Special court for 2G scam

Set up special court for 2G scam: SC to govt.

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the government to constitute a special court exclusively for dealing with 2G spectrum case.

The CBI will file the first chargesheet in 2G spectrum scam against former telecom minister A Raja and others under Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) for cheating and forgery by March 31, the Supreme Court was told.

The apex court said it favours a CBI probe that also covers culpability of beneficiaries of the scam as they are part of larger conspiracy. The court added that the agency must have a free hand to question anyone.

"It appears that their freedom is curtailed as it is seeking short remand of the accused," the court said.

"We have large number of persons who think themselves to be the law. Law must catch them. Merely their being in the list of Forbes or millionaires does not make difference," the Supreme Court added.

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Space Spectrum allocation using S Band

PM forms commission to probe ISRO agreement

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has formed a high-level commission to look into allegations of revenue losses in the allocation of space spectrum using S-band - high value and scarce radio waves - between the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) commercial arm and a private company.

The commission will submit its report in a month's time, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said Thursday.

The two-member commission comprises Planning Commission member B.K. Chaturvedi and Space Commission member and aerospace expert Roddam Narasimha.

Reports have alleged loss of government revenue in a contract entered into by Antrix Corporation -- the commercial arm of ISRO -- and Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd due to lease of space segment capacity which would use S-Band spectrum.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has indicated that the alleged deal between Antrix and Devas has caused the nation an estimated loss of Rs.2 lakh crore.

The government Tuesday denied that the nation suffered revenue losses in the allocation of space spectrum using S-band but admitted that the agreement between Antrix and Devas had not explicitly mentioned the end-use terms. Further, it said the agreement was being cancelled.

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Aero India 2011

Aero India-2011 creates history as largest ever

The Aero India show that began here on Wednesday has smashed all records in terms of its size and content, entering history books as the largest edition of the biennial event so far.

The present-day version of Aero India, deemed the biggest air show in Asia, had begun as a modest display of a few aviation assets as Avia-India in 1993.

The show, renamed Aero India since 1998, has only become bigger and more popular which must rank among one of the largest attended air shows around the world.

35 Russian companies to display wares at Aero India 2011

According to statistics given by the Department of Defence Production (DDP), the online request for registration of general visitors to the air show this year has already exceeded the 1.75-lakh mark, a lakh more than the official 75,000 footfalls in 2009.

The organisers are expecting the figure to reach 2.75 lakh. With enquiries and requests not showing any signs of abatement, Aero India-2011 is clearly on its way to top the charts.

Discounting Avia-India in 1993, the growth in Aero India since 1998 to 2005 had been marginal, defence ministry officials pointed out.

'It began showing a quantum increase in the gross exhibition area only from the 2007 edition. While it hovered between the 7,000-18,000 sq mts mark from 1998 to 2005, it sharply rose to 30,000 sq mts in 2007 and 44,000 sq mts in 2009,' an official said.

This year, the organisers have increased the gross area to 75,000 sq mts, a significant 70 percent increase over 2009, a fact mentioned by Defence Production Secretary Raj Kumar Singh at his address at the air show's inaugural ceremony.

There are 675 exhibitors in this edition of Aero India - a 16 percent increase over the last edition that had 581 exhibitors in all.

As with all previous editions, this time too international exhibitors score over the domestic ones in terms of participation.

In 2009, the gap was marginal -- 303 international exhibitors against 289 domestic. This year, the figure is 380 against 295, a growth of 25 percent for the international exhibitors against a mere five for domestic exhibitors.

India finally invites China to AeroIndia show

With 30 countries participating this year and 350 official representation from 60 countries, the delegations' number has seen a three-fold-plus increase, both official and business, with the US leading the pact with 250, Germany at number two with 35, Italy 10, and other countries sharing the rest.

Based on online request for business passes, around 70,000 business visitors and delegates are expected to throng the venue, a figure twice that of 2009, through the first three days of the five-day show.

There are eight country pavilions and 63 chalets at the venue, with exhibitions, flying and static display an integral part of the event.

This year has recorded a 62 percent increase in flight, static and flight-cum-static display by civil and military aircraft over 2009.

With the defence ministry promoting the air show as both military and civil aerospace event, there are 27 aircraft belonging to the civil aviation sector in the air show, marking a 54 percent representation compared to just 46 percent military component.

In all, over 100 aircraft would be witnessed at Aero India-2011.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) too has set up a exhibition of its works at a stall, which is expected to be another major attraction.

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