1.

A LEADER IS BORN NOT MADE

A leader is an individual whose work is to guide others into achieving a
common goal. A leader shows others the way by examples and creates an
environment that makes other team members feel involved in the whole
process (Jonathan, Ian & Stephanie 2012). Leaders must also have the
drive to push others in situations that are not favourable.
My position as far as this debate is concerned is that leaders are born and
not made. Leaders are born with basic leadership skills and these skills
are improved through experience and learning from other leaders
(Northouse 2007)

There are a number of scenarios which confirms the assertion that leaders are
actually born and not made. One of the evidences is that leaders are noticed
when they are still very young. They are first recognized during childhood in
schoolyards. There are kids who are always ready to assume command while
still in school and leadership skills to them appears to be so effortless
(Waldman, Bernard & Walter 2009). These child-leaders are characterized by a
great desire for adventure and thinks very quickly whenever they are on the
field. They are always ready to take positions of responsibility such as
becoming class monitors. This is clear evidence that leaders are born with
leadership traits in them (Wagner 2009).

This belief is also supported by the Great Man’s theory which asserts that great
leaders are born with all the required internal features such as intelligence,
confidence, social skills and charisma and these features make them leaders
who are naturally born (Waldman 2009). Apart from the leadership traits
exhibited by children while they are still young, we have leaders whose
leadership skills were not learnt but they were born with these skills (Waldman
2009). Two examples of these leaders are Margaret Thatcher and Sir Winston
Churchill. Margaret Thatcher and Sir Winston Churchill are credited for being
the most outstanding British Prime ministers since World War II. These two
leaders who did not attend any school to learn leadership skills confirm the
assertion that leaders are actually born and not made (Seltzer & Bernard 2008).

However, learnt leadership is also important as a supplement to inherited

leadership traits. This is because before a person learns leadership, he or she
should have the drive and courage to take up leadership positions. Courage is an
attribute that is born in leaders and therefore leaders can only be noticed if they
have the drive and courage to step out and lead others (Robert 2008). This is
another aspect than makes leaders to be considered born and not made. The
argument by Colin Powel that leaders are made is valid. He advocates for learnt
leadership. According to him good leadership is only achievable through trial
and error (Chen & Bliese 2002). This argument is correct, but before engaging
in trial and error techniques a leader must possess the zeal to face followers,
which I believe is an attribute born with leaders. The concept is that the
attributes born with leaders forms the foundation of good leadership (Rowley
2009). Without these traits, then a leader cannot have the opportunity for learnt
leadership.

Leaders can therefore be developed, but there should inborn characteristics that
make people to be more suited for leadership positions. Extraversion,
assertiveness, boldness and risk taking are all characteristics which increase the
effectiveness of a leader and which cannot be learnt (Conger 2009).
Additionally, intelligence is another factor that makes confirms the assertion
that leaders are actually born when compared to learnt leadership. In the
absence of intelligence, it is not possible to train effective leaders. Therefore, it
is only possible to train somebody to become an effective leader if he or she is
intelligent. Intelligence is a characteristic that is not attained through learning,
but born in a person. This intelligence is what makes a person to know what the
followers want and want they don’t want (Waldman 2009).

Leaders are born with leadership traits and training is only meant to improve
these leadership skills. This means that in order to make a good leader, a person
needs to be born with basic leadership traits. These basic traits are then
improved through experience or learning. It is therefore not possible to nurture a
great leader from scratch (Bennis & Joan 2008). From the theories discussed
above, it doesn’t mean that training is not important in leadership. It means that
training should only be used as a tool for improving traits born in would-be
leaders. Firstly, the leaders are born with these traits and then these traits are
improved further through raining and experiences. This is the reasoning behind
“Leaders are born and not made”

People with inborn leadership qualities use a number of ways to improve on

their leadership qualities because these skills are obtained throughout the entire
life of a person. They improve their basic leadership skills by observing other
leaders and trying to emulate their leadership styles. Other ways leaders
enhance their inborn traits is by looking for role models and mentors.
Additionally, these leaders might enhance their skills further by enquiring from
experienced leaders about how they handle different situations (Anton 2004). In
short, improving basic inborn leadership traits is a lifetime task. There are more
to learn and good leaders always struggle to ensure that they improve the
leadership skills that they have. Therefore, good leaders have inborn leadership
traits which can be improved further through experience (Andersen 2012).
 2. PLANT A TREE AND SAVE THE EARTH
Trees are an important part of society and community. Along with furnishing us with the
basic essentials for life like food, oxygen, shelter, medicine, tools, they also satisfy the
needs created by our modern ways of living. The value of trees has been increasing ever
since more and more benefits are being discovered.
Trees provide us shade and shelter, help in moderating the climate, preserving soil,
supporting wildlife, reducing pollution and in many other ways. Trees create an
aesthetically pleasing atmosphere around us. They make our landscape look
beautiful..indeed priceless.
However, the population explosion and expansion of commercial areas has resulted in
massive pruning of trees. People are continuously cutting trees for developmental activities
like making houses, commercial buildings, parking lots and we are moving a step further in
destroying the planet by loosing the most valuable resource of the environment.Trees are an
important part of society and community. Along with furnishing us with the basic essentials
for life like food, oxygen, shelter, medicine, tools, they also satisfy the needs created by our
modern ways of living.
Trees are an important part of society and community. Along with furnishing us with the
basic essentials for life like food, oxygen, shelter, medicine, tools, they also satisfy the needs
created by our modern ways of living. The value of trees has been increasing ever since more
and more benefits are being discovered.
Trees provide us shade and shelter, help in moderating the climate, preserving soil,
supporting wildlife, reducing pollution and in many other ways. Trees create an aesthetically
pleasing atmosphere around us. They make our landscape look beautiful..indeed priceless.
However, the population explosion and expansion of commercial areas has resulted in
massive pruning of trees. People are continuously cutting trees for developmental activities
like making houses, commercial buildings, parking lots and we are moving a step further in
destroying the planet by loosing the most valuable resource of the environment.Trees are an
important part of society and community. Along with furnishing us with the basic essentials
for life like food, oxygen, shelter, medicine, tools, they also satisfy the needs created by our
modern ways of living.
Trees combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen,
contribute to soil health, retain water, and cool overheated urban areas.
The earth needs more! Whether as a family project or an individual one, the point is
to plant!
Trees are like the lungs of the planet. They breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe
out oxygen. Additionally, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife.
As she grew up, she was married to Sri Bikkala Chikkayya of Hulikal Village of
Kudoor taluk of Ramanagar district. Her husband’s family was not well provided for
either. She had no respite from poverty and a series of difficult situations followed her
in that phase of her life too. Unfortunately, the couple remained childless even after
many years of their marriage. Disappointed and pained because of this childless life,
both of them started to treat trees as their own children. Later, with her husband’s
encouragement Thimmakka set on a mission to plant as many trees as possible. She
planted trees along 4 KMs stretch from her village Hulikal to Kudoor. She not only
planted those trees but also tended them until they grew into sturdier.
 The couple who have believed firmly in planting trees as a great service to the
environment, country and humanity, neither grieve nor glorify their poverty. After their
regular work till the noon, the couple took to tending the trees by watering, fencing
and guarding them. This became her daily routine for many years. Though this
passion of serving the environment did not improve her financial conditions, she has
been recognized massively by the people of the world as a great environmentalist.
Today, Saalumarada Thimmakka stands as an unique individual who has brought
recognition to our state, Karnataka worldwide by her incredible and massive
environmental service
Saalumarada Thimmakka started by planting trees on either sides of a 4 Km road
woman and dedicated it to the nation. Later she carried her mission further by
involving herself completely in the environmental protection campaigns through the
state and nation. Today, she stands as a beacon and a role model to thousands of
people by planting lakhs of trees.

Therefore, we conclude that treesshould be regularly planted to save the mankind

and the animal world. ... Plantmore trees and as you plant trees you
are planting life too because of the fact that they are giving us fresh air, woods that
we people used to build our houses.
SLOGAN

 If you cut a tree, you kill a life.

If you save a tree, you save a life.
If you plant a tree, you plant a life.

3. INDIA’S ME TOO MOVEMENT

The Me Too movement in India is a manifestation of the international Me Too
movement that is currently taking place in parts of Indian society including government,
media, and the Bollywood film industry. In India, the Me Too movement is seen as either
an independent outgrowth influenced by the international campaign against sexual
harassment of women in the workplace, or an offshoot of the American "Me Too" social
movement.[1] Me Too began gaining prominence in India with the increasing popularity of
the international movement, and later gathered sharp momentum in October 2018 in the
entertainment industry of Bollywood, centered in Mumbai, when actress Tanushree
Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment.[2] This led to many women in the
news media, Indian films, and even within the government to speak out and bring
allegations of sexual harassment against a number of men.[

Pro:
1) On paper, it looks like a good movement as it gives women the courage to speak up
2) The original purpose was a phenomenal purpose. To stop men of power from
sexually assaulting the women below them.

Con:
1) It can destroy a mans life with one allegation. No proof needed.
2) No clear direction. Every woman is taking this movement in their own direction.
3) It can destroy a mans life with one allegation. No proof needed.
4) Women are using this movement as a "bargaining" chip to get what they want.
5) It can destroy a mans life with one allegation. No proof needed.
6) Women can turn a consensual sex act in the past into "rape" leaving the man to
say "That's not how I saw that evening" - it leaves the man looking like a deer caught
in headlights
7) It can destroy a mans life with one allegation. No proof needed.
8) This is an easy paycheck for any woman who claims #MeToo
9) It can destroy a mans life with one allegation. No proof needed.
10) When everything is considered rape, nothing will be considered rape - It seems
evertime a man does anything a woman considers "sexual"... it becomes a #MeToo
situation. Unfortunately ALL #MeToo situations are treated the same - man loses
everything he has worked so hard for.

