whispers in the corridors
Political songs or politics on songs!
The UP Vidhan Sabha elections, expected to be held in early 2027 are set to be a watershed moment for the parties in the state. Taking a cue from Bihar’s recently held election results, the Samajwadi Party has strictly asked the singers and social media creators not to use their flags symbol or leader’s name without the prior permission. The party has also warned against invoking its leadership to push caste pride messaging, denigrate other communities or even criminal behaviour. It is to be noted that questions have been raised about the proliferation of Yadav caste-pride songs during the Bihar campaign trail, which some political commentators believe may have hurt the party's election prospects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NDA leaders too had taken a jibe over these songs played during poll meetings in Bihar, warning people of “return of Jungle Raj”. Meanwhile, the Opposition in Bihar Rashtriya Janata Dal has issued notices to as many as 32 Bhojpuri singers asking them why legal action should not be taken against them for their offensive songs released during the election period.
Pakistan PM avoiding to stay in his country, so as to delay notification of Munir’s Chief of Defence Forces title!
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has deliberately stayed out of the country to avoid issuing the Chief of Defence Forces notification, according to security sources. The PM traveled to Bahrain and London as Field Marshal Asim Munir’s original three-year Army Chief tenure ended on November 29—the deadline for the mandatory notification. The failure to issue the paperwork has created a constitutional crisis. Pakistan now operates without an official Army Chief, and the nuclear command authority remains in flux as the new Strategic Forces Command awaits formal establishment. Legal experts remain divided. Some argue a “deeming” clause in the 2024 amendment automatically extends Munir’s tenure without additional paperwork. Others insist the notification is constitutionally mandatory. The standoff reveals the sharp civil-military tensions in Pakistan. The civilian government’s refusal to formalize the appointment challenges military prerogatives, marking another chapter in the institution’s battle for institutional control.
The sun had barely risen over Pachgaon when the school courtyard filled with the sound of young voices reciting the Preamble in perfect unison. At the Vidyalaya, it was an ordinary morning assembly, no ceremonies, no rehearsals-yet in this simple routine, seeds of something extraordinary were being sown.
Across the road, students at the Government Senior Secondary School gathered in the digital library. Some watched an RSTV documentary on the making of the Constitution, while others displayed artworks representing its elements-the Preamble as the roots, Fundamental Rights and Duties as branches and the Constitution itself as the trunk. The mild winter air seemed to whisper that a quiet civic transformation was taking place.
Chandra Jyoti Abhiyan: Civic Values in Action
This transformation is driven by the Chandra Jyoti Abhiyan, a district-wide civic campaign led by Nivrutti Somnath Avhad, CEO of Dholpur Zila Parishad, Rajasthan. The initiative embeds constitutional values-justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, not as abstract ideals but as lived experiences. Rooted in NEP 2020, it emphasizes civic education, computational thinking and teaching AI, empowering students and teachers to engage with democratic and technological processes.
The Abhiyan draws strength from convergence. Schools, libraries, Panchayats, NGOs, CSR partners and community members come together using existing resources rather than creating new structures.
Digital Samvidhan Ghar: Repurposing the Old, Shaping the New
A key pillar of the initiative is the Digital Samvidhan Ghar (DSG) model-an affectionate, warm, people-centric space that goes far beyond a library. DSGs reinvent unused or dilapidated government buildings into vibrant, technology-enabled civic learning libraries. Without constructing new infrastructure, the Abhiyan repurposes these assets, saving taxpayer money while deepening community ownership.
28 DSGs are already functional with CSR support from SBI Cards, and another 50 DSGs will be completed soon with CSR support from IIFCL (DFS), taking the total to around 80 libraries. Each DSG is equipped with Wi-Fi, tablets, computers, solar lighting, clean washrooms, accessibility ramps,CCTV where feasible and bilingual book collections. Over 120 civic and learning activities take place every month from reading circles and exam preparation to Gram Sabha-linked discussions.
Sustainability Through Community Ownership
Sustainability is built through a multi-layered structure:
- Library Management Committees (LMCs) are formed in every village, headed by the Gram Sevak and comprising teachers, SHG members,retired officials,youth and the Sarpanch.
- Every library has its own bank account, community user list and contribution model.
- Funds are earmarked in the GPDP for regular maintenance.
- A Samvidhan Mitra in each library handles daily operations with a small stipend.
