Prime Minister Narendra Modinbsp;on Thursdaynbsp;formed 10 new groups of secretaries to study various governance issues and asked them to submit their reports by the end of November an official statement said.

Unlike earlier groups which worked on specific themes the focus of new groups would be on sectors such as agriculture energy transport etc.

The prime minister called a meeting of all Union government secretaries in which cabinet ministers and ministers of state with independent charge were present. A day ago he met a batch of freshly appointed IAS officers in the national capital.

According to the statement quot;The Prime Minister urged the secretaries to undertake a critical review of the work done by the Union government in the respective sectors that they will be studying. He also asked them to engage young officers to research-related issues.quot;

Speaking of demographic dividend the prime minister said all groups must prioritize harnessing the strengths of the 800 million youth of India as part of their recommendations. He felt the team of secretaries had quot;collective wisdom and experience to create policies to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of India’s people.quot;

The cabinet secretary made a brief presentation on the work done so far as a follow-up to the reports presented by the eight groups of secretaries to the prime minister in January this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modinbsp;on Thursdaynbsp;formed 10 new groups of secretaries to study various governance issues and asked them to submit their reports by the end of November an official statement said.

Unlike earlier groups which worked on specific themes the focus of new groups would be on sectors such as agriculture energy transport etc.

The prime minister called a meeting of all Union government secretaries in which cabinet ministers and ministers of state with independent charge were present. A day ago he met a batch of freshly appointed IAS officers in the national capital.

According to the statement quot;The Prime Minister urged the secretaries to undertake a critical review of the work done by the Union government in the respective sectors that they will be studying. He also asked them to engage young officers to research-related issues.quot;

Speaking of demographic dividend the prime minister said all groups must prioritize harnessing the strengths of the 800 million youth of India as part of their recommendations. He felt the team of secretaries had quot;collective wisdom and experience to create policies to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of India’s people.quot;

The cabinet secretary made a brief presentation on the work done so far as a follow-up to the reports presented by the eight groups of secretaries to the prime minister in January this year.

Three new trains will be introduced from November 12 to link important cities in the mountainous Northeastern region a Northeast Frontier Railway NFR official said on Friday.

Three weekly trains will run between Guwahati and Silchar 383 km Guwahati and Agartala 577 km and Dibrugarh and Agartala 721 km in view of huge public demandquot; NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.

The new trains will initially run for four months and thereafter their frequency would depend on public response.

Currently train services are available in more than 25 cities in Northeastern region including Guwahati Silchar Dibrugarh Tezpur Jorhat Dhubri Tinsukia Shibsagar New Bongaigaon Hojai Lumding Maibang New Haflong Diphu Badarpur Karimganj all in Assam Agartala and Dharmanagar Tripura Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh Mendipathar Meghalaya Dimapur Nagaland Jiribam Manipur and Bhairabi Mizoram.

The NFR is now working to connect the remaining capital cities of the Northeastern states by 2020.

Another NFR spokesman said a proposal to roll out ‘Kaziranga Express’ in Assam is also under consideration.

Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain a member of Lok Sabha from Assam’s Nowgong mooted the train proposal on the lines of ‘Tiger Express’ launched in June for Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in Madhya Pradesh.

The Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site known to host 70 per cent of the world’s one-horned rhinos apart from a large number of tigers elephants wild water buffaloes and swamp deer.

Three new trains will be introduced from November 12 to link important cities in the mountainous Northeastern region a Northeast Frontier Railway NFR official said on Friday.

Three weekly trains will run between Guwahati and Silchar 383 km Guwahati and Agartala 577 km and Dibrugarh and Agartala 721 km in view of huge public demandquot; NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said.

The new trains will initially run for four months and thereafter their frequency would depend on public response.

Currently train services are available in more than 25 cities in Northeastern region including Guwahati Silchar Dibrugarh Tezpur Jorhat Dhubri Tinsukia Shibsagar New Bongaigaon Hojai Lumding Maibang New Haflong Diphu Badarpur Karimganj all in Assam Agartala and Dharmanagar Tripura Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh Mendipathar Meghalaya Dimapur Nagaland Jiribam Manipur and Bhairabi Mizoram.

The NFR is now working to connect the remaining capital cities of the Northeastern states by 2020.

Another NFR spokesman said a proposal to roll out ‘Kaziranga Express’ in Assam is also under consideration.

Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain a member of Lok Sabha from Assam’s Nowgong mooted the train proposal on the lines of ‘Tiger Express’ launched in June for Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in Madhya Pradesh.

The Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site known to host 70 per cent of the world’s one-horned rhinos apart from a large number of tigers elephants wild water buffaloes and swamp deer.

The fifth edition of Young Leaders Connect YLC an annual conclave of young leaders from the north-eastern region will be conducted here on Friday.

quot;The two day conclave with the theme ‘Start up North East Stand up North East’ will provide a platform to budding young entrepreneurs of the region an insight on various opportunities in diversified fieldsquot; YLC chairman Baichung Bhutia told reporters during a press conference here on Thursday.

Union Minister of State Independent for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju besides MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar NEDFI chairman and DoNER secretary and a host of experts would participate in the conclave.

