process thereafter, until it is redressed.
  • It incorporates several innovative features including flexible architecture to handle a variety of grievances, linking of similar grievances on the basis of passport number to avoid duplication and automatic escalation and enhancement of priority.
  • It will also help to speed up forwarding and handling of complaints, improve tracking and redressal and escalate unresolved cases.
  • The authorities will be assigned responsibility through a colour-coded dashboard. This dashboard will change its colour if the response in not given in a stipulated time.
  • It also has colour code system of red-amber-green pattern. It will keep check on performances of authorities in redressing grievances. The green colour indicates cases are cleared, while the pending cases will be indicated in red colour.

India signs loan agreement with ADB to boost power generation capacity in Assam

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India has signed loan agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for 50 Million dollars to boost power generation capacity in Assam.
The loan agreement was signed for the second Assam power sector investment programme.
Key facts 
  • This programme aims to build up the capacity of power generation and distribution systems in state to meet the growing energy demand.
  • Loan funds are going to finance investments of the programme to augment and improve generation capacity in Assam for replacement of an inefficient generating plant and construction of new hydropower plant. This programme is expected to be completed by 31 December 2018.
  • Since 2003, ADB has supported Assam’s power sector with five loans totaling $450 million. These loan funds have helped the State enact key reforms and improve transmission and distribution systems.
Problems of Assam’s Power Sector
At present Assam is facing problem of power crunch. More than third of households in the State are facing daily electricity cuts for 5 to 6 hours. Many important businesses in state such as the tea gardens are not connected to the grid. In peak periods Assam has to buy up to 15% of its power from independent producers at very high cost.

Nitish Kumar sworn in as CM of Bihar for 4th time
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Nitish Kumar has sworn in as the Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar for the 4th time.
Governor of Bihar Keshri Nath Tripathi administered the oath of office and secrecy to him at the oath taking ceremony held at Raj Bhawan in Patna.
Along with Nitish Kumar, 22 Janta Dal United (JDU) Party legislators, including three women were also sworn in as Cabinet Ministers.
Earlier on 20 February 2015, Jitan Ram Manjhi had resigned as CM ending a month long political turmoil in Bihar

About Nitish Kumar

  • Nitish Kumar was born on 1st March 1951 in Bakhtiarpur District of Bihar.
  • He had started his political career by taking part in the mass movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan between 1974 and 1977.
  • Kumar was elected to Bihar legislative assembly for first time in 1985. He was elected to Lok Sabha for 4 consecutive times, first in 1989 than in 1991, 1996 and 1998.
  • Union Minister- In 1990, for a brief stint he was Union Minister of Agriculture. In 1998-99, he was Union Minister for Railways and Surface Transport and Minister for Agriculture.
  • He was Union Cabinet Minister for Railways in the NDA Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 2001- 2004.
  • CM of Bihar- In 2000, for first time he was made CM of Bihar but had resigned within 7 days. In 2005, he was sworn in as the CM of Bihar for second time and in 2010 for third time. In May 2014 he had resigned from the CM post taking the responsibility of his party’s (JDU) dismal performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.