BACKUP PLAN Aa it makes arrangements to air Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony live, the All India Radio (AIR) is planning to keep a set of two commentators as backup at the studios to ensure continuity in case there is a problem from the live commentary being done from the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan Monday. If required, these backup commentators will perform commentary watching live footage on Doordarshan. Clearly, nobody in the government wants to leave anything to chance for the D-day. THE MODI TEST For the secretaries to the Government of India, the presentation before PM Narendra Modi would be a tough task. Sources say Modi has conveyed to the Cabinet Secretary that the secretaries must come alone and not with their additional or joint secretaries. Usually, the secretaries come with junior officers and whenever there is a query, they take their help. But being called alone, they are studying all subjects to face Modi alone. Also, he has asked that the secretaries must limit their presentations within 20 slides. ‘CALL ON’ AT 7RCR Of the eight visiting foreign leaders, at least two haven’t forgotten outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala have asked for a ‘call on’ with Singh. The meetings will take place at his Race Course Road residence Monday in what would be his last meeting with foreign dignitaries as PM. KEEPING MHA AT BAY Amid the hectic preparations for Monday’s swearing-in ceremony, the administration division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which coordinates with the President’s House, has been left out. The Home Ministry acts as advisor to the President in several matters and in the past has been engaged in run-up to big events. However, the President’s House this time has decided to put up a show on its own and has kept minimal involvement of babus from the MHA.