The aim of the conclave is to provide a platform to the youth for their skill development Bhutia said.

quot;YLC is a forum working to portray the North East to the rest of the country and a medium to reach out to the younger generationquot; he said adding quot;It will also provide opportunity to young leaders to be mentored by senior leaders.quot;nbsp;

YLC co-chairman Hekani Jakhalu said the theme for this year’s edition of the conclave would be entrepreneurship based on the Centre’s policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Start up India.

Hekani said by inviting key officials and strategists the conclave would help young entrepreneurs build strategies and quot;help NE business come togetherquot;.

The conclave will have panel discussions and a round-table discussion with experts and stakeholders.

On the sidelines of the panel discussions there will be interactions between entrepreneurs industry NGOs government agencies social enterprises and others.

The conclave will also focus on showcasing projects and programs to initiate new partnerships and to find new resources.

The fifth edition of Young Leaders Connect YLC an annual conclave of young leaders from the north-eastern region will be conducted here on Friday.

quot;The two day conclave with the theme ‘Start up North East Stand up North East’ will provide a platform to budding young entrepreneurs of the region an insight on various opportunities in diversified fieldsquot; YLC chairman Baichung Bhutia told reporters during a press conference here on Thursday.

Union Minister of State Independent for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju besides MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar NEDFI chairman and DoNER secretary and a host of experts would participate in the conclave.

The aim of the conclave is to provide a platform to the youth for their skill development Bhutia said.

quot;YLC is a forum working to portray the North East to the rest of the country and a medium to reach out to the younger generationquot; he said adding quot;It will also provide opportunity to young leaders to be mentored by senior leaders.quot;nbsp;

YLC co-chairman Hekani Jakhalu said the theme for this year’s edition of the conclave would be entrepreneurship based on the Centre’s policy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Start up India.

Hekani said by inviting key officials and strategists the conclave would help young entrepreneurs build strategies and quot;help NE business come togetherquot;.

The conclave will have panel discussions and a round-table discussion with experts and stakeholders.

On the sidelines of the panel discussions there will be interactions between entrepreneurs industry NGOs government agencies social enterprises and others.

The conclave will also focus on showcasing projects and programs to initiate new partnerships and to find new resources.

The University Grants Commission UGC has urged universities to ensure that their canteens possess licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. A notification in this regard was issued on Thursday.

According to the Act ldquo;No person shall commence any food business unless he possesses a valid licencerdquo; and the Act stipulates that food stall owners adhere to the necessary guidelines of food safety.

The UGC notification stated ldquo;There are canteens and other food establishments located in various educational institutions which are not licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.rdquo; There are several canteens on college and university campuses which are hugely popular with the students.

However often the university authorities are reckless in ensuring the quality of the food served in these canteens. There are two canteens in Jadavpur University while Calcutta University maintains one and they are immensely popular among students and faculty members. When contacted vicechancellor of Calcutta University Asutosh Ghosh said that the canteen inside their campus possesses a proper licence.

ldquo;Our canteen is in good hands and the canteen owners have proper licence and maintain the standard of food qualityrdquo; Ghosh said. The UGC has categorically asked the universities and the affiliated colleges to see to it that the canteens adhere to food safety and regulation standards.

The notification stated ldquo;You are requested to kindly ensure the implementation of the FSS Act 2006 in food establishments of your esteemed university and in all affiliated colleges.rdquo; The UGC in fact has taken a step further and asked Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI to organise trainings for food handlers in these canteens.

Officials of the UGC mention ldquo;FSSAI would also organise training of food handlers working in the food establishments of the educational institutions to provide safe and wholesome food to the students.rdquo; It is noteworthy that Kolkata Municipal Corporation that conducts food safety drive at regular intervals across the city did not conduct any such food drive in these institutions. ldquo;We are yet to conduct drives in colleges and universities but since the food in the canteens is served to students it is expected that these canteens will maintain the standard of hygiene.rdquo;

The University Grants Commission UGC has urged universities to ensure that their canteens possess licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. A notification in this regard was issued on Thursday.

According to the Act ldquo;No person shall commence any food business unless he possesses a valid licencerdquo; and the Act stipulates that food stall owners adhere to the necessary guidelines of food safety.

The UGC notification stated ldquo;There are canteens and other food establishments located in various educational institutions which are not licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.rdquo; There are several canteens on college and university campuses which are hugely popular with the students.

However often the university authorities are reckless in ensuring the quality of the food served in these canteens. There are two canteens in Jadavpur University while Calcutta University maintains one and they are immensely popular among students and faculty members. When contacted vicechancellor of Calcutta University Asutosh Ghosh said that the canteen inside their campus possesses a proper licence.

ldquo;Our canteen is in good hands and the canteen owners have proper licence and maintain the standard of food qualityrdquo; Ghosh said. The UGC has categorically asked the universities and the affiliated colleges to see to it that the canteens adhere to food safety and regulation standards.

The notification stated ldquo;You are requested to kindly ensure the implementation of the FSS Act 2006 in food establishments of your esteemed university and in all affiliated colleges.rdquo; The UGC in fact has taken a step further and asked Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI to organise trainings for food handlers in these canteens.

