Gujarat Government crack downs on right to freedom of expression.

31102013

·        Activist and villagers detained and house arrests in wee hours of the 31^st morning.

·        Gujarat Government says tribles and activists do not speak up when CM is around or go to jail, at Kevadia.

On 30 October 2013, we 4 activists, Rohit Prajapati, Trupti Shah, Amrish Brahmbhatta, Sudhir Biniwale, were put under house arrest by Rajpipal police even before they had reached venue.

They were followed by police vehicles right form Devalia chokadi when they were travailing from Vadodara to Rajpipala. When they reached the place in Rajapiala there are as standing guards out side the place as if they are criminals. No policemen talked with them why they are doing so, what are the charges against them.

Meanwhile our activists and villagers from more than 7 villages are being detained from their homes by the police, again without pressing any formal charges. At midnight our activist Lakhan Musafir, Dhirendra Soneji, Dipen Desai, Rameshbhai Tadvi from Indravarna village, Shaileshbai Tadvi form Vagadia village, Vikrambhai Tadvi and 2 others form Kevadia and other villagers were detained illegally to create atmosphere of terror inside villages to prevent planned well-announced peaceful hunger strike in villages.

As we are writing this at 6 a.m. on 31^st morning so far we know at least 10  people from 5 villages are detained and taken to various police stations.

We fear further more police action shortly. This press release is to communicate that we activist and villagers had only announced symbolic protest in our own houses by staging day long hunger strike. Note, we were not to assemble at any public place or sit on dharana at any public place. The sit on protest in our own home is aimed at protecting our land, forest, livelihood, river, (jan ,jangal jamin, nadi, janavar). Only because the Gujarat chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi is schedule to preside the program for his plans for what he called the world’s largest statue, ‘The statue of Unity’. We had been denied the fundamental right to express our rights even in our own home. The statue of unity comes at what cost whose cost?

Rohit Prajapati          Swati Desai

Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti

For More detail Rohit Prajapati © 9426977940, Trupti Shah © 9427937162, Dipen Desai © 9427922.46

“Report of the Expert Group to advice on pricing methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene”

The Government had constituted an Expert Group to advice on pricing methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene under the chairmanship of Dr. Kirit S. Parikh (Former Member, Planning Commission). The report of the Expert Group has been submitted to the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas on 30^th October 2013.

The snapshot of the recommendations made by the Expert Group in the report is as given below:

1.              Need for robust refining sector in India

India, being one of the largest energy consuming countries, needs to maintains self-sufficiency in the refining sector in future. Therefore, the pricing policies should be geared in order to ensure sufficient returns to the refineries in the country for long-term sustainability of the petroleum sector and to ensure energy security of the country.

2.              Pricing mechanism

                                I.      The expert group noted that there is no single or unique formula which can represent the correct method for domestic prices in India that would remain unaffected from the distortions for the economy. Therefore, the best course of action is to free the market from price controls at the earliest.

                              II.      In view of the significant gap between the present administered prices and the international prices, the committee has spelt out the arrangements that may prevail in the interim till the best course of action is implemented.

3.              Diesel

                                I.      The Expert Group recommended the continuation of TPP as per current policy as the government has already decided to eventually free diesel price, which, even if modified, will not solve the problem of mounting under-recoveries incurred on sales of controlled products, mainly due to high international crude prices and depreciation of Indian rupee.  

                              II.      The Expert Group recommended that the Government should take steps to pass on the impact of rise in price of diesel to consumers and move rapidly towards making the price of diesel market determined.

                            III.      The Expert Group further recommended that diesel price should be raised by Rs. 5/ litre with immediate effect and the balance under-recovery should be made up through a subsidy of Rs. 6/litre to PSU OMCs. The subsidy on diesel should be capped at Rs. 6/ litre which would imply freeing of price of diesel beyond this cap.

                           IV.      However, any rise in the gap between domestic and international prices beyond Rs. 6/litre should be made up by corresponding increase in the price of diesel in the domestic market by the OMCs. If the gap falls below Rs. 6/litre, either the prices should be reduced or the subsidy to be provided should be reduced. The second option has been recommended by the group as that would lead to decline in subsidy over time. In the future, oil companies should be permitted to revise the prices above the subsidy cap (in line with the changes in the international prices and other costs elements) on their own. 

                             V.      The expert group suggested that the fixed subsidy of Rs. 6/litre should be reduced gradually and finally removed through regular monthly downward revisions in the cap on subsidy and corresponding increase in the price of diesel over the next one year.

4.              PDS Kerosene

                                I.      The expert group recommended that the DBTK scheme for Direct Transfer of Subsidy to BPL families throughout the country should be fast-tracked and completed within the next two years. Hence, PDS kerosene should be priced at full market price and the benefit of the subsidy should be given to the deserving consumers i.e. BPL families, through direct cash transfer mechanism.

