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Nitish gives reservations a make-over, Bihar to extend quota on outsourced services

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8 years ago

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Nitish gives reservations a make-over, Bihar to extend quota on outsourced services

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bihar CM tweaks reservation rules; quota system to apply if government hires somebody for its work through outsourcing company and pays salary from its coffers

In a bid that could help his party, the Janata Dal (United) consolidate its vote-bank among the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes and disabled people, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has decided to give a make-over to the prevailing reservation system, at least in his state.

Days after his government decided to tweak the Bihar Reservation Act 2003 to extend reservations even in the private sector by asserting that if any government department outsources its work to a private company, the state’s 50 per cent reservation policy would apply to the said project, Kumar, on Monday, laid out the rationale for the move.

While the decision to extend quota benefits even to outsourced government projects had attracted criticism from private companies, industry bodies, sections of the Opposition and even leaders from his own JD (D)-BJP coalition government, Kumar insisted that those opposed to the move have “very little understanding” of the issue.

Kumar insisted that the new quota rules, which some ruling alliance leaders have also found fault with, were brought in accordance with the Bihar Reservation Act 2003.

The Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that the Bihar Reservation Act proposes that it the state government hires somebody (a private player) for its work – even if through an outsourcing company – and pays salary from the Treasury’s coffers, then the quota system prevailing in the state will apply to such a project.

“If we (the government) award a contract to somebody for undertaking a work, then the contractor will not be bound by quota policy since he will be hiring and he will be paying,” Kumar clarified while adding: “in case of outsourced services availed of by the government, the reservation rules will be obviously different and will be applied as per the reservation Act.”

“People who are raising a hue and cry over the issue have very little understanding,” Kumar said.

The chief minister added: “If you’re using government money and giving employment, then you have to follow the Reservation Act of the state… Although I am opposed to outsourcing, and favour that a department should hire directly, we have made rules which ensure that if we are employing someone through outsourcing, then reservation policies should be followed.”

Raising an issue which is likely to rile India Inc., Kumar said he also wanted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre to “initiate a debate on introducing 50 per cent reservation in the private sector.”[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRUl0JTI2JTIzMzklM0JzJTIwbXklMjBvcGluaW9uJTIwdGhhdCUyMHRoZXJlJTIwbXVzdCUyMGJlJTIwcmVzZXJ2YXRpb24lMjBpbiUyMHByaXZhdGUlMjBzZWN0b3IlMjB0b28uJTIwVGhlcmUlMjBtdXN0JTIwYmUlMjBkZWJhdGUlMjBvbiUyMHRoaXMlMjBhdCUyMHRoZSUyMG5hdGlvbmFsJTIwbGV2ZWwlM0ElMjBCaWhhciUyMENNJTIwaW4lMjBQYXRuYSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0LmNvJTJGNkhscndVZE40USUyMiUzRXBpYy50d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRjZIbHJ3VWRONFElM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGcCUzRSUyNm1kYXNoJTNCJTIwQU5JJTIwJTI4JTQwQU5JJTI5JTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGQU5JJTJGc3RhdHVzJTJGOTI3NDMwODQwOTIwODQ2MzM2JTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0VOb3ZlbWJlciUyMDYlMkMlMjAyMDE3JTNDJTJGYSUzRSUzQyUyRmJsb2NrcXVvdGUlM0UlMEElM0NzY3JpcHQlMjBhc3luYyUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGcGxhdGZvcm0udHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZ3aWRnZXRzLmpzJTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNF[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]In a comment that his ally, the BJP, is not likely to be happy about, Kumar also extended his support for the demand made by the Patidars/Patels of Gujarat for reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. The reservation demand by Patidars and the face of their agitation, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti chief Hardik Patel, has pushed the BJP in poll-bound Gujarat in a tight spot, with the Congress now aggressively wooing the influential community in the western state to vote for it, instead of endorsing the saffron party.

Former Speaker of the Bihar Assembly and senior JD (U) leader Uday Narayan Choudhary has spoken against Kumar’s decision to tweak the reservation rules along with senior BJP leader from the state, CP Thakur, who claimed that the new rules may lead to public resentment and a drop in investment in the state.

Kumar, however, seemed adamant on seeing his government’s new reservation rules being implemented and said that “this is not the first experiment of its kind that we have undertaken in Bihar,” while insisting that there was a precedent that he was following. “In 2006, the state government recruited a large number of ex-army personnel (in Special Auxiliary Police force) to make up for the shortfall of policemen in the state… reservation was in place in their case also,” Kumar said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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1 hour ago

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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India News

IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

Published

6 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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