BOTTOM LINE IS THIS:

There are no checks-balances to this movement. To me, the "Destroying a mans life
with one allegation - No proof needed" Should be enough to make this campaign a
bad campaign.

Women say this is an all-gender movement, but whenever a man jumps on board,
they get dragged through the mud. This is without-a-doubt a very dangerous
woman's empowering movement.

4. effect of fluctuating petrol prices on the common man

Petrol has become an indispensable part of our day-to-day life, and we can’t imagine our
life without it. But the petrol prices are sky rocketing, and it is eventually going to affect
each and everything that we use in our day to day life. Poor people are already working
hard to earn square meal a day and this hike is definitely going to paralyze these already-
burdened people. Within three years petrol price has increased 10 times and is still
increasing. It is nothing but adding fuel to the fire. Petrol hike directly or indirectly
affects all the major sectors like transportation, textiles, auto, FMCG etc, for
manufacturing & transportation. This affects the prices of daily essential commodities
which are transported on a daily basis. Banking sector is also expected to suffer due to
high inflation level.
Increase in fuel price will also increase in food price. This will have a more severe impact
on poor people because poor households spend more than half of their income on food
and only a tenth on fuel. It is a chain reaction once started will affect all. Increase in
petrol price will increase the transportation cost, increase in transportation cost will
increase in price of goods, and this increase in price of goods would gradually force the
people to loosen their pockets even more, and so on like this, the chain will further
propagate. These ups and downs push more people into poverty and leading to a more
pathetic situation of those already poor. This has obviously sent shock waves to the
common man who is trying hard to make both ends meet. Price hike affects only the low
wages or fixed salaried middle class families as compared to higher wages salaried class.
The existing middle class is squeezed and many of those striving to attain the middle-
class standard find it persistently out of remit will bring no negative impact on
government employees as their DAs will be increase accordingly. Rich and corrupted
people are least bothered of it. Business class like auto-rickshaw drivers shall transfer the
burden to common people so they are also safe. Common people if doing business shall
 also pass the burden to customers and chain reactions. The community that suffers the
most is the common people or “aam aadmi”.
So what are we thinking? For the situation to get worse or are we waiting for such a
heroic person who’ll bring us out of this situation. No, we, the people are the one to
do something and control the situation. Stop blaming government and think how to
solve it. We Indians import oil from different countries. We don’t have enough oil to
meet our requirements. So we have to depend on import of oil. If there is increase in
international price then we have to bear price hike in India also. Then value of rupee
in comparison with dollar is becoming weaker in international market. Increase in
number of vehicles also causes hike in petrol prices. So the thing we can do is to
reduce oil consumption by using public transport for travelling to routine places like
our office, markets etc. Use of high capacity transport system like train, ships instead
of trucks and carrier vans. Use of cycles to go to nearby places instead of bikes or
cars. Cutting off fuel supply or switching the engine off when traffic is halted for
long. Developing alternate sources of energy like solar energy etc. Development of
bio-diesel, and government should allocate more funds for developing alternate
sources of energy as well as develop high capacity goods and public transport
system. At last but not least I want to say petrol is a natural resource and limited in
nature. We have to use it judiciously so that our future generations can also use it, and
thus lead to sustainable development. As someone has rightly said,
“Natural resources are not something we inherit from our forefathers but
something we borrow from our children”

Introduction
This essay will review how the rising fuel prices affect the different macroeconomic variables such as
inflation, rising production cost, unequal economic conditions between oil exporting and oil importing
nations. It will also examine the influence on airline industry, holiday companies, shipping industry and
rising unemployment rates because of the higher energy prices. There will also be a review on car
sales in India. This essay will also evaluate the rising demand for alternative energy sources. There
will also be review about the effect of increasing fuel on agriculture sector and their influence on
consumer behaviour.

The Impact Of Rising Fuel Prices On Business

The fuel prices are a significant determinant of worldwide economic performance. The oil price rise
results in a transfer of income from oil importing to oil exporting countries according to a shift in terms
of trade . Gas prices increase has an influence on oil price increase . When there is a higher oil price
rise and the higher prices are maintained , it will have significant macroeconomic influence on
economy. According to the net-oil exporting nations , a price rise increases their real national income
due to the higher export earnings. The part of this earning will be offset by losses from lesser demand
for exports because of the economic downturn suffered by trading partners. By contrast , the rise in
fuel prices have negative impact on oil importing countries while these countries must produce goods
and services.
As a result of this , oil importing countries needs more energy to run their local economy. The cost of
production has risen because of the increase in fuel prices , and the producers of many products
charge consumers a greater price. As a consequence, the inflation increases that makes life tougher
for consumers around the globe. Moreover, it has devastating effect on emerging economies where
the wages are flat and the spending is rising at a rapid pace . In this case, the gap between rich and
poor is increasing. The poverty figures have increased for last 3 years . Emerging economies have
insufficient funds to offer the entrepreneurs in the shape of subsidy due to this expanded gap.
Therefore, it become advantageous to a entrepreneurs who run the manufacturing level of his
country.
The increase in fuel prices has also devastating influence on Pakistan, Ethiopia. The higher cost of
manufacturing will result in inflation. The producer will sell at greater prices when the income is not
rising relative to the consumption the consumer would purchase small amount of goods, and the other
stocks will change in to idle. As a result, the corporate sector will be worse-off. . Producers will sell the
stock at lesser price again to cover the cost that result in deflation. Hence, it discourages inv estors
and investment will decline.

Conclusion:
The oil prices are vital macroeconomic variable: higher oil prices might still lead to significant damage
on the economies of oil importing nations and on the world economy. Many nations face higher
inflation rates due to the rising oil prices in the world. As a consequence, the higher inflation rates
have devastating impact on both production and consumers that leads to big difference between oil
importing and oil exporting nations.
The fuel has become a scarce resource that force many countries to develop alternative energies to
maintain their economic activities without having any problem. It is obvious that, there is a strong
correlation between energy demand and economic prosperity. Development of millions of people
living standards depend on our existing energy infrastructure. To maintain economic progress on the
whole world, economic experts should reinvent the ways in which they create, distribute and utilise
energy.
To overcome this technological difficulty, experts should invest in invention in energy generation.
Even while people struggle to make breakthroughs in solar, wind, geothermal and related energy
sources, they should reinvent their traditional sources to utilise these sources more efficiently.
Alternative energies might contribute the economies to decrease their dependency on fuel as the key
energy source. Especially, oil importing countries extremely need to use other means of energy that
might contribute them to deal with big economic crisis. As a result, it will accelerate overall GDP
growth in the world which means that companies will be able to increase their production levels even
if oil prices continue to rise and it will lead to decrease in unemployment rates.

5. proposed bank merger of nationalised banks

SAVED
Bank mergers on average take six months to a year to get approved by the Fed,
depending on size and complexity. But some reviews can take even longer, such the
one for M&T Bank's acquisition of Hudson City Bancorp, which took more than three
years.

India is trying to have fewer but healthier lenders.

On Sept. 17, the Narendra Modi government announced plans to merge three public sector
banks: Mumbai-based Dena Bank, Bengaluru’s Vijaya Bank, and Bank of Baroda (BoB) that
has its head office in Vadodara, Gujarat. The merged entity, with total assets of over Rs14
lakh crore ($190 billion), will be India’s third-largest lender behind the State Bank of India
and HDFC Bank.

“The government had announced in the budget (for the financial year 2019) that
consolidating banks was on our agenda and the first step has been announced,” finance
minister Arun Jaitley said in New Delhi.

With this, the government has thrown a lifeline to Dena Bank, whose gross non-performing
assets (NPA) ratio in the quarter ended June 30, 2018, stood at 22%, among the industry’s
highest. It is already under the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) supervision; in May it
was barred from lending any further or recruiting new employees.

Vijaya Bank and BoB are in better shape. In the April-June quarter of financial year 2019,
Vijaya Bank posted a net profit of Rs144 crore, while BoB’s figure stood at Rs528 crore. In
this period, Dena Bank posted a net loss of Rs721 crore.

One of the reasons for choosing these three banks was that the two stronger ones will be able
to absorb the weaker entity, explained Jaitley.

“It (the merged bank) will be a strong competitive bank with economies of scale, network
synergies, low-cost deposits and subsidiaries, and the possibility of greater outreach and
expansion,” said Rajiv Kumar, the government’s financial services secretary.

The merger proposal will first have to be approved by the board of directors of the three
banks. Then the government will prepare a plan to be vetted by the union cabinet and both
houses of parliament. The process can take up to a year, said Asutosh Kumar Mishra, a
banking analyst with Reliance Securities.