                              II.      Till the implementation of DBTK, the expert group recommended that the price of PDS Kerosene should be increased by Rs. 4/Litre immediately and thereafter the price of PDS Kerosene should be revised from time to time at least in line with growth in the per capita agriculture GDP.

                            III.      Allocation of PDS Kerosene should be reduced with spread of rural electrification and increased use of LPG and PNG for cooking.

                           IV.      Since Kerosene is neither exported nor imported and also since there is no custom duty on PDS Kerosene, it’s pricing may continue to be based on IPP.

5.             Domestic LPG

                                I.      The Expert Group recommended that the limit for subsidized cylinders should be reduced from the present 9 to 6 cylinders per annum to each household and the DBTL scheme be restricted to identified families based on an exclusion criteria.

                              II.      The DBTL scheme should be implemented throughout the country for Direct Transfer of Subsidy to identified families within next one year.

                            III.      The price of subsidized domestic LPG should be raised by Rs. 250/cylinder immediately and the balance subsidy be phased out over the next 2 years through gradual price increase.

                           IV.      Piped natural gas to homes should be actively promoted in urban areas.

                             V.      As the country is heavily dependent on imports of LPG, the methodology of fixing refinery gate price of Domestic LPG should continue on IPP basis.

6.           Upstream Contribution

                                I.      The Expert Group recommended following contribution formula for ONGC & OIL from the financial year 2014-15 onwards:

Crude price	% Contribution of Upstream companies
Crude price <$80/bbl.	40% of crude  price
Crude price $80 – 120/bbl.	40% + 0.25% for each $1/bbl. increase beyond $80/bbl.
Crude price>$120/bbl.	50% of  crude price

                                   Source: Report of the Expert Group on pricing methodology for Diesel, Domestic LPG and PDS Kerosene

                              II.      Keeping in view the current high level of under-recoveries, the contribution from ONGC & OIL during the financial year 2013-14 may be retained at the existing level of $56/bbl. of crude oil produced.

                            III.      As regards GAIL, with the reduction in availability of APM gas it is recommended that GAIL’s contribution should not exceed the gross   profit made on sale of LPG (after allowing a reasonable profit amount to be retained by GAIL).

                           IV.      Further, after adjusting the upstream contribution, the balance amount of under-recovery on Diesel, PDS Kerosene and Subsidized Domestic LPG should be fully compensated to OMCs by providing cash subsidy from the Government budget until the prices are fully deregulated and subsidy on these products is eliminated.

7.             Operational and procurement efficiencies

The expert group recommended that OMCs should be given the freedom to procure crude oil and petroleum products through a mix of long term contracts and spot purchases from all available sources. This can be accomplished without compromising transparency and accountability by working out mechanisms in consultation with the CVC.

Warm regards,

Dr. S P Sharma

Chief Economist

University of Chicago to open new Center in Delhi,

30102013

University of Chicago to open new Center in Delhi, building on long tradition of scholarly collaboration

NEW DELHI, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 — The University of Chicago will open a major new academic center in Delhi next spring,  supporting and expanding opportunities for collaboration among scholars and students from India and  Chicago, across academic disciplines.

The Center in Delhi will be a home for research and education for University of Chicago faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates working in India and throughout South Asia, as well as Indian researchers and students representing a wide array of institutions, and scholars from around the world.

President Robert J. Zimmer said the Center in Delhi will be an intellectual destination and will enable the University of Chicago to better support research and scholarship that will benefit faculty, students, and  society.

“The Center in Delhi reflects the importance the University places on global engagement and our commitment in India and South Asia particularly,” Zimmer said Monday at a news conference in New Delhi. “The Center will support the work of our faculty, provide a platform for collaboration and opportunities for Indian scholars, prepare our students with a much greater understanding of India, South Asia, and global issues, and contribute to intellectual discourse in and with India. Our goal is to create an intellectual destination in Delhi, where scholars and students from the United States, India, and around the world can benefit from the free exchange of ideas.”

The Center will promote scholarship and teaching under three broad umbrellas: business, economics, law and policy; science, energy, medicine and public health; and culture, society, religion, and the arts. It will represent all parts of the University, including the College, the academic divisions, the professional schools, and the University’s affiliated laboratories: Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and the Marine Biological Laboratory.

Located in the vibrant cultural and commercial district of Connaught Place, the 17,000 square foot Center will provide space for seminars and conferences, as well as faculty offices and study areas. It will host Indian and South Asian students and scholars, serve as a base for UChicago students and faculty working at other institutions in India and throughout the region, and engage alumni and parents in India and South Asia.

The new Center in Delhi will capitalize on a strong body of work already underway. A University faculty committee recommended the creation of the Center and has catalogued dozens of research partnerships between UChicago scholars and their Indian and South Asian counterparts.

