Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya

The President's Office announced the Bharat Ratna award to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The announcement was made on the eve of Mr. Vajpayee's 90th birthday and the 153rd birth anniversary of Pandit Malviya.

A Bharat Ratna for Pandit Malviya, a freedom fighter and the founder of the Benaras Hindu University was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign. Justice Giridhar Malviya, the grandson of Pandit Malaviya was one of those who proposed the nomination of Mr. Modi from Varanasi parliamentary constituency. Mr. Vajpayee will be the seventh Prime Minister to receive the award, while Pandit Malviya will be the 12th person to be honoured posthumously.

Kelkar panel recommends 100% free irrigation, power to farmers

The Vijay Kelkar Committee,Maharashtra, has recommended “100% free irrigation and power facilities” to farmers of Marathwada and Vidarbha regions to stop suicide by farmers.

The report has directed the government to restructure Regional Development Boards (RDB) with the Chief Minister as the Chairman and their “empowerment” by entrusting planning, approval, execution and monitoring as well as its further enhancement by establishing separate regional secretariats.