Here’s what the merged entity could look like:

Bank of Vijaya Dena Amalgamated

Parameters
Baroda Bank Bank bank

Total business (Rs

10.29 2.79 1.72 14.82
lakh cr)

Gross advances (Rs

4.48 1.22 0.69 6.4
lakh cr)

Total deposits (Rs

5.81 1.57 1.03 8.41
lakh cr)

Branch presence 5,502 2,129 1,858 9,489

 Bank of Vijaya Dena Amalgamated
Parameters
Baroda Bank Bank bank

Return on assets
0.29 0.32 -2.43 -0.02
(%)

Common equity
Tier-1 capital 9.27 10.35 8.15 9.32
(CET) (%)

Capital to risk
weighted assets 12.13 13.91 10.6 12.25
ratio (CRAR) (%)

Net NPA 5.4 4.1 11.04 5.71

Employees 56,361 15,874 13,440 85,675

After the merger, this is how the country’s top three banks will be positioned:

HDFC Amalgamated
Parameters SBI
Bank bank

Total business (Rs lakh

47 15.13 14.82
crore)

20 7.08 6.4
Gross advances (Rs lakh
 HDFC Amalgamated
Parameters SBI
Bank bank

crore)

Total deposits (Rs lakh

27 8.05 8.41
crore)

Branch presence 22,428 4,808 9,489

Return on assets (%) -0.57 0.44 -0.02

Tier-1 CET (%) 10.53 13.1 9.32

CRAR (%) 12.83 14.6 12.25

Net NPA 5.29 0.4 5.71

Employees 2,59,980 88,000 85,675

Here’s a look at how the merged bank will stack up against the other government-owned
banks:
 Bank Punjab
Amalgamated
Parameters SBI of National
bank
India Bank

Total business (Rs

14.82 47.37 8.78 10.84
lakh crore)

Gross advances
6.4 19.9 3.63 4.53
(Rs lakh crore)

Total deposits (Rs

8.41 27.47 5.14 6.36
lakh crore)

Branch presence 9,489 22,428 5,106 6,940

Return on assets
-0.02 -0.57 0.06 Negative
(%)

Tier-1 CET (%) 9.32 10.53 8.01 7.33

CRAR (%) 12.25 12.83 11.43 9.62

Net NPA 5.71 5.29 8.45 10.58

Employees 85,675 2,59,980 48,680 74,897

While the government has assured there will be no job losses, bank unions are up in
arms. Several of them are set to demonstrate across the country against the merger plan. Even
BoB and Vijaya Bank shareholders are unlikely to be happy since their assets could get
diluted by Dena Bank’s absorption.

“These banks will have to compensate for the bad asset quality of Dena Bank and it is likely
they will be very unhappy with the move and this may also lead to some hiccups in the
merger process,” said Mishra of Reliance Securities.

Meanwhile, a similar plan may be in the pipeline for other struggling public lenders.

After all, by the end of March 2018, the sector’s gross NPAs had risen to 11.6% of total
assets from 10.2% in September 2017. NPAs are loans against which repayments have not
been made and there are chances of default. The situation is unlikely to ease any time soon—
in fact, it may worsen, the RBI has warned.

So mergers have been seen as a tool to tackle the problem. In 2017, India’s largest lender,
SBI, merged with five associate banks and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank to enter the league of
the world’s top 50. Recently, the government allowed state insurer Life Insurance
Corporation of India to take over IDBI Bank, the worst performer in terms of bad loans.

Earlier since the Government gave its in principle

approval for merger of public sector banks, it is a hot
topic of discussion among bankers. And specially now
after the approval for merger of Bank of Baroda, Dena
Bank and Vijaya Bank, a common banker is really
concerned.
Bankers are afraid of the mergers because this is going
to affect them. Unions of Bank employees are also
opposing the decision of the central government to
merge public sector banks to make fewer and better
banks (See: AIBOC Condemns Cabinet Approval of
Merger of Public Sector Banks)
See: Why merger of Public Sector Banks is not easy
There will be benefits of merger but there will be side
effects too. Bankers are concerned about the
disadvantages of merger of banks to them.
Let’s understand the disadvantages of merger of public
sector banks for the bank employees.
1. After merger of public sector banks, there will be
excess workforce, which will lead to VRS and further
hiring will be stopped or restricted, which will affect the
employment.
2. Merger of banks will result into closure of many
branches, administrative offices, ATMs, processing
centers etc. The excess workforce at some centers will
be transferred to far off places.

READ No Progress on 11th Bipartite Settlement Due in Nov 17

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3. Positions at top will get reduced as there will be lesser
number of CMDs/ EDs and GMs. That means there will
be slow and delayed promotions in the bank.
4. Different Banks have different culture, systems,
processes, procedures and merger will lead to clash of
organizational cultures. Employees of larger bank does
not give equal treatment to employees of smaller bank in
the new and merged bank. This may happen in
transfers, postings and promotions or in day to day
working. This may lead to discontent among staff and
unhealthy working environment which will affect the
efficiency of workers. Small banks will will lose their local
characteristics.
5. Merger of a weak bank with a strong bank may
always not result into a better bank as the weaknesses
of one bank may get transferred and the merged entity
may become weak. As happened in amalgamation of
Global Trust Bank with OBC. Overall profitability may
not increase, as envisaged, because losses of the weak
bank may eat up the profits of strong bank.
6. AIBOC in its circular stated that Government has
broader plans to privatize public sector banks to attract
foreign investment citing examples of HDFC, ICICI and
Axis Bank.
6.RENAMING CITIES
In August 2018, India's Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)
government renamed the historic Mughalsarai Junction Railway Station in
the state of Uttar Pradesh after the right-wing Hindu ideologue Deen Dayal
Upadhyaya, most likely because the existing name referred to the Indian
Muslim Mughal dynasty.

Three years earlier, in May 2015, many street signs in New Delhi carrying
Urdu/Muslim names including Aurangzeb Road, named after the sixth
Mughal emperor, were painted black by Shiv Sena Hindustan, a radical
Hindu organisation. Later in that year, the ruling BJP officially changed the
name of the Aurangzeb Road to A P J Abdul Kalam, a pro-BJP ex-president
of India.

In April 2016, the BJP government in Haryana renamed the city of Gurgaon
asGurugram, after Guru Dronacharya, an upper caste Hindu figure from
the epic Mahabharata, who is viewed as a villain by India's Dalits.

Last month, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh proposed to rename

airports in the towns of Bareilly, Kanpur, and Agra. The proposed new
names of two of the three airports have apparent Hindu overtones. Bareilly
is to be renamed Nath Nagri, after the Hindu Nath sect. The Hindu
politician Yogi Adityanath, the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,
known for his brazen Islamophobia, belongs to this sect. The Agra airport,
on the other hand, is to be renamed after the Hindutva ideologue Deen
Dayal Upadhyaya, just like the Mughalsarai Railway Station.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the
BJP, also demands many other places with Muslim names, including the
cities of Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Aurangabad, to be renamed.

Renaming places, re-writing histories

Renaming of cities, streets or landmarks is not an act exclusive to India or
the BJP.

The city that was known as St Petersburg in imperial Russia was renamed
Petrograd in 1914 at the start of World War I because authorities thought
its original name sounded too German. In 1924, following the formation of
the USSR and the death of Lenin, the name of the city was changed once
again, this time to Leningrad. The city's name was reverted back to St
Petersburg in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

India also renamed several cities long before the BJP took power. In 1995,
it restored the names of the cities of Bombay, Bangalore, and Calcutta to
their indigenous versions - Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata respectively -
to emphasize its independence from Britain and reject the linguistic
symbols left over from the colonial era. The names of the cities Cawnpore
and Jubblepore were also changed to Kanpur and Jabalpur to reflect native
spelling and pronunciation.
READ MORE

Hindu right rewriting Indian textbooks

Although renaming has been practised widely across the world, in many
cases it has been socially and politically controversial. This is because
renaming is a lot more than simply changing a word on a map or a street
sign. Place names are an important element of a country's cultural
landscape, as they naturally document and reflect a locality's heritage and
identity. Changing them is often seen as a re-writing of history. Renaming,
therefore, is always a hotly debated issue.

Renaming of a place appears a lot more acceptable to the local population

when it is done to erase remaining symbols of colonialism. However, when
it is done solely to privilege one of the many available readings of a place's
history and identity, it becomes a divisive force, helping to accentuate
political, social and historic divisions within a community.

Erasing India's Muslim heritage

The supporters of the renaming of the Aurangzeb Road in New Delhi
argued that the Mughal emperor was an invader and a cruel ruler, who does
not deserve to be commemorated in modern India.

The real reasoning behind their opposition to the road's name, however,
went a lot deeper than Aurangzeb's conduct. The RSS and the BJP perceive
not only Aurangzeb's rule but the entirety of the medieval Muslim era, as a
dark phase in the country's history. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi said India is troubled by "1200 years of slave mentality". He was
clearly lumping together the 200 years of British colonial rule and the
preceding medieval Muslim era as a long and undivided period of colonial
suffering.

Those who opposed the name change argued that Aurangzeb was not much
different from many other rulers of India, regardless of their religious
identity, who engaged in violent acts against their enemies to consolidate
power. They pointed out that while Aurangzeb destroyed some temples, he
simultaneously protected many others, demonstrating that his actions were
not driven by "cruelty" or a desire for religious oppression, but political
considerations.

Critics of the name change also pointed out that the Aurangzeb Road's sign
was not the only one vandalized by right-wing groups prior to the name
change. The street named after Muslim Mughal ruler Akber, who is
considered to be a liberal even by right-wing Hindus, was also vandalized.
This, they argued, clearly shows that the right-wing groups' problem is not
solely with Aurangzeb and his allegedly cruel legacy, but the entirety of
India's Muslim history.

This can also be seen in other acts of the RSS and the BJP.

For example in July 2017, RSS ideologue Dina Nath Batra sent a document
to the National Council for Educational Research and Training demanding
that some Urdu words and a couplet by the 19th century Urdu poet Ghalib
be removed from India's school textbooks. In a similar attack on Muslim
symbols, in 2016, some right-wing activists prevented artists from writing a
couplet in Urdu on the walls of the GT Road in Delhi as part of a non-
governmental "Delhi I Love You" campaign.