“After a century of significant research collaborations between India and Chicago, the Center will provide a focus for building on that legacy in Delhi and throughout the region,” said Gary Tubb, professor in South Asian Languages and Civilizations, and the faculty director of the Center.

Provost Thomas Rosenbaum recently announced Tubb’s appointment to the three year post, in which he will work with the UChicago community to develop and oversee the implementation the Center’s academic agenda. Tubb also will lead efforts to foster strong partnerships with Indian and South Asian colleagues, engage area alumni, and establish the Center as a model for international scholarly endeavors.

The Center in Delhi represents the University’s longYterm commitment to build relationships in India and throughout the region and will be an important addition to UChicago’s international presence. Delhi joins the University’s Center in Beijing, opened in 2010, and the Center in Paris, opened in 2004, in bringing together researchers and students to collaborate across the academic spectrum.

In the three years since it opened, faculty, students, and other scholars from more than 25 countries have visited the Center in Beijing more than 7,000 times. Paris and Beijing have been successful platforms for interdisciplinary conferences, partnerships, meetings, and other activities. Building on the University’s  presence in China, work is also underway on a Center in Hong Kong that will house a University of  Chicago Booth School of Business Executive MBA program as well as other University programs.*

Chicago Booth also has campuses in London and Singapore, where UChicago faculty teach in degree– granting programs. The University’s Oriental Institute has a presence in Luxor, Egypt, founded in 1924 and known as “Chicago House,” which documents ancient Egyptian inscriptions and works with Egyptian scholars on conservation, restoration, and site management.

“The University’s overseas centers along with the numerous international activities on campus in Chicago together create a dynamic global network for joint programming, teaching, and research activities,” said Ian Solomon, vice president for Global Engagement.

Solomon noted that the Center will benefit from and support a large and enthusiastic body of UChicago alumni in India, offering social, professional, and educational opportunities.

The Center in Delhi is a wholly owned foreign enterprise operating under the name of UChicago Center in India Private Limited. The Center in Delhi will not grant degrees.

Thanks & Regards, Saloni Saloni Kumari | + 91 8800630234 | saloni.k@prpundit.com 760 Udyog Vihar | First Floor | Phase V | Gurgaon – 122016

Newsline today

Georgia PM ally seals presidency with confident win

29102013

Updated on : 28-10-2013 04:38 PM

An ally of Georgia’s billionaire Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili on Monday savoured a crushing win in presidential polls that ended the decade-long dominance of pro-Western reformer Mikheil Saakashvili.

Giorgi Margvelashvili, a little-known academic from Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream coalition, won around 62 per cent of the vote in the poll yesterday, the election commission said after ballots from more than 97 per cent of polling stations had been counted. His nearest challenger, ex-parliament speaker David Bakradze from Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM) party, trailed behind on just under 22 percent, official results showed. Margvelashvili had already claimed victory before cheering supporters at a rally in Tbilisi yesterday. “I thank you all so much. It is our shared victory,” Margvelashvili said as balloons were released to chants from the crowd. Basking in the win, Georgia’s richest man Ivanishvili — who wrested power from Saakashvili’s party in parliamentary polls last year in Georgia’s first smooth transfer of power — said that he had been certain of victory. “All together we will build a Georgia which we dream about,” Ivanishvili said. “I congratulate you all.” On sunday’s vote marked the swan song of United States ally Saakashvili’s second and last term and his bitter year-long cohabitation with his bete noire Ivanishvili, who has promised to also step down. In a televised address, Saakashvili urged his supporters to respect the outcome of the poll, while calling it a “serious deviation” from Georgia’s path towards development. “The Georgian voters have expressed their will. I want to tell those who are not happy with the results: we must respect the majority’s opinion,” Saakashvili said. Margvelashvili will assume a weaker role than Saakashvili because constitutional changes will see the prime minister take over many key powers from the president and become the dominant force. Lower stakes this election saw a final turnout of just 46.6 per cent, according to official figures. Ivanishvili has promised to name his replacement as premier and step down shortly after the polls, arguing that he has achieved his goals. “This is now the most important thing as the president is no longer the central figure and the next prime minister is now much more powerful,” said Koba Turmanidze, Georgia director for the Caucasus Research Resource Centre. Ivanishvili has hinted his replacement will be a member of his cabinet but has so far kept mum about his or her identity.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized, world News

Three die as opposition strike in Bangladesh enters 2nd day

29102013

Updated on : 28-10-2013 03:44 PM

At least three persons were killed in clashes as a 60-hour countrywide strike called by opposition parties demanding a neutral caretaker government in poll-bound Bangladesh entered second day on Monday, raising the overall death toll in violence linked to political unrest to 14.