Officials of the UGC mention ldquo;FSSAI would also organise training of food handlers working in the food establishments of the educational institutions to provide safe and wholesome food to the students.rdquo; It is noteworthy that Kolkata Municipal Corporation that conducts food safety drive at regular intervals across the city did not conduct any such food drive in these institutions. ldquo;We are yet to conduct drives in colleges and universities but since the food in the canteens is served to students it is expected that these canteens will maintain the standard of hygiene.rdquo;

The University Grants Commission UGC has urged universities to ensure that their canteens possess licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. A notification in this regard was issued on Thursday.

According to the Act ldquo;No person shall commence any food business unless he possesses a valid licencerdquo; and the Act stipulates that food stall owners adhere to the necessary guidelines of food safety.

The UGC notification stated ldquo;There are canteens and other food establishments located in various educational institutions which are not licensed under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.rdquo; There are several canteens on college and university campuses which are hugely popular with the students.

However often the university authorities are reckless in ensuring the quality of the food served in these canteens. There are two canteens in Jadavpur University while Calcutta University maintains one and they are immensely popular among students and faculty members. When contacted vicechancellor of Calcutta University Asutosh Ghosh said that the canteen inside their campus possesses a proper licence.

ldquo;Our canteen is in good hands and the canteen owners have proper licence and maintain the standard of food qualityrdquo; Ghosh said. The UGC has categorically asked the universities and the affiliated colleges to see to it that the canteens adhere to food safety and regulation standards.

The notification stated ldquo;You are requested to kindly ensure the implementation of the FSS Act 2006 in food establishments of your esteemed university and in all affiliated colleges.rdquo; The UGC in fact has taken a step further and asked Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI to organise trainings for food handlers in these canteens.

Officials of the UGC mention ldquo;FSSAI would also organise training of food handlers working in the food establishments of the educational institutions to provide safe and wholesome food to the students.rdquo; It is noteworthy that Kolkata Municipal Corporation that conducts food safety drive at regular intervals across the city did not conduct any such food drive in these institutions. ldquo;We are yet to conduct drives in colleges and universities but since the food in the canteens is served to students it is expected that these canteens will maintain the standard of hygiene.rdquo;

Eastern Railway ER will run four pairs of midnight Kali Puja special suburban trains one pair each between Sealdah and DankuniSealdah and Barasat Sealdah and Ranaghat and Sealdah and Baruipur stations on the nights of 29 30 and 31 October.

Sealdah-Agartala biweekly express will run with permanent composition of AC 2-tier 3 AC 3-tier five sleeper class second class sitting and four general second class coaches from 2 March next year.

Booking of the train will be made available from 2 November this year. Malda – New Delhi Express will be augmented by one additional AC 3-tier coach leaving Malda from 29 October to 15 November and New Delhi from 27 October to 13 November this year on their nominated days of run.

Eastern Railway ER will run four pairs of midnight Kali Puja special suburban trains one pair each between Sealdah and DankuniSealdah and Barasat Sealdah and Ranaghat and Sealdah and Baruipur stations on the nights of 29 30 and 31 October.

Sealdah-Agartala biweekly express will run with permanent composition of AC 2-tier 3 AC 3-tier five sleeper class second class sitting and four general second class coaches from 2 March next year.

Booking of the train will be made available from 2 November this year. Malda – New Delhi Express will be augmented by one additional AC 3-tier coach leaving Malda from 29 October to 15 November and New Delhi from 27 October to 13 November this year on their nominated days of run.

Eastern Railway ER will run four pairs of midnight Kali Puja special suburban trains one pair each between Sealdah and DankuniSealdah and Barasat Sealdah and Ranaghat and Sealdah and Baruipur stations on the nights of 29 30 and 31 October.

Sealdah-Agartala biweekly express will run with permanent composition of AC 2-tier 3 AC 3-tier five sleeper class second class sitting and four general second class coaches from 2 March next year.

Booking of the train will be made available from 2 November this year. Malda – New Delhi Express will be augmented by one additional AC 3-tier coach leaving Malda from 29 October to 15 November and New Delhi from 27 October to 13 November this year on their nominated days of run.

The BJP central election committee has decided the names of the candidates who will contest the byelections to the Lok Sabha and Assembly.

Hem Chandra Burman will contest from Cooch Behar Parliamentary constituency Ambuj Mohanti will fight from Tamluk Parliamentary constituency and Biswajit Poddar will contest from Monteswar Assembly constituency. Jagat Prakash Nadda secretary of the central election committee of the BJP informed the state committee regarding the names.

Earlier expelled CPI-M leader Lakshman Seth who joined BJP was speculated to be the candidate from Tamluk. But the state BJP did not take the risk to select him as the candidate for Parliament polls as he was also held responsible by manywithin and outside the CPIMfor the violent standoff between the Left and the Trinamul Congress during the unrest over rumours of land acquisition at Nandigram in the district in 2007. The state BJP also recommended the name of Locket Chatterjee to contest from Tamluk. However the Central leadership did not agree on their candidature from Tamluk.