NASA : Search for Alien Life on Saturn’s Moon
On Thursday NASA announced a mission to land a car-sized robot quadcopter on Saturn’s moon Titan in 2026. After it reaches Titan in 2034, the craft, called Dragonfly, will fly around Titan for two-and-a-half years to try and understand the processes that formed the 5150 km-wide moon.
Titan is considered significant because its atmosphere hosts complex organic molecules. The moon’s surface has mountains of ice and liquids seas of hydrocarbons (mainly methane and ethane), making it the only solar system object to sustain stable liquid bodies on its surface. Scientists also think there could be an ocean of liquid water under Titan’s icy surface. All these features mean that Titan could potentially harbour or sustain life.
Europe’s Huygens probe was the first to touch down on Titan, in January 2005.
India Won’t Bow to International Climate Pressure
In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha about steps being taken by the government to contain climate change, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that India would not bow to international pressure and would protect its own interests first.
Saying that 70% of greenhouse gas emission was “due to the developed countries” while India’s contribution was just three percent, Javadekar added that wealthier nations had also not fulfilled their commitment of $100 billion and technology transfer to developing nations to help the latter deal with climate change.
He also said that the emission intensity of India’s GDP has decreased by 21% in 2014 from 2005 levels, and that 33 states and Union Territories have prepared climate action plans.
Europe Heatwave spiraling to Record
Europe is reeling under a heatwave caused by an unprecedented high-pressure weather phenomenon. Temperatures are at record June highs in Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic. In France, the mercury hit 42.3°C on Thursday, beating the previous record of 41.5°C from the summer of 2003 (when around 15,000 people died across the country of heat-related causes).
Poland’s Radzyń registered a new national heat record of 38.2°C on Wednesday. The same day, temperatures in the Czech Republic rose to a record 38.9°C, and to 38.6°C in Germany. All-time heat records were also set in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy on Wednesday and Thursday. In Spain, temperatures in excess of 40°C aided the spread of a wildfire in Catalonia that has burned about 54 sq.km. of land.
Experts think the heatwave is caused by a high-pressure weather system called an ‘upper ridge’ that is trapping warm air coming in from the Mediterranean and North Africa regions. The heatwave may continue over the weekend before easing next week.
PARIS, June 26, 2019: People cool off at a fountain in the Trocadero Gardens during a heat wave in Paris, France, on June 26, 2019.
Lightning Deaths Continue in Bihar;
Lightning Deaths Continue in Bihar; 30 Dead in Last 24 Hours
At least 30 people were killed and over a dozen others injured in incidents of lightning strikes across Bihar in the last 24 hours, an official said here on Thursday.
The deaths occurred in Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Saharsa, Purnea, Araria, Katihar, Jamui, Khagaria, Madyepura, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Mitigari and Gaya districts, the state disaster management department official said.
7 Mountaineers’ Bodies Recovered on Nanda Devi Peak
A team of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has found 7 mountaineers buried by an avalanche on the Nanda Devi Peak in Uttarakhand on May 26. An eighth body is yet to be found. Bad weather is posing challenges in the recovery operation, officials said.
The mountaineering team included seven foreigners and one Indian. Earlier efforts by authorities to locate the bodies from the air were unsuccessful.
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of Ministers in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly 2019
Press Release
Dear Friends,
Andhra Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms have analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 26 Ministers including Chief Minister from Andhra Pradesh State Assembly 2019. For the complete report, please go to: https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-criminal-background-financial-education-gender-and-other-details-ministers-andhra
Summary and Highlights
Year
|
Number of Ministers Analysed
|
Number of crorepati Ministers
|
Percentage of crorepati ministers
|
Average Assets (Rs. in Crores)
|
Number of Ministers with declared criminal cases
|
Percentage of Ministers with declared criminal cases
|
Number of Ministers with declared serious criminal cases
|
Percentage of Ministers with declared serious criminal cases
|
Number of Women in Cabinet
|
Percentage of Women in Cabinet
|
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet 2014
|
18
|
16
|
89%
|
22.40
|
10
|
56%
|
4
|
22%
|
3
|
17%
|
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet 2019
|
26
|
23
|
88%
|
35.25
|
17
|
65%
|
9
|
35%
|
3
|
12%
|
Table: Analysis of Andhra Pradesh Cabinet (2014 vs. 2019)
Criminal Background
· Ministers with Criminal Cases: 17(65%) ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves.
· Ministers with Serious Criminal Cases: 9(35%) ministers have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Financial Background
· Crorepati Ministers: Out of the 26 ministers, 23 (88%) are crorepatis.
· Average Assets: The average assets of 26 ministers analysed is Rs 35.25 crores.