Supporters of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its rightwing ally Jamaat-e-Islami stabbed a rival supporter to death in northern Jamalpur, police said.  In Chittagong, a trucker died as his vehicle overturned after picketers threw brick chips at him, they said.  The third death was reported from western Jhinaidah where a local BNP leader was bombed and knifed to death by suspected rival activists.  “A gang of up to eight miscreants carried out the attack exploding crude bombs as Abul Hossain was having tea in a stall…they later stabbed him to confirm his death,” a police officer told reporters.  At least 50 people were injured when a shuttle train derailed after suspected opposition activists uprooted rail lines in Lalmonirhat area. In Dhaka, protesters torched an office of ruling Awami League.  Witnesses said the protesters also hurled a few handmade bombs and raised pro-strike slogans.  They also torched and vandalised at least six vehicles in Dhaka and its adjacent areas, reports said, adding at least seven bombs were blasted across the city.  The incidents of clashes, explosions and vandalism were also reported from other parts of Bangladesh.  On Sunday, five persons were killed in violence in towns and cities despite authorities deploying thousands of extra police and paramilitary personnel countrywide to prevent any untoward incident during the strike.  On October 25, six persons have been killed and over 300 injured in clashes between BNP workers and security forces across Bangladesh.  Schools, shops and other businesses remained closed across the country today for the strike. But the state media reported public life in Dhaka remained largely normal as the people joined their works.  Meanwhile, a mobile court in Dhaka today sentenced three BNP picketers in jail for six months for carrying explosive substances.  The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance called the strike demanding restoration of the neutral caretaker government system to oversee the country’s next general election.  The strike came as telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Saturday could make little headway in easing tensions.  Earlier, Hasina has proposed the formation of a caretaker government with representatives of all political parties.  Zia, however, rejected her proposal and floated a formula for creating a neutral poll-time caretaker regime.  Zia has also ruled out the possibility of contesting polls, which are to be held by January 25, 2014, if Hasina remained as head of the government. The government is yet to formally respond to Zia’s proposal.  The Awami League, which has a three-fourths majority in the current parliament, scrapped the caretaker system by amending the Constitution two years ago.  It acted after the Supreme Court ruled that the system was contrary to the Constitution. The BNP has repeatedly contended that polls will be fair only under a non-party government. But the Awami League insisted that the caretaker system had proved counter-productive as it was abused and it failed to protect democracy.  It further said the system paved the ways for installation of army-backed regimes

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

India signs 4 agreements with Peru

29102013

Giving a boost to its ties with the fastest growing Latin American country, India on Monday signed four agreements with Peru including one on defence cooperation and another on establishment of a Joint Commission.

The two other agreements are on exchange programme in the field of education and another letter of intent for cooperation in the field of culture.  These agreements were signed at the end of Vice President Hamid Ansari’s three-day visit to the Latin America country.  Earlier on Monday, Ansari launched the Indian Chambers of Commerce (INCHAM) at a special function jointly organised by the Embassy of India in Peru and INCHAM.  The INCHAM aims to facilitate Indian trade and industry to do business in Peru and other countries of Latin America.  The INCHAM is becoming operational at a time when Peru is rapidly becoming one of the more important trade partners for India in this region. Looking at the potential, India and Peru are hoping to start negotiations soon for a Free Trade Agreement.  Mineral- rich Peru is the fastest growing country in Latin America. Ambassador of India to Peru Manpreet Vohra and President of INCHAM Ravi Krishna, senior officials and business leaders from both India and Peru were present on the occasion.  Addressing the gathering on the launch, Ansari said that the new organisation promises to fill what has so far been a vacuum in India-Peru commercial and economic relations.  The official website of INCHAM was also launched. INCHAM will seek to increase awareness of either country’s business opportunities in the other, it will offer information and advisory services, and it will provide the important bridge between businesses and governments that is vital when economic relations reach a take-off stage, as they have between India and Peru. India-Peru bilateral trade is increasing very quickly and has gone up by 7 times in the last 5 years.  The growth rate last year was 35 percent. In the first six months of this year, it rose by over 44 percent. Indian investments in Peru are also rising. The number of Indian companies with offices in the region is increasing steadily, as also the number of Indian professionals working in the region.  Another document that India hopes to finalise with Peru soon is the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

White House halt to surveillance of allied leaders

29102013

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary

White House is currently evaluating whether to end surveillance programs allegedly targeting the leaderships of allied nations such as Germany.

This follows criticism from Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s chairwoman, who said that she was “totally opposed” to the collection of intelligence on US allies, and said that such surveillance of foreign heads of state would cease immediately.

“The White House has informed me that collection on our allies will not continue, which I support – but as far as I’m concerned, Congress needs to know exactly what our intelligence community is doing. To that end, the committee will initiate a major review into all intelligence collection programs,” she said in astatement on Monday.

“Unless the United States is engaged in hostilities against a country or there is an emergency need for this type of surveillance, I do not believe the United States should be collecting phone calls or emails of friendly presidents and prime ministers.”

The White House said Monday evening that it was conducting an internal review on its surveillance programs, which include the monitoring of allied foreign leaders, to be completed by December.