Hinduisation of India
The change of Gurgaon to Gurugram and the demand for the renaming of
Bareilly and Agra airports as Nath Nagri and Deendayal Upadhyaya
respectively may not be targeting Muslim symbols, but they are clear
attempts to increase the prominence of Hindu symbols in India.

The apparent Hinduisation of India often harms Dalits as much as religious

minorities. The BJP government argued that the city was renamed as
Gurugram because the word "Gurgaon" represented a "distorted"
pronunciation of the Sanskrit word "Gurugram". While Gurgaon is a word
from the day-to-day plebeian Haryanvi culture, the Sanskrit version
connotes the upper caste Brahmin language and culture, and it is also
linked to Dronacharya, a symbol of Brahmanical "upper caste" oppression
against the less-privileged caste of Dalits.

For this reason, Dalit scholars saw in the name change an attempt by the
BJP to appease its more privileged caste voters at the cost of further
marginalizing Indians from less-privileged castes.

Names should be inclusive

The renaming of places assumes extra significance in a diverse country like
India. The government and civil society need to make sure that our cultural
landscapes contain names, symbols, languages, and scripts that belong to
all the different castes, religious communities, and other groups of the
country, so all Indians can genuinely feel at home in their homeland.

Claiming that the Mughal rule was colonial, as many Indians do, is not only
historically wrong - for it displays an incorrect understanding of
colonialism - but it is also divisive. As Irfan Ahmad argues, unlike the
British, the Mughals did not use the wealth of India to invest in the place
they came from; instead, they became an integral part of India's diverse
culture. Muslims are people of this country and not outsiders. They should
be treated as such.

Place names should be symbols of inclusion, openness, and diversity; not

those of exclusion, marginalisation, and religious or ethnic supremacy.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do
not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.

India after gaining independence from the British rule in 1947 found itself
deeply clutched with the memories of its former colonial rulers who made a
lot of changes in every sphere in order to diminish the identity of the nation
whether it was in the form of names or be it physically. In order to free itself
from the daunting memories of the colonial rule and to cherish a new identity
created by the sacrifice of the millions of people which got the people their
independence, India involved itself in a whole lot of series of action where
the name of the states or the cities were modified. These changes brought
out a sense of commonness and reminded the people of their freedom from
the British symbols and relics.

The process of changing the name of cities and states across India was
carried out in an irregular pattern. The demand for changing of the name
was brought to the notice of the Parliamentarians through violent protests or
through a mass campaign. Both ways were successful in gaining the
attention of the Legislators.

Indian Legislature laid down broad guidelines for renaming a state or a city.
To alter the name of a state or of a city, the central government and the
state government has to necessarily follow these guidelines so that the
process may be considered as democratically acceptable and it may
represent the will of the majority. But the decision so taken on the basis of
the view of the majority must not negate the vital role that the minorities
play in every democracy.

Standard Procedure
The process of changing the name of a state is entirely different from that of
a city. The process of changing the name of a state involves not only the
state but it affects the Centre as well. But changing of name of a city
involves only the state legislator. In our current discussion, we will deal with
the procedure that the Parliamentarians or the State Legislators follow in
order to change the name of a State or of a city.

Procedure for Renaming a City

Renaming of a city is a thoughtful task that it given to the State Legislators.

To complete the renaming of a state, the State Legislator should follow a
guideline that will rule the validity of a particular renaming done by the said
authority. The procedure differs from state to state but regulations that need
to be followed are –

1. The first step involves raising of a request in form of a resolution by any

Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) which proposes the renaming of any
particular city or street.
2. On the basis of the request of the MLA, the issue would be deliberated upon
and the consequences of the same shall be discussed upon. So, the second
step involves the deliberation over the request of the renaming of the city or
the street.
3. The final step involves voting of the validity of the resolution. If there are
majority votes in favour of the resolution, the said resolution shall be declared
passed. If the majority of votes for a resolution are not achieved, the resolution
shall fail. The majority here involves simple majority.

The State Legislation on the basis of the majority view shall make the
necessary changes in the name of the state or city public. One example of
the renaming of a city is the renaming of the Aurangzeb Road in Lutyens’s
Delhi as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road. the resolution was raised by BJP MPs
Meenakshi Lekhi and Maheish Girri and AAP’s trade wing secretary Vipin
Rohilla. The resolution was unanimously passed by the New Delhi Municipal
Council (NDMC).

Some of the instances of change in the name of the cities are:

Old Name Located In New Name Year of Change

Suryapur Gujarat Surat 1520

Gauhati Assam Guwahati 1983

Madras Tamil Nadu Chennai 1996

Gurgaon Haryana Gurugram 2016

Mughalsarai Junction Uttar Pradesh Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction 2018
There are hundreds of such instances where the name of the city or the
street has been changed by the State Legislation. Each state follows its own
legislation in order to rename a particular city or street within its jurisdiction.

A state assembly is not entitled to change the name of those streets or cities
which do not fall within their jurisdiction. Any violation of the jurisdiction by
an assembly will lead to the law being declared invalid or void.

Procedure for Renaming a State

One of the most cumbersome task for the Parliament is the procedure that
needs to be followed in order to rename a state. The Constitution of India
provides for the renaming of a state under Article 3 and Article 4.

The procedure of renaming of the state can be initiated by either the

Parliament or the State Legislator and the procedure is as follows:

1. A bill for renaming a state may be introduced in the Parliament on the

recommendation of the President.
2. Before the introduction of the bill, the President shall send the bill to the
respective state assembly for expressing their views within a stipulated time.
The views of the state assembly are not binding, neither on the President nor
on the Parliament. But the process must not be skipped as it is of vital
importance as any law so made will be affecting that particular state.
3. On the expiry of the period, the bill will be sent to the Parliament for
deliberation.
4. The bill in order to take the force of a law must be passed by a simple
majority.
5. The bill is sent for approval to the President.

After the approval of the said bill, the bill becomes a law and the name of the
state stands modified.

Some of the instances of change in the name of the states are:

Old Name New Name Year of Change

East Punjab Punjab 1950

United Province Uttar Pradesh 1950

Madras Presidency along with Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh 1956

Madhya Bharat Madhya Pradesh 1959

Pondicherry Puducherry 2006

Uttaranchal Uttarakhand 2007

There were a large number of changes made in the names of the states in
India with the enactment of the Constitution of India. Considering the fact
that the Constitution came into force from 26th January 1950, the states re-
emerged from the colonial rule into the new post-constitution era by such
enactment. In the colonial period, India was divided into princely states
(governed by local bodies) and provinces (governed directly by British
officials). The states were given new identity by the Constitution of India
through the First Schedule. The First Schedule contains the list of all the
states and union territories and their territorial extent. The re-emergence of
states brought an end to the old provinces and princely states and these new
states were created by the State Reorganisation Act, 1956. The states were
formed on the basis of language. For e.g.: Travancore-Cochin was renamed
as Kerala in the year 1956. Thus, most of the states were renamed after the
enactment of the Constitution in the year 1950. There is no need of an
amendment as under Article 368 of the Constitution of India for renaming a
particular state or union territory or a city or a street. A normal legislation
which falls within the meaning of Article 13 will suffice the need of renaming
a state or a city.

There are still many proposals for the renaming of states and cities which are
pending before the Parliament and the state assemblies of the respective
states. Some such pending proposals are:
Existing Name Suggested New Name

West Bengal Bangla

Kerala Keralam

Allahabad Prayagraj

Bhopal Bhojpal

NOTE – The State used in the above discussion also includes Union
Territories.

Conclusion
States are the territorial division of a nation’s land. In India, the states are
formed on the basis of a law made by the Parliament and the Parliament is
vested with the power of renaming such states. There is no need for an
amendment to rename a state. The state here also includes Union
Territories. The same changes must be made in the First Schedule of the
Constitution. The state is further divided into cities and streets. The work of
renaming the cities vests with the state assembly. President plays a very
vital role in the regulation of activities of the Parliament and the state
assembly for the purpose of the renaming of a state or a city.

7.Human-animal conflict as in the killing of Avni

In November 2012, a tigress and her two cubs began a journey from their home
in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh. She had somewhat
uncharacteristically left the forest. Over the next two years, this tigress is
recorded to have travelled 260 km — from the Amariya region in Pilibhit, along
the Devha river, crisscrossing through the densely populated village areas of
Gularia Bithra, Khali Nawada, Bishanpur, Surajpur, Bhadsara, Dhaki, all the way
up to Kanpur, where she was finally sighted in February 2014. A close-knit team
comprising officials of the Uttar Pradesh forest department and tiger conservators
of WWF-India were on the trail of this feline family.
The sketchy story from their sightings, pugmark tracking and camera-trap images
unraveled that she was accompanied by her cubs for part of the journey,
negotiating past villages, through sugarcane fields and grassy landscapes. On
several occasions, she would enter the forest for short durations, only to return to
her new habitat. The team speculated whether she had moved out of the forest to
protect her cubs from aggressive males. Months later, in September 2014, they
also spotted her cubs, now sub-adults, back in Amariya, apparently living and
operating independently. Not a single incident of attack on humans or livestock
was recorded through this epic journey of this majestic feline and her cubs.

Recently, another nursing tigress’s tryst with humans in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal

region did not end so peacefully. Thirteen humans had been found dead in
Yavatmal’s Ralegaon forest since June 2016, and Avni or T1, a six-year-old
tigress with two 10-month-old cubs, was alleged to have been involved in several
of these deaths.

Avni and her cubs. Photo by special arrangement.