- A District Digital Library Task Force ensures policy alignment,ease of replication, and deep community mobilisation.
This model ensures that DSGs are not government-owned spaces alone,they are people’s institutions, maintained as collective assets.
AI a Core Pillar
A major highlight of Chandrajyoti is the integration of AI education, strongly rooted in NEP 2020’s emphasis on computational thinking, digital literacy and future skills. Dholpur is investing significantly in AI training for teachers and students, ensuring that constitutional awareness is complemented with 21st-century readiness. DSGs will serve as hubs for AI learning,coding sessions and digital upskilling, creating a district prepared for the future of work.
Civic Learning: From Awareness to Action
The Abhiyan follows a simple but powerful behavioural-change framework:
Soch (Spark) → Samajh (Reflect) → Sankalp (Commit) → Sakriyata (Act) → Samavisht (Embed).
Through morning prompts, wall murals, Baal Sansads, debates, quizzes, project-based learning, and community dialogues, over 50,000 students across 350+ schools are engaging deeply with constitutional values. More than 200 teachers, especially Political Science teachers,have been trained under Mission Karmayogi and NEP 2020 to make civic education interactive, contextual, and experiential.
A Triangular Model of Development: State-Market-Civil Society
The Chandrajyoti model stands out for its efficient resource mobilisation and coalition building. It brings together:
- State (government systems, policies, GPDP funding)
- Market (CSR partners like IIFCL and SBI Cards)
- Civil Society (NGOs, community groups, youth)
This triangular partnership strengthens local SDGs, builds social capital and transforms civic spaces into platforms for empowerment.
A Vision for the Future
The initiative demonstrates that the true architects of India’s future are its citizens-walking the journey from Soch to Samavisht, shaping the nation with understanding, commitment, and action, towards a Vikasit Bharat 2047. Through digital Savidhan Ghars,multi-stakeholder support and civic engagement, Dholpur is scripting a story where constitutional values, technology, and education converge to build an empowered, informed and participatory society.
Manish Bansal, a senior executive in the home furnishings sector, was transferred from his previous role to become President of Welspun Living in Mumbai, India. This move aligns with the recent India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signaling dynamic corporate adjustments in global trade-focused businesses. Welspun, an MNC with operations in the USA and UK, aims to leverage Bansal’s expertise for expansion in home textiles.
V Srinivas is very talented
I agree, Rajasthan's new CS V Srinivas is very talented. He is so transparent, he uploads his daily work updates on his X account, we the citizens can have a look at the major works which he completes daily.
Although, I wanted the current fertiliser secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra to become Rajasthan's CS, I am also happy with the choice of Mr Srinivas for this post. He is a tech savvy bureaucrat.
Rajat Galav
Staff shortage
When there has been staff shortages in the banks, customers service will definitely receive beatings. We cannot eat the cake and have it too.
Manik
Can penal action be initiated against the PIO who has retired?
The appellant sought a certified copy of the initial map related to a particular building which was donated to Jhansi Cantonment Board for construction purposes. The appellant also sought a certified copy of the General Land Register, total property tax assessed and other related information. As no response was received within the prescribed time period, the appellant filed the first appeal and later the second appeal before the CIC. According to the arguments presented by the respondent, the current PIO, who was responsible for disposing of the submitted RTI application has retired, and no show cause notice proceedings can be initiated under Section 20 of the RTI Act against a retired PIO. The CIC directed the current PIO, Cantonment Board, Jhansi, to ensure timely and proper disposal of pending RTI applications in accordance with the law, failing which appropriate action shall be taken against them in the future under the provisions of the Act. Further, the CIC directed the PIO, Cantonment Board, Jhansi, to examine the information sought by the appellant through the submitted RTI application and, based on the available records, provide the requested information/response to the appellant in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Comments
A coordinate bench of the CIC in Appeal Nos. CIC/PB/2008/00999 and CIC/SM/A/2009/000286 dated 13-05-2010 held that since the concerned PIO has retired from the service, we find it not possible to impose any penalty on him at this point of time. The precedent was followed in many subsequent orders like Shri Chander Prakash v. AAI, CIC/SS/C/2013/000053 dated 18.12.2013. The RTI Act does not specifically debar action against the PIO on superannuation.
Citation: Sudhir Choudhary v.Office of the Chief Executive Officer, Jhansi Cantonment Board, File No: CIC/DIGDE/A/2024/114007; Date of order: 03.11.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com
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