· Ministers with Highest Assets: The minister with the highest declared total assets is Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy with assets worth Rs 510.38 crores. The top three ministers with highest declared assets are:
S.No.
|
Name
|
District
|
Constituency
|
Party Name
|
Movable Assets (Rs)
|
Immovable Assets (Rs)
|
Total Assets (Rs)
|
PAN Given
|
1
|
Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy
|
Kadapa
|
Pulivendla
|
YSRCP
|
4,43,48,37,267
|
66,89,79,299
|
5,10,38,16,566
510 Crore+ |
Y
|
2
|
Peddi Reddy Ramachandra Reddy
|
Chittoor
|
Punganur
|
YSRCP
|
21,28,69,927
|
1,09,69,14,000
|
1,30,97,83,927
130 Crore+ |
Y
|
3
|
Mekapati Goutham Reddy
|
Nellore
|
Atmakur
|
YSRCP
|
13,76,47,301
|
48,19,22,775
|
61,95,70,076
61 Crore+ |
Y
|
Table: Top 3 Ministers with Highest Assets
· Liabilities: A total of 21 out of 26 ministers analysed have declared liabilities. The details of the top 3 ministers with highest liabilities are given below:
S.No.
|
Name
|
District
|
Constituency
|
Party Name
|
Total Assets(Rs)
|
Liabilities (Rs)
|
PAN Given
|
1
|
Chittoor
|
Punganur
|
YSRCP
|
1,30,97,83,927
130 Crore+ |
20,38,62,494
20 Crore+ |
Y
| |
2
|
West Godavari
|
Achanta
|
YSRCP
|
44,18,37,720
44 Crore+ |
12,24,85,291
12 Crore+ |
Y
| |
3
|
Visakhapatnam
|
Bhimli
|
YSRCP
|
35,57,13,877
35 Crore+ |
5,04,31,712
5 Crore+ |
Y
|
Table: Top 3 ministers with Declared Liabilities
· Ministers with High Income: 3 out of 26 ministers analysed have declared their total annual income above Rs. 1 Crore.The details of these ministers are given below:
S.No.
|
Name
|
Party Name
|
Constituency
|
District
|
Total Asset (Rs)
|
Self Source of Income
|
Spouse's Source of Income
|
The financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed by minister
|
Total income shown by minister in ITR (Self+Spouse+Dependent) (Rs)
|
Self income shown by minister in ITR (Rs)
|
1
|
Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy
|
YSRCP
|
Pulivendla
|
Kadapa
|
5,10,38,16,566
510 Crore+
|
MLA Salary,MP Pension, Rental income, other income (bank interest, dividend and agriculture income
|
Salary, Rental income, Capital gains other income(interest dividend and agriculture income)
|
2017-2018
|
38,71,47,777
38 Crore+
|
25,89,38,290
25 Crore+
|
2
|
Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao
|
YSRCP
|
Bhimli
|
Visakhapatnam
|
35,57,13,877
35 Crore+
|
Business
|
Business
|
2017-2018
|
3,45,95,990
3 Crore+
|
1,46,22,408
1 Crore+
|
3
|
Dr. Suresh Audimulapu
|
YSRCP
|
Yerragondapalem
|
Prakasam
|
16,22,92,753
16 Crore+
|
Salary,pension,property income,agricultural income, capital gains, business income etc.
|
Salary,pension,property income,agricultural income,capital gains etc.
|
2017-2018
|
1,00,68,833
1 Crore+
|
28,91,900
28 Lacs+
|
Table: Top 3 Ministers with high income
Other Background details (Education, Gender, Age)
· Ministers’ Education: 8(31%) ministers have declared their educational qualification to be between 8th and 12th standard while 18 (69%) ministers have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above.
· Ministers’ Age: A total of 12(46%) ministers have declared their age to be between 31-50 years while 14 (54%) ministers have declared their age to be between 51- 70 years.
· Women Ministers: Out of 26 ministers, 3 are women.
Contact Details
Media and Journalist Helpline
+91 80103 94248
Email: adr@adrindia.org
|
Mr. Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu
|
Maj.Gen. Anil Verma (Retd)
Head
National Election Watch,
Association for Democratic Reforms
011 4165 4200,
+91 88264 79910
adr@adrIndia.org,
|
Prof Jagdeep Chhokar
IIM Ahmedabad (Retd.)
Founder Member,
National Election Watch, Association for Democratic
Reforms
+91 99996 20944
|
Prof Trilochan Sastry
IIM Bangalore
Founder Member,
National Election Watch,
Association for Democratic Reforms
+91 94483 53285
|
Association for Democratic Reforms
T-95, C.L. House, 2nd Floor,
(Near Gulmohar Commercial Complex)
Gautam Nagar
New Delhi-110 049
(Near Gulmohar Commercial Complex)
Gautam Nagar
New Delhi-110 049
M: +91 8010394248
T: +91 11 41654200
F: 011 4609 4248