According to a Maharashtra forest department official, an investigation had

proved that she was responsible beyond doubt for at least two of those deaths.
On November 2, this “man-eater”, as she was referred to, was shot dead – by a
sharp-shooter appointed by the forest department – in the Borati jungles that are
under the jurisdiction of Ralegaon police, according to news reports that quoted
police sources.

Defending the circumstances of Avni’s death, Sunil Limaye, Maharashtra’s

additional principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), explained that the
Pandharkawada forests house approximately seven to eight tigers. Avni and her
two cubs occupied 160 square km of this forest. Over two years, based on
various circumstantial evidence, the department suspected Avni and a male, T2,
of having caused several human deaths. At that point, though, the evidence was
not forensic. “In August, we investigated and managed to find clear evidence of
Avni being responsible for at least two of the recent killings. Based on these
findings the courts ordered us to capture or kill the tigress. The death of the forest
dwellers was a grave loss to their families. These people, whose livelihoods
depend on the forests, feared for their lives. We followed the courts’ orders and
were saddened by the tigress’s death. But we had no other choice,” he said.

Controversies and political banter surround Avni’s death today. Environment

activists and animal lovers question whether the mother tigress could have been
saved, or at least captured. Meanwhile, a bitter battle of words has erupted
between a union minister and a state minister, both belonging to the same
political party. On Friday, November 9, media reported sources in the
Maharashtra government as stating that the yet-to-be-released autopsy report
“yielded clear evidence of foul play”. It quoted a state government official: “The
forensics clearly show that the tigress was not charging at the team, but instead
going somewhere else… If she was charging at the team, she would have been
shot in her face or chest, not her shoulder.”

Searching for solutions

Juxtaposing this story of loss of life, both human and animal, against the epic
journey of the Pilibhit tigress, raises several questions. Could Avni have been
monitored like the Pilibhit tigress to avoid such a tragedy? Could locals have
been better informed to control panic about a “man-eater”?

Considering India’s huge population and dependence on forest resources, that is

forcing wildlife into diminishing pockets of fragmented jungles, is it possible to
build a conservation road-map that reduces stress on humans and wildlife who
live in conflict-prone regions? Finally, could the sanctioned killing of a national
animal have been averted?

India leads the world in tiger conservation efforts, with a record 2,226 animals
declared in the 2014 National Tiger Conservation Authority census. On the other
hand, the country is also projected to exceed a human population of 1.5 billion by
2030. To ensure that these two populations thrive with minimal stress, improved
understanding and effective management of human-tiger conflict is necessary.
An aerial view of the forests in which Avni was shot. Photo by Sunil Limaye.
Knowing the human-tiger interface
According to Dr. Pranav Chanchani, coordinator, Tiger Conservation
Programme, WWF-India, conflicts are unpredictable. “It will be impossible to avert
conflicts altogether, just as it is impossible to avert all road accidents, even if we
understand all the factors that cause them. But understanding its drivers and
building and implementing cohesive and preemptive response mechanisms, can
help save human and tiger lives.” He said that such efforts will also help
immediate response, in which ‘livestock depredation,’ or loss of life, is addressed
within a short span of time.

Knowing the ‘human-tiger interface’ is important. “One way of describing the

human-tiger interface would be to assess where and to what extent humans and
tigers overlap in their space use,” explained Chanchani. He said that
understanding this interface would help identify areas where conflicts are
recurrent, so that mitigating measures and community engagements can be
developed.

Talking about devising a robust conflict-management model, he said: “A two-fold

approach, involving proactive or direct mitigation as well as indirect measures, is
needed. Direct mitigation measures include operations to capture and rehabilitate
‘problem animals’, installing devices to repel animals and managing farmland
habitats beyond forests to make such areas less attractive for tigers. Indirect
measures can be used to help strengthen attitudes of tolerance among the
public, and information campaigns.” The organisation has been working with
several communities and state departments across India to promote such
measures.

A street protest against the killing of Avni. Photo from the Facebook page of Avni the
Tigress.
Community awareness
Considering the case of the Pilibhit tigress, who safely navigated through heavily
human-inhabited villages for two years without any casualties, the WWF-India
expert pointed out that awareness-generation programmes carried out in
communities in the vicinity played a major role. While monitoring the tigress
between 2012 and 2014, the team had held a series of meeting with villagers to
help them better understand how to deal with a tiger in their midst. Such was the
awareness, that the community had not just learnt of safety measures to keep
away from the tigress but had also grown supportive of the conflict-management
efforts, and would often help monitor the animal. Many even expressed gratitude
at having a tiger family in their field, since it discouraged herbivores like wild
boars from damaging their crops.
Usually, in areas where tigers and humans extensively share space, conflict is
common. Unfortunately, the potential for rumors to spread is also high.
Chanchani said that misinformation and misperception have the potential to
exacerbate conflict. “Rumors about the purported presence of an animal
sometimes spread, creating panic and public ire. Misinformation fuels public
anger, which disrupts law and order and can lead to the lynching of animals
blamed for conflict. Awareness building can play a big role in reducing the risks
people face from large carnivores and in managing conflict more effectively.”

The solution is information campaigns on safety precautions, instructions on

appropriate ways to respond and reliable information on the animal’s presence
and movements.

Limaye stated that conflict management and awareness building have been
initiated in the Yavatmal region, “however it is a long process and it will take
some time to educate the local communities”.

Why Avni?
Did Avni truly turn rogue and kill people since 2016? Even as news reports on her
post-mortem reveal that she had not eaten anything for at least a week, Dr.
Jimmy Borah, tiger biologist and consultant at Panthera, an international
organisation working on the conservation of wild cats, said, “A nursing tigress
would probably only attack human beings for self-defense, if she feels her cubs
are threatened. It is highly unlikely that she would choose humans as food for her
cubs.”

Highlighting the apathy in the investigation process, Borah said, “Tigers are very
intelligent animals. They might target easy prey, like livestock and humans, if they
are injured or old and weak. A healthy animal would never target humans. If the
concerned tigress was suspected of killing 13 people since 2016, it should have
been investigated much earlier, given the advancement in forensic tests and
methods today.”

He said that to safeguard the human population and in the larger interest of
saving a wildlife species, it becomes imperative to “remove problem animals”
sometimes. “Doing so will help in generating larger public support, especially
from communities living in the fringes of protected areas and depending on the
forests for their livelihood. However, identifying a problem animal is a herculean
task that involves strong evidence, including forensics.” He stated that if an
animal is identified as a problem, the best forest departments and states can do
is to ensure that standard protocols and guidelines are followed closely.

On Avni’s orphaned cubs, Borah says: “The best option is to leave them alone. If
they have learnt to hunt (other animals), they might probably do well. ‘Rescuing’
them would be pointless.”
In the meanwhile, Limaye said that the forest department’s ongoing efforts to
rescue the cubs and release them in another forest. “These 10- to 11-month-old
cubs may or may not be ready to hunt yet and we are concerned they might have
learnt to attack humans by watching their mother. We might endanger their, and
human, lives if we don’t remove them from this location. We are considering
releasing them in Pench in Madhya Pradesh, but this will be decided by a
committee once the cubs are captured.”

It is shocking that such a drastic step was taken by the forest officials.
Killing T-1, aka Avni, a six-year old tigress, was brutal and un-necessary.
We need to understand that humans are not a natural prey of tigers. Tigers
may kill humans either in self- defence or because of old age. Moreover,
we encroach upon the habitat of animals and then kill animals saying they
have become man-eaters. In the 21st century where we are so proud of our
medical and technical knowledge, can’t we come up with a more humane
solution that shooting dead an animal? Killing of Avni does not set a good
precedence. It is high time that our community learns to co-exist with
wildlife. We need to come up with long-term plans. Couldn’t Avni have
been relocated with her cubs? Killing was definitely not the solution.

Hema Chari

Learn from people who live in harmony with wildlife for generations
I am disgusted to say the least with what happened to tigress Avni. We
don’t have a knowledgeable minister occupying a seat. We have a minister
because he got a portfolio. Sadly, his so-called advisors have no interest in
wildlife either. It pains me to see that basic protocol wasn’t followed.
While the hunter who was permitted to tranquilise the animal was present,
his son killed the tigress. Why did no one tranquilised her instead? From
villagers’ perspective, having a supposed man-eater prowling around is
scary, but these villages have for years lived around wildlife and they are
better equipped in their sensibilities to deal with such animals. And if
those in power say that they did it to save other tigers because if they
hadn’t, the villagers would have poisoned them (other tigers) or hunted her
(Avni) illegally; well, they failed, because at the end of the day, another
tiger was murdered by humans. On the ground level, how many villages
were actually consulted and on what basis was she identified as the man-
eater is all very doubtful as per the media reports. We need to ensure that
forest and grasslands, animal migration routes and the zones connecting
forests are protected with no human activity, interference in the form of
mining, holiday zones, etc. We should actually learn from people living in
forest areas and fringe forest areas how they have for generations dealt
with animals in peace, but as a country we prefer to turn away from our
traditions. With the mother tigress now dead, its cubs are now more
vulnerable. Thus the action in a way put another generation of tigers in
danger.

Uma Karve

Man-animal conflict will explode if we destroy forest habitat

To read a report of a tigress being shot dead by authorities in the present
times, even in 2018, is indeed shocking. The government is selling forest
land for sums as paltry as Rs 8 per sq ft in areas that are known to be tiger
habitats. The courts were ‘mislead’ and the stories of the hunters is
unbelievable, quite matches all the fake encounters we are so used to hear
nowadays. With medicines used in tranquiliser guns come under the same
schedule as narcotic drugs, who allowed the hunter to possess it? Man-
animal conflict will only explode if we continue to enter forests and
destroy their food base and habitats.