“We have already made some decisions through this process and expect to make more,” said Caitlin M. Hayden, spokeswoman for the National Security Council.

The Obama administration earlier said the controversial intelligence gathering procedures that have attracted international scrutiny in recent months may require “additional constraints.”

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, made the remark during a scheduled Monday afternoon briefing on the heels of the latest revelations made possible through the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive National Security Agency documents detailing US-led programs that spied on foreign citizens and politicians.

“There are a number of efforts underway that are designed to increase transparency, to work with Congress to look at reform to the Patriot Act [and] to look at ways we can increase oversight and increase constraint on the authorities provided by these programs,” Carney told reporters.

The press secretary also echoed words made earlier that day by National Security Adviser Susan Rice, who tweeted of a balance needing to be reached with regards to how intelligence gathering.

Media agencies

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Business, CSR, Uncategorized

NSA bugged forty six million phone calls in Italy

29102013

 

 NSA bugged forty six million phone calls in Italy in a month, according to digital library host Cryptome. The report is the latest in the revelations that the agency tapped hundreds of millions of phone lines across Europe. 

This snooping, is of Dec. 10, 2012 and Jan. 8, 2013, reportedly did not appear to track the content of calls but rather telephony metadata, including the origin and duration of the calls.  

Alleged monitoring of citizens’ phone calls follows an article in the Italian weekly, L’Espresso, say that US intelligence had monitored Italian telecoms networks, targeting the government and companies as well as suspected terrorists.

Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) also reportedly monitored telephone, Internet and email traffic carried through three undersea fiber-optic cables in Italy as a part of its Tempora program. 

“In this mass collection, our secret services had a role,” the publication cited Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who helped publish leaked documents obtained by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, as saying. 

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said Thursday that the alleged monitoring of Italian telecommunications by US and British intelligence would be both “inconceivable and unacceptable.”

Letta questioned US Secretary of State John Kerry about the reported bugging during talks in Rome on Wednesday. 

Ahead of an EU summit Friday, Letta said: “Obviously, all checks should be done, but we want the whole truth. It’s not acceptable or conceivable that there are activities of this kind.”

In regards to the Cryptome report, Italian intelligence agencies had no information on the alleged monitoring and were unable to confirm it had taken place. 

A statement released by an Italian parliamentary committee tasked with state security, however, said there was a difference between “spying” and “monitoring.” 

“There is no evidence that the United States is spying on Italian citizens,” the statement from the Parliamentary Committee for the Intelligence and Security Services and for State Secret Control read. 

The committee said that agreements on cooperation in the security sphere precluded the possibility that either side would spy on each other. Media agencies

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

RBI hikes key rate by 0.25%

29102013

RBI hikes key rate by 0.25%; consumer loans to get costlier

Updated on : 29-10-2013 12:36 PM

Inflation worries forced the Reserve Bank to continue its firm stance and hike the short-term lending (repo) rate by 0.25 per cent, a step that will make corporate and consumer loans more expensive.

There was no surprise in the first full policy unveiled by new RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, who increased the repo rate, as was widely expected, by 0.25 per cent to 7.75 per cent and brought down the cost of short-term funds for banks by slashing the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate by a similar quantum to 8.75 per cent.  The policy stance and measures, Rajan said, “are intended to curb mounting inflationary pressures and manage inflation expectations in a situation of weak growth. “These will help strengthen the environment for growth by fostering macroeconomic and financial stability. The Reserve Bank will closely monitor inflation risk while being mindful of the evolving growth dynamics,” he said.  The central bank reduced the growth forecast for the current fiscal to 5 per cent from 5.5 per cent projected earlier. Economic growth fell to a decade-low of 5 per cent in the previous financial year.  The RBI left other rates unchanged, such as the cash reserve ratio at 4 per cent, and mandatory holdings in government securities and other liquid assets as a solvency measure (SLR) at 23 per cent.  However, the Governor doubled the borrowing limit of banks against their cash positions or NDTL to 0.5 per cent for both 7-day and 14-day repos, with immediate to increase liquidity in the system.  Following are the highlights of the RBI’s second quarter review of monetary policy 2013-14 : * Repo or short-term lending rate up by 0.25 pc to 7.75 pc;  * Cash reserve ratio unchanged at 4 pc  * Marginal standing facility (MSF) rate cut by 0.25 pc to 8.75 pc  * Difference between repo and MSF rate narrows to 1 pc  * Repo hiked due to upturn of inflation, other factors.  * Wholesale inflation expected to be higher than current levels; warrants ‘appropriate policy response’  * Retail inflation to hover around 9 pc  * Food price pressures may ease with the arrival of summer crop harvest and seasonal moderation.  * Prospect of delay in taper of US Fed Reserve’s bond purchases has brought calm to financial markets * Normalcy will restored in the forex market only when OMCs fully return to the market for their demand  * FY14 GDP growth estimate revised downward to 5 pc vs 5.7 pc  * Growth likely to pick up in second half on good show in exports and agriculture  * Liquidity pressures building on small businesses as large entities holding on payments; remedies lie in speeding-up of Government and PSU payments.  * Average drawdown from MSF has declined to Rs 0.4 trillion by mid-Oct, down from a high of Rs 1.4 trillion in mid-Sep  * Final guidelines on unhedged forex exposures by corporates to be out by December  * Jalan panel on new bank licenses to hold 1st meet on Nov 1, decision of RBI on in-principle approvals will be final.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

Patna Terror suspect sent to judicial custody

29102013

Mohammad Imtiaz Ansari, one of the two terror suspects arrested in connection with serial blasts in Patna, has been sent to judicial custody by a Patna court.

Imtiaz, a resident of Ranchi, was arrested from Patna railway junction after a bomb exploded on platform number 10 on Sunday morning, ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally.A court of the railway magistrate here sent Imtiaz to seven days judicial custody. “He was produced before the court of railway magistrate late Monday night and sent to high security Beur jail under judicial custody,” said Superintendent of Railway Police Upendra Kumar Singh. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said two separate FIRs have been lodged with the government railway police and Gandhi Maidan police stations. Six of the seven blasts took place in and around the rally venue while one blast took place at the railway station. Additional Director General (Special Branch) Rajesh Chandra said Imtiaz, the main accused caught with bombs at the Patna junction when he tried to flee after the first blast, was interrogated and confessed to his involvement. “Imtiaz told police that a group of six people had been divided into three groups with specific assignments to carry out the blasts,” Chandra said. Maharaj said that Patna police will take Imtiaz in police custody in a day or two. Six people were killed and 83 were injured in seven bomb blasts in Patna. The first of the blasts ripped through a toilet at around 10 a.m. at the railway station in the heart of the city, killing one person and wounding another. After an hour, by which time Modi had reached Patna but not the rally ground, four explosions took place inside the Gandhi Maidan, and two around it that caused a lot of panic. The Patna railway station is located two-three kilometres from the Gandhi Maidan.

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Education, Media, Politics, Uncategorized

When Bhabho comes to Meenakshi’s rescue

29102013

She may be the most tyrannical and strictest mom-in-law on Television but Diya Aur Baati’s Bhabho (Neelu Waghela) is the most reliable friend one can have. Neelu had participated in Nach Baliye last season and is well-versed with the show’s format and rules. Incidentally, Kanika Maheshwari who plays her daughter-in-law Meenakshi in the show is participating in Nach Baliye-6 and is super excited to groove on the stage with her businessman husband Ankur Ghai.

The couple has been practicing for their first ever debut on TV and had plans to use this opportunity to spend quality time with each other. But with Nach Baliye’s schedules clashing with Kanika’s shoot schedules, she is hardly finding any time for rehearsals. Here’s where Bhabho came to Kanika’s rescue! Neelu is helping Kanika manage her shoot time, dance practice along with giving her some tips. Kanika had helped Neelu manage her time last season and now it’s Neelu’s turn to return the favour!  

Talking about Bhabho aka Neelu Waghela, Kanica saids, “Bhabho is truly myfriend, philosopher and guide. I completely look upto her, she always helps me out from situations and is a wonderful person. With my hectic schedules, she has taught me some exercises and is always comforting and ready to ease out the pain.” Aakhir saas ho toh aisi! 

Catch Kanika and Ankur in Nach Baliye-6 starting 9th November, every Satruday and Sunday at 9 pm only on STAR Plus! 

 

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

29102013

India ranked 134^th in Doing Business Index

( India ‘s rank in the “Doing Business Index” declined two notches from 132 in DB13 to 134 in DB14)

India has been placed at 134^th position in Doing Business Index 2014 by World Bank and IFC, down from 132^nd position in previous year’s Doing Business Index 2013. India ‘s ranking remained below those of the neighbors like Sri Lanka at 85^th position, Nepal at 105^th, Pakistan at 110^th and Bangladesh at 130^th.

                                                                                        

India stands at 179 in the ranking of 189 economies on the ease of starting a business. These rankings indicate that India could do more to enhance corporate sector profitability by reducing the costs of doing business and improving institutions.

The ease of starting business in India over time

Indicator	DB’08	DB’09	DB’10	DB’11	DB’12	DB’ 13	DB’ 14
Ease of Doing Business (Rank)	120	122	133	134	132	132	134
Starting a Business (Rank)	111	121	169	165	169	173	179
Procedures (no)	13	13	13	12	12	12	12
Time (days)	33	30	30	29	29	27	27
Cost (% of per-cap income)	74.6	70.1	66.1	56.5	46.8	49.8	47.3

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Doing Business in India 2014  by World Bank and IFC.

In “resolving insolvency” India ’s ranking has declined by 5 positions from 116 in DB’13 to 121 in DB’14, for “paying taxes” ranking has deteriorated by 6 positions from 152 in DB’13 to 158 in DB’14. Ranking for “getting electricity” has also gone down by 6 positions from 105 in DB’13 to 111 in DB’14. India ’s rank has gone down for “Trading across borders” and “getting credit” from 127 in DB’13 to 132 in DB’14 and 23 in DB’13 to 28 in DB’14 respectively.

However, India has been taking adequate measures for “protecting investors” as its ranking has gone up significantly from 49 in DB’13 to 34 in DB’14. India ’s ranking for “registering property” has also gone up by 2 positions from 94 in DB’13 to 92 in DB’14.

India’s rank in “dealing with construction permits” has remained unchanged at 182 in DB’13 and DB’14.

India’s performance on various parameters

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Doing Business in India 2014 and Doing Business in India 2013 by World Bank and IFC.

Regards,

Dr. S P Sharma

Chief Economist

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

WORKSHOP SET TO INITIATE REVISED SCOPE AND INTENTIONS OF IEEE 1547™ STANDARD

29102013

WORKSHOP SET TO INITIATE REVISED SCOPE AND INTENTIONS OF  IEEE 1547™ STANDARD FOR INTERCONNECTING DISTRIBUTED RESOURCES PUCs, utilities, manufacturers and independent power producers worldwide invited 3-4 December 2013 to help shape planned revision of key smart grid standard New Delhi, 29 October 2013 – IEEE, the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced a workshop addressing the full revision of IEEE 1547™ “Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems.” Public utility commissions (PUCs), utilities, manufacturers and independent power producers worldwide are invited 3-4 December 2013 to the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick (N.J.) to help shape the direction of the revised standard.  “Since IEEE 1547’s initial publication in 2003, we have seen the grassroots development of new interconnection lessons learned and engineering practices in the real world of smart grid implementation,” said Dick DeBlasio, chair of IEEE Standards Coordinating Committee (SCC) 21 on Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Dispersed Generation and Energy Storage. “Now, 10 years later, IEEE 1547 is ready for a comprehensive refresh, even as the existing standard continues to inform interconnection and deployment of distributed generation in markets globally and continues to grow into a family of standards addressing emerging market needs.”  From collaboration in the December workshop, SCC 21 will develop a request to launch an IEEE working group to complete a revision of the IEEE 1547 standard by 2018. Please visit https://iecs.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=form_151236 to participate in the workshop. Registration deadline is 22 November 2013.  IEEE 1547 established the first performance, operation, testing, safety and maintenance criteria and requirements for distributed resources with aggregate capacity of 10 MegaVolt Ampere (MVA) or less at the point of common coupling. The standard has informed federal legislation and rule making, regulatory deliberations and critical utility engineering and business practices in markets worldwide. Also, deployment of distributed generation has intensified, revealing new market challenges that have precipitated expansion of a family of IEEE 1547 extension standards to address in depth areas such as conformance tests; monitoring, information exchange, and control; microgrids, and grid impacts including modeling and simulation. Development continues. For example, IEEE P1547.1a™ “Draft Standard Conformance Test Procedures for Equipment Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems Amendment 1” is on a fast track to amend the base standard to address testing requirements around voltage regulation and response to abnormal conditions of voltage and frequency in area electric power systems.  Following the workshop on revising the base IEEE 1547 standard, the IEEE P1547.1a workinggroup will meet 5 December 2013, also at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. Please visithttp://standards.ieee.org/develop/project/1547.1a.html for more information about IEEE P1547.1a.  To learn more about IEEE-SA, visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ieeesa, follow us on Twitter athttp://www.twitter.com/ieeesa, connect with us on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1791118 or on the Standards Insight Blog at http://www.standardsinsight.com.  About the IEEE Standards Association The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body within IEEE, develops consensus standards through an open process that engages industry and brings together a broad stakeholder community. IEEE standards set specifications and best practices based on current scientific and technological knowledge. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of over 900 active standards and more than 500 standards under development. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org/.  About IEEE IEEE, a large, global technical professional organization, is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more athttp://www.ieee.org.

Regards,

–

Gaurav Goswami, Asst. Account Executive +91 9971285716
		PRHUB Integrated Marketing Communication Pvt. Ltd. #401, 4th Floor, Nirmal Tower, 26, Barakhamba Road  Delhi-110001. Tel: +91 11 41513591

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

CALLING PAKISTAN ARMY’S BLUFF- RAJIV KUMAR

29102013

 In my last column (Handling different Pakistans, 4 October) I had argued that India will have to craft a differentiated  strategy to deal with different groups in Pakistan. In this piece I want to elaborate further on this as some readers questioned its viability. It is clear that there can be only one approach towards the Jihadis of all shades, which is to crush them to make it clear that in modern societies only the state has the monopoly of violence.  India should also openly support the US and  NATO  on their its drone attacks and everyone else who is fighting against Jihadis all over the world. It will be good domestically for our population to see India as reinforcing the global coalition against Jihad.