Manoj Oswal

We are not concerned about our flora and fauna

We have already changed natural and wildlife ecology in the past few
decades and continue to do so. While we continue to flout safety rules
despite thousands dying in road accidents, who is there to support a poor
animal? Are people really sensitive to anything at all? I really feel we are
losing our sensibility and our conscience as well! We are so
anthropocentric in our approach to life that we are just not concerned
about our flora and fauna. One needs to feel a great sense of passion for
things to take appropriate actions. Our education system does not even
bother about enhancing knowledge regarding our wildlife, forget about
being able to generate passion. So, how will people have any strong
opinions? We need to desperately stop ‘managing’ everything from
education to people to stop all apathy. We need utter honesty and
compassion. We need to ignite the young and make them passionate,
aware, sensitive individuals who will be able to take good decisions
regarding everything in their life.

Devika Deshpande

Killing the tigress was a hasty step taken by the authorities

Avni, all I wish is your death won’t go in vain as even after your much-
hyped death we, the humans, have not learnt that it’s not a mistake of
some government department, but it’s the mistake of society as we
(humans) don’t know how to protect a tiger or even a sparrow. Hence, we
don’t deserve the tigers is the harsh reality. God bless the tigers. I don’t
support killing of Avni or any tiger or even a snake, but the issue of being
right or wrong does changes depending up which side you are in and
unfortunately humans rule this world not tigers is a bitter fact to which
even the forest department is not an exception.

Sanjay Deshpande
Animals consider humans as unwanted pests in forests
I am completely against the use of forest land or harming animals for our
benefits. It is unfortunate that we killed an animal for staying in its own
space. We as humans think superior of ourselves and this is a sad and
terrible thing. The best way to handle the man-animal conflict is to not to
encroach upon the latter’s spaces. We can’t keep utilising their spaces and
expect them to be okay with it. If you don’t like unwanted pests in your
house, the same applies to them too. We need to live in harmony, much
like the way this world was built.

8.destination wedding

1. It can be tough to navigate all of the legalities.

Despite the challenges, we instinctively knew that we wanted to get married abroad.
We looked into Hawaii (some islands have a 10 p.m. curfew) and Mexico (bloodwork
is required in order to obtain a marriage license). We even thought about eloping to
Paris—what's more romantic than The City of Lights? But when we found out
couples must live in the city for a minimum of 40 days in order to legally get married
there, this lovely idea quickly turned into a headache. We finally settled on Italy;
although they require a civil ceremony prior to any religious or symbolic blessing, we
think it's charming to have a separate ceremony to celebrate privately.

Photo Credit: One and Only Paris [Photography] via Intimate Weddings

2. A destination wedding may not necessarily be cheaper than nuptials held stateside.

The change in currency from the dollar to the euro sent our bank account into a
black hole. Before you book, factor in costs like additional transportation and
wedding weekend activities, not just hotels and airfare. Read the fine print on all of
your contracts for any hidden fees.

3. Not everyone will be supportive of your decision.

Some of our wedding guests thought we were selfish to choose a wedding location
in another country with requirements for vacation leaves, extra expenses, and
logistical concerns. I thought that their opinions were completely warranted, and I
tried to respect them. If you find yourself getting stressed out by what everyone else
thinks, don't lose your sanity over it; know your vision and stay true to it. For loved
ones who can come, be considerate of their needs by having a welcome bag waiting
for them in their hotel room. Fill it with small treats like a map, munchies, and travel
guides. Your guests may experience jet-lag, so plan your welcome party and any
other celebrations accordingly.

Photo Credit: Richard Ellis Photography via Jet Fete

4. Hiring an event coordinator is a must.

I'd recommend investing not only in a wedding coordinator abroad, but also hiring
someone who can help you out locally. Go into the relationship with the
understanding that there may be some misunderstandings due to the language
barrier or cultural differences in wedding planning.

5. It's all completely worth it.

Planning this crazy, chaotic journey in a foreign country has been, without a doubt,
the best experience my fiancé and I have had since getting engaged. Destination
weddings are about intimate gatherings, romance, and, most importantly, relaxation.
Although the road hasn't always been easy, the tough parts can't compare to the joy
of celebrating our wedding in the land of amore.

One of many important decisions to make about your wedding is where to

hold the event: in your local place or a place you have wanted to go for long.
There are reasons why either one can be a great option. Maybe you want a
huge wedding with everyone you’ve ever met there, then a local wedding
where everyone around can come is probably the option for you. Maybe you
want a smaller wedding that’s more intimate, with just a few special guests,
then a destination wedding is more likely right up your alley. You can
consider the following aspects to make a wise decision.
Destination Wedding vs Local Wedding: Which One to Choose?
Cost
When talking about the cost, destination weddings win hands down. For a
small wedding, the whole event can cost as little as a few thousand dollars,
including meals, accommodation, tickets, etc. This is especially true if the
destination has lower currency. This is great for couples on a tighter
budget, but there are exceptions if you want a big or extravagant wedding.
However, if you’re looking to invite a lot of guests, local wedding is the way
to go. In that condition, it is customary for the bride and groom to cover the
cost of many things, which may cost more than $20,000!
Guests
If you’re looking for an excuse to trim the guest list, a destination wedding
is a great option for you. Destination weddings are often more intimate
affairs, so you don’t have to invite that second cousin who’s really awkward
or that coworker you don’t really like. Because the wedding is out of town,
people are a little more understanding if they don’t get an invite.
For guest list size, when comparing destination wedding vs local wedding
debate, local weddings have its advantage. If you really want your friends
from third grade or your old coworkers to be able to attend, a local wedding
ensures that you will be able to invite everyone you want.
Honeymoon
The honeymoon of your dreams can also be the location for your wedding.
This cuts on travel costs and lets you really relax and not that hurry for the
honeymoon vacation. You can also sometimes get a discount on an
extended stay at hotel if your wedding was there as well. Besides, you can
start your honeymoon right after the wedding ceremony!
However, if you are choosing a local wedding, you can only start your
honeymoon after the tiring planning process and the ceremony.
The After-Party
One added bonus of the destination wedding is the option for an after-party
when you get home. This is a great way to include the people who didn't
make the guest list cut or couldn’t travel to your wedding. That way you get
an extra party to celebrate too.
The fun never has to stop at a local wedding either. Because you’re in town,
you can have an extended reception with anyone who’s along for the ride.
That way you don’t have to stop the party when your time at the venue is
up, you can keep the party rolling at another location in town.
Simpleness
A destination wedding will take a lot of the work out of wedding planning.
Many resorts have a dedicated wedding planner who will make sure your
wedding is perfect before you even arrive. This is perfect for a couple who
wants a really nice wedding without the headache of planning.
When comparing destination wedding vs local wedding, again local
wedding has its own uniqueness. There can be a lot of complications trying
to plan a destination wedding if you’re unfamiliar with the laws and
regulations of that place you want to get married. At this point, a local
wedding is much easier to handle. However, you need to plan the details of
local wedding, which can really be time consuming and complicated.
Uniqueness
Easy to figure out, a destination wedding can be much more special. From a
French chateau to an Italian vineyard, the location you choose really makes
your wedding stand out. This makes your wedding memorable and unique.
However, this doesn't mean if you have a local wedding, it can't be unique.
You can get exactly the wedding you want if you are able to do all of the
planning on site. If you want to really put your personal stamp on your
wedding, a local wedding planner may be a good assistance for you.
For Second Marriages
In the debate of destination wedding vs local wedding, destination
weddings are perfect for a couple who’s already done the big wedding at
 local and now want something more understated for a second time
wedding.
However, if you are probably not a really young bride and have a lot more
friends and acquaintances who you’ll want to share your wedding with for
the second time wedding, a local wedding allows you to have the big
celebration that you want
9. Did note ban affect the farm sector?

HIGHLIGHTS
 Last week, report submitted to parliamentary panel admitted note ban impacted farmers adversely