At the other end of the spectrum are the  civil society and Pakistani business who are quite visibly sick and tired of the on-going violence, fear the Talibanisation of Pakistani and have openly expressed and voted with their feet for better relations with India. They have done this despite being threatened with violence and death by the Jihadis. We must, therefore,  reciprocate accordingly with boldness.  There are two steps we can take without in any way jeopardising either our security or economic interests. First, we should immediately implement the liberal visa regime for all Pakistani visitors and do away with the shameful practice of giving restricted visas for a few cities. This is primitive and remains in force only and only because of the backwardness of our security agencies who persist with blanket security approach rather than be more technologically savvy and give the government more degrees of freedom in inter-state relations. Surely, modern technology can help track those who violate their visa conditions and surely too,  Jihadis don’t cross over with visas and through designated border check points.  They come with covering fire in Keran.

Second, India should now seriously consider unilaterally liberalising its import regime rather than wait for Pakistan to grant it the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status.  Evidently, it is difficult for the Pakistan government, beleaguered as it is vis a vis the fundamentalist, to take this step. Also India already has a substantial trade surplus specially  if we take in to account Indian exports to Pakistan via Dubai and even London! By this unilateral liberalization, as we have already done for other South Asian neighbours, we will improve the trade balance and more importantly will provide a huge leverage to Pakistani businessmen  to raise a stronger voice for normalising ties with India. My sincere suggestion is for India to implement the protocol agreed between the two commerce secretaries without waiting for the MFN. My hunch is that it will become very shortly irrelevant with the growth in trade that will ensue in any case. On some occasions it is wise to forego the symbolism as it is quite often more form than substance.

To design India’s possible approach to the civilian government in Islamabad, we will need to  distinguish between the political class and bureaucracy and then categorise those who are close to the armed forces and others,  which are relatively less so. In general I have noticed that the bureaucracy has far deeper and extensive ties with the armed forces. This could be for many reasons including that both come from the same professional family background and   that the bureaucracy has had to be subservient to the army for decades. Very often Pakistani diplomats and bureaucrats appear to be liberal towards India but actually do only the army’s bidding. So our better bet is to strengthen our relationship with that segment of the  political class who openly profess their friendship towards India and are not Jihadi supporters.  PML and MQM today qualify   on this criteria and will be useful to develop ties between politicians of the two Punjabs and between Mumbai and Karachi.  Frequent interaction should be organized  between the legislators from the two sides, along with track two events involving politicians, business and academics from the two sides and meeting with the officials on the sidelines. These will help remove misunderstandings and build much needed trust between the politicians.

Vis-a-vis the Pakistan army, our stance must be uncompromising and punishing. Incidents on the line of control (LOC), covering fire for infiltration by Jihadis or suspected ISI involvement with Jihadi attacks as in Mumbai must invite immediate and disproportionate retaliation and retribution. Our government must give clear and unequivocal free hand to our armed forces to deal with the situation. This should include the dismantling of training camps across the LOC which really are a perpetual symbol of India’s inability to shake off the nuclear bluff and allow Pakistan to persist with adventurism and continue with its policy of trying to bleed India with small cuts. It also allows the Pakistani army to continue with its coalition with the Jihadis who are given a free hand and support to attack India and take on Kabul and its allies as long as they do ISI’s bidding. India will have to explain to the US, China, Russia and the  NATO countries that these terrorist training camps are simply unacceptable as are ISI supported incidents.  These incidents are also harmful for the Pakistani population because they allow the ISI and the army to determine nature of Indo-Pak relations and abort any promising opening.

Does this stance convert me to a hawk against Pakistan? No it does not. In fact I am sure that a large majority of Pakistanis want to have their army put in its proper place. It should stay in the barracks and give up grandiose ambitions that have cost Pakistan dear. For India it is stupid for our TV anchors and  foreign policy hawks to ask for complete freeze on all contacts with Pakistan and breaking off all dialogue or interaction every time an incident happens on the LOC . This only serves the purpose of the Jihadis and Rawalpindi as it does not punish them but instead burns up the goodwill among the people that takes enormous effort and time to rebuild.  The stick should be wielded on the culprits and not on friends. India has to help the peace loving people of Pakistan by throwing our full weight against their army and Jihadis and opening  our markets, cricket fields, cultural platforms and hearts to the others, which are undoubtedly the great majority.

____________________________________________________________

Author is Senior Fellow,  Centre For Policy Research

 

Edit : Edit
Comments : Leave a Comment » 

Categories : Uncategorized

Twitpic – Share photos and videos on Twitter

29102013

Naresh Kumar Sagar