 It said they weren't able to purchase seeds, fertilisers

 New report says demonetisation brought formalisation to agriculture sector

The ministry of agriculture has taken a U-turn on its assessment of the impact of
demonetisation on the agriculture sector presented to a parliamentary panel last week.
Exactly one week ago, the ministry, according to sources, had blamed the demonetisation
announced by Prime Narendra Minister Modi for millions of farmers in India failing to buy
seeds and fertilisers for their winter crops in a report submitted to the Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Finance.
The members of the committee belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had protested
against the report, claiming that the report was "not proper" as it "wasn't duly endorsed by the
agriculture secretary". The committee is led by Congress leader M Veerappa Moily.
The report was instantly "hailed" as the "official acknowledgement of the adverse impact
of note ban on the millions in the agriculture sector" by Moily on Twitter.
READ| Demonetisation hit farmers badly, agriculture ministry takes 2 years to admit
But now, the ministry is set to submit a fresh report in the meeting of the standing committee
on Tuesday in which the RBI governor will be deposing.
India Today TV has accessed the draft of the report which the ministry will present before the
standing committee. The note titled "Background Note for Examination of the Subject
'Demonetisation of Indian Currency Notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and Ramifications
thereof'", in its conclusion, says: "There has been an encouraging growth witnessed inflow of
agriculture credit, distribution of quality/certified seeds, coverage of major Rabi crops and
crop production in comparison to previous years. This indicates that the measures taken by
 the government ensured no adverse impact [of demonetisation] on the agriculture
sector."
It further says demonetisation "brought more formalisation in the agriculture sector" and
it was"beneficial to farmers".
OLD REPORT VS NEW REPORT
The conclusion is in stark contrast to the earlier note submitted by the same ministry. The
earlier note had indicated that "demonetisation came at a time when farmers were in the midst
of selling their Kharif crops and sowing the Rabi crops. Demonetisation removed cash from
the market while the sale and sowing operations needed huge amounts of it."
READ| Demonetisation highly ethical move, not political: Arun Jaitley
Members of the opposition in the committee told India Today TV that the first note had said
that "millions of farmers, unable to get cash, couldn't buy seeds and fertilisers for their
winter crops. Landowners failed to pay daily wages or purchase what they needed for
crops."
The report indicated that despite delayed relaxation announced by the government in form of
allowing the use of banned Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes for purchase of wheat seeds, the
National Seeds Corporation's (NSC) sale of wheat seeds fell short by nearly 1.3 lakh quintals.
READ| Report showing higher GDP growth during Manmohan era removed
from govt website
Sources say that the report generated tremendous heat in the standing committee meeting last
week and its irate members refused to listen to the team of agriculture ministry officials as the
secretary of the ministry did not show up to make a presentation in the meet.
The ministry used the one-week period to remove the bits that criticised the note ban exercise
and had caused embarrassment to the government. The report now says:
 The Central government in consultations with state governments undertook steps to ensure
agriculture sector remains unaffected, grows with desired pace and farmers are able to obtain
necessary inputs like credit, seeds and fertiliser.
 There was no impact of demonetisation on seeds sold, area covered by agriculture and crop
production.
 Agricultural performance -- the total area under cultivation in 2015-16 (pre-note ban year)
was 612.28 lakh hectares. In 2016-17, it was 635.29 lakh hectare and 628.25 lakh hectare in
2017-18.
 Total crop production -- in 2015-16 was 1264.5 lakh tonnes. In 2016-17, 1367.75 lakh tonnes
and 1441.12 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.
 The sale of wheat seeds was not impacted by note ban as farmers allowed to pay using Rs
500 and Rs 1,000 banned notes with proof of identity. Wheat seed sale in 2015-16 was 95.63
lakh quintals. In 2016-17, 124.87 lakh quintal and 139.30 lakh quintal in 2017-18.
 There was no impact of demonetisation on arrival of paddy, cotton, onion and soya to
markets between September and December 2016.
 No impact of demonetisation on crop prices.
 Paddy and cotton prices in September-December 2016 were similar to the previous year.
Both crops remained under MSP and payments were made digitally. Onion and soybean
prices subdued due to higher production and arrival in markets.
 Fertilisers provided on credit to farmers, all modes of payment (credit/debit cards/cheques)
accepted. Fertiliser suppliers asked to extend the credit period by a month.
 No impact on cash availability. Farmers were allowed to withdraw Rs 25,000 per week from
KYC compliant accounts. Farmers receiving payments through cheque/RTGS allowed
transaction of Rs 25,000 per week. Traders allowed Rs 50,000 per week to pay wages and
loading-unloading charges.
 Loan repayment terms relaxed post note ban. Prompt payment incentivised at 3 per cent.
Interest waiver of 2 months. A special line of credit through Kisan credit cards.
With this, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, whose handling of the sector which
directly and indirectly employs crores in the country, has tried to undo the damage his
ministry's earlier note submitted to the standing committee had done.
On Friday, Singh, facing fire over the "candid admission" which seriously punctured the
government's "zero impact of note ban" claim, had tried course correction by rubbishing
reports that demonetisation prevented farmers from purchasing seeds.
He said, "There was no ban on the use of scrapped currency to buy seeds. Statistics show that
purchase of seeds increased after demonetisation, compared to the previous year."
Opposition members in the standing committee are, on their part, planning to target the
agriculture ministry for completely altering its assessment of the impact of demonetisation.
They plan to reject the report like the BJP MPs had done to the original note.

HIGHLIGHTS
 Agriculture ministry submitted a report on effects of demonetisation to a parliamentary
committee

 Millions of farmers weren't able to purchase seeds, fertilisers for sowing in rabi season

 The report said that government seeds too, could not be sold at the time of note ban

Two years after demonetisation, the Union agriculture ministry has admitted that the farmers
were badly hit by the note ban. Demonetisation had made 86 per cent of existing currency (in
denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000) illegal tender. The farmers, particularly the smaller
ones, depend on cash for the purchase of seeds and fertilisers.
The Narendra Modi government has maintained that demonetisation was a necessary step to
curb black money and a successful exercise. It has defended demonetistion in the face of
criticism by the Opposition who said that the farmers and smaller business entities were the
worst affected.
Now, the Union agriculture ministry has admitted in a report that the note ban badly affected
the farmers. In a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry
of Agriculture acknowledged that due to the lack of cash, millions of farmers were unable to
purchase seeds and fertilisers ahead of the rabi season.
The agriculture ministry informed the committee that when demonetisation was
implemented, the farmers were either selling their kharif yield or sowing rabi crops.
Demonetisation rendered all the cash they had in hand useless. This drastically affected the
farmers, said the agriculture ministry report, which discusses the effects of demonetisation.
Even government seeds could not be sold, the report said further. Demonetisation also
affected big farmers as they had to pay wages to the labourers working on their fields. But
they went cash-strapped after demonetisation, the agriculture ministry report said.
The ministry said that due to the shortage of cash, about 1.38 lakh quintals of wheat seeds of
the national seed corporation were not sold.
The government had later allowed the use of old notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 for the
purchase of wheat seeds. But this relaxation did not improve the situation much.
However, the labour ministry, in its report to the committee, commended the demonetisation
saying that the move saw an increase in employment data in the subsequent quarters.
In the standing committee meeting, the Opposition MPs criticised demonetisation and
demanded that the government should provide data on the loss of employment in the micro,
 small and medium enterprises. The committee has 31 members including Congress stalwarts
Veerappa Moily and Manmohan Singh.

10. Measures to tackle air pollution

Follow these Tips Every Day to Reduce

Pollution:
 Conserve energy - at home, at work, everywhere.
 Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office equipment.
 Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.
 Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery, being careful
not to spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.
 Consider purchasing portable gasoline containers labeled “spill-proof,” where
available.
 Keep car, boat, and other engines properly tuned.
 Be sure your tires are properly inflated.
 Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products whenever possible.
 Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.
 Consider using gas logs instead of wood.

On Days when High Ozone Levels are

Expected, Take these Extra Steps to
Reduce Pollution:
 Choose a cleaner commute - share a ride to work or use public transportation.
 Combine errands and reduce trips. Walk to errands when possible.
 Avoid excessive idling of your automobile.
 Refuel your car in the evening when its cooler.
 Conserve electricity and set air conditioners no lower than 78 degrees.
 Defer lawn and gardening chores that use gasoline-powered equipment, or
wait until evening.

On Days when High Particle Levels are

Expected, Take these Extra Steps to
Reduce Pollution:
 Reduce the number of trips you take in your car.
 Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use.
 Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials.
 Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

You can also take steps to minimize

your exposure to air pollution and
protection your health.

India takes steps to curb air pollution

India’s air pollution problem needs to be tackled systematically, taking an all-of-
government approach, to reduce the huge burden of associated ill-health. Patralekha
Chatterjee reports.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2016;94:487-488. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.16.020716

Traffic congestion in Delhi, India.

Courtesy of Dinesh Mohan

Nine-year-old Neil suffers from asthma. When he is sick – with wheezing, breathing problems or
sleeplessness – he misses many of his favourite activities.
“He’d like to be out playing more, doing the things children love,” says his mother, lawyer Leena
Menghaney, who also has asthma. “Some months he misses as much as seven or eight days of school.”
The Menghaney family lives in the middle-class neighbourhood of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, a city of 2.3
million inhabitants that flanks the Indian capital of Delhi.
Air pollution is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (umbrella
term for several progressive lung diseases including emphysema) and lung cancer, and increases the risks for
acute respiratory infections and exacerbates asthma.
With the economy booming in many of India’s cities since the turn of this century the number of road
vehicles and dusty construction sites have multiplied, and outdoor air pollution has become a major health
hazard and a major killer.
This adds to the already large burden of ill-health caused by household air pollution from the use of solid
fuels for cooking in the world’s second most populous country of some 1.3 billion people.
In India, an estimated 1.5 million people died from the effects of air pollution in 2012, according to WHO
data. Globally, air pollution – both indoor and outdoor – caused nearly 7 million deaths, or 11.6% of deaths
in 2012, making it the world’s largest single environmental health risk, according to World health statistics
2016.
About 98% of cities in low- and middle-income countries with more than 100 000 inhabitants do not meet
norms set out in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines, according to WHO’s global
urban air quality database.
An increasing number of Indian cities are now measuring and reporting their air pollution levels to WHO
and the number of such cities, globally, has nearly doubled to 3000 in 103 countries since 2014.
Reducing the deaths and ill-health from air pollution is one of the targets of sustainable development goal
three and, last year at the United Nations climate change conference in Paris, governments recognized the
need to curb emissions to reduce global warming.
The sources of India’s air pollution are many: indoor cook stoves, road traffic – including the ubiquitous
auto-rickshaws that use a toxic mix of kerosene and diesel – industrial plants that burn fossil fuels and open
burning of waste.
“We see the acute effects of air pollution, especially in young children and the elderly, and in people
suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease,” says Dr Randeep Guleria, head of
the Department of Pulmonology and Sleep Disorders at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a set of lung diseases that prevent normal breathing and can,
eventually, be fatal.
“Exposure to high levels of pollutants affects lung capacity and predisposes children to respiratory problems
in later life,” Guleria says, adding: “When the air pollution levels go up, the patients’ underlying disease
worsens, and emergency visits to hospital and the need for medication go up dramatically too.”
Last year, the Steering Committee on Air Pollution and Health-Related Issues, set up by India’s federal
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, submitted a report to the federal government on the devastating
effects of air pollution on people’s health in India.
It proposed measures that committee members argued would provide the largest reduction in exposure to air
pollution and, as a result, improvements in people’s health.
For K Srinath Reddy, who co-chaired the committee, the report is important because it highlights the
contribution of air pollution to the rise in cardiovascular diseases in his country.
“It was the first time that an official report in India examined air pollution as a health rather than an
environmental issue,” says Reddy, who is also the president of the Public Health Foundation of India.
Since the sources of air pollution were so diverse, the committee proposed “a concerted and coordinated
effort across the government” with the involvement of a dozen other ministries, including finance,
agriculture, rural development, power and transport.
Proposals included switching to clean energy sources for cook stoves, public transport and industry, as well
as measures to reduce road traffic by raising fuel taxes and parking fees, levying congestion charges, and
creating vehicle-free zones and cycle paths.
“The tragedy is that there are perfectly feasible solutions to the air pollution problem, but these are
surrounded by myths,” says Veerabhadran Ramanathan, professor of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences at
the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
For example the myth that tackling air pollution is expensive. “In California we found that if you clean up
the air, each dollar invested in air pollution returned nearly US$ 30 to [the state of] California.
“There were huge health benefits along with a large increase in new jobs and thus in people’s well-being,”
Ramanathan says.
In 2013, Ramanathan teamed up with the Air Resources Board, the clean air agency in California, and the
Energy and Resources Institute, an Indian research agency, to initiate the India–California Air Pollution
Mitigation Program.
 Open burning in a street in Mumbai, India.
WHO /Diego Rodriguez

They compiled a report and issued 12 recommendations on how to reduce air pollution from the
transportation sector in India. The findings called for a systematic approach across the country.
“You can’t tackle air pollution by just cleaning up locally. Delhi is a perfect example: switching to
compressed natural gas vehicles helped temporarily in the 1990s, but Delhi still ranks among the world’s
most polluted cities, just like Los Angeles in the 1960s,” Ramanathan says.
For Ramanathan, three systematic solutions are required for maximum impact. One, replace existing cook
stoves with clean cook stoves, two, reduce pollution from diesel transport and, three, restrict open burning of
biomass and fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, liquid petroleum gas and electricity, along with biogas and ethanol are some of the clean energy
alternatives.
“India could cut its total air pollution by one third overnight by giving clean cooking stoves to all its
villagers,” Ramanathan says. “When California wanted to pass its air pollution laws, there was tremendous
resistance from industry.
“They said ‘it will destroy our economy, no one will come to California’, and the then president of the
United States [of America] Lyndon B Johnson had to give California special permission to enact stricter
laws than the rest of the country through congressional approval,” he says.
“When trucks from outside California came to California, they had to abide by California’s laws. Everything
I see in Delhi today happened in California in the 1960s.
“That is why we – in the India–California Air Pollution Mitigation Program – looked at both the technical
solutions, such as cleaning up your cars, and also structural solutions such as having proper regulatory
bodies and proper monitoring,” Ramanathan says.
Perhaps India's capital city has the advantage of having many nongovernmental organizations (NGO)
campaigning for better health, a vocal media which reports extensively on health problems caused by air
pollution, and a supreme court that recently banned the registration of diesel vehicles in the capital.
More has been done in Delhi than elsewhere in India to tackle the problem. The auto-rickshaws run on
compressed natural gas and, earlier this year, the state government piloted a congestion scheme to reduce the
volume of traffic, in which vehicles with odd and even number plates could enter the city on alternate days.
Other recent measures in the capital include tighter vehicle emissions’ norms, higher penalties for burning
rubbish and better control of road dust.
But while Delhi’s air quality has improved slightly, according to the WHO air quality database, air quality
levels in smaller cities, such as Ghaziabad, where the Menghaney family live, have severely deteriorated in
recent years, according to Indian NGO, the Centre for Science and Environment.
Public health advocates and clean air campaigners are keen to see action beyond Delhi.
Recently the Indian government took some steps in this direction committing to a 50% reduction in
households using solid fuel for cooking and, last December, removing subsidies for polluting cooking gas to
improve access to clean fuel for household cooking.
India recently included an additional target on reducing air pollution to the nine targets set out in
WHO’s Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013–2020 in its national NCDs
strategy.
For Dr Kalpana Balakrishnan who heads the WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational and
Environmental Health at the Center for Advanced Research on Environmental Health in Chennai, such
moves are thanks to a growing recognition of the double burden of outdoor and household air pollution for
urban and rural populations.
“Recent efforts are an important first step in this direction,” says Balakrishnan.
NAGPUR: Every year in India, around 26.45% premature deaths ..

Read more at:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/64391541.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
11. What the RBI governor resignation indicates..

India's central bank governor Urjit Patel has resigned from his post citing "personal reasons".

His resignation comes amid reports of a rift between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's government.

This marks a rare case of a serving governor leaving his job midway through his three-year term.

Correspondents say the move is likely to undermine confidence in the economy and cause the rupee to fall.

Although India's $2.6tn (€2.3tn; £2tn) economy has recently been boosted by a strong performance in
consumer spending and manufacturing, the rupee has already fallen significantly against the surging dollar
so far this year, private investment remains slack and there are doubts on whether the economy will
accelerate further, says the BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi.

India will vote in a general election in the first half of next year, with polls due by May.
 Why is India at war with its central bank?

In a statement announcing his resignation, Mr Patel thanked his staff and officers, calling them the reason
for the "bank's considerable accomplishments in recent years".

But speculation has been mounting for weeks that Mr Patel could resign over government pressure on the
bank.
ADVERTISEMENT

RBI v Modi
In late October, RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya fired what appeared to be a broadside against
attempts to undermine the bank's independence.

"Governments that do not respect central bank independence will sooner or later incur the wrath of the
financial markets, ignite economic fire, and come to rue the day they undermined an important regulatory
institution," he said.

The government reportedly wants the RBI to allow ailing state-owned banks, groaning under bad loans to
industries, to resume lending to small businesses. It also wants the regulator to lower interest rates to inject
much-needed liquidity into the economy.
Reports say the government also wants to access the RBI's surplus reserves in a bid to stimulate the
economy with a big public spending spree to woo voters before the elections.

An RBI board meeting is due to be held on Friday.

"The timing just before this week's board meeting suggests that there's still a huge gap between the
government and RBI positions on key issues," A. Prasanna, the head of research at ICICI Securities
Primary Dealership in Mumbai, told Reuters news agency.

"Markets will now hope that the government has a plan of action ready so as to restore calm."

'Statement of protest'
Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have issued statements voicing appreciation for
Mr Patel's work.

Mr Modi tweeted that Mr Patel left behind a "great legacy" while Mr Jaitley described a "deep sense of
appreciation" for him.

However, others have responded with concern.

A former governor of the RBI, Raghuram Rajan, said that Mr Patel's resignation should be seen as a
statement of protest. Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said "the resignation is a clear sign of the
government trying to interfere with the working of the RBI".

Curious timing
Analysis by Sameer Hashmi, India business reporter

For nearly two months there had been strong speculation that Mr Patel was to step down as the 24th
governor of the Reserve Bank of India.

Last week I attended a press conference where Mr Patel was asked about the tension between the
government and the RBI. He refused to comment - indicating that all was not well despite reports in recent
weeks that an uneasy truce had been reached.

Mr Patel's resignation has resurrected concerns raised by various observers that the Indian government is
trying to undermine the central bank's autonomy; a charge that the former has denied.

Interestingly, the resignation comes just four days before an RBI board meeting at which some contentious
issues were supposed to be discussed. The board has many government-appointed members who have been
putting pressure on RBI management to agree to some of the administration's demands.

Mr Patel's move will also make investors jittery - especially as it comes at a time when India's economic
growth is slowing.

New Delhi: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Urjit Patel’s

resignation has thrown India’s financial policymaking establishment in a
tizzy, coming as it does after what most saw as a temporary truce between
the central bank and the Modi government.
Patel’s decision to quit for “personal reasons” with immediate effect raises
three pressing concerns.

First, how badly will this affect India’s markets tomorrow? Secondly, who
will take over the job of central bank governor in the interim?

And lastly, what will happen in the next RBI board meeting and what will
this mean for the issues that served as a bone of contention between the
central bank and the Modi government?

On what to expect in tomorrow’s market movement

India’s stock and currency markets are expected to be severely and

adversely affected. While Patel’s resignation was announced after most
markets closed, the dollar-rupee one-month forward contract spiked 1.1%
to 72.38 against the dollar and the Singapore-traded Nifty futures lost 1.3%
to 10,390 at 5:30 pm.

“This was completely unexpected coming just ahead of a scheduled board

meeting. We will see a knee-jerk selloff in all asset classes Tuesday. And if
the declines comes with a bad poll outcome for the BJP, we may see a big
drop,” said Lakshmi Iyer, head of fixed income at Kotak Mahindra Asset
Management Co, in a statement.

Other money market experts expect that tomorrow will see a shake-up.

Also read: Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel Resigns

“I think it will be very difficult now to find somebody. We have to

recognise now that the government’s style of functioning is not what the
RBI needs or wants,” Jamal Mecklai Of Mecklai Financial
Services told Bloomberg.

“It would be pretty rocky. The rupee has already fallen 72.50 in the non-
deliverable market. My sense is that there is no real operational
fundamental change. This is really a reflection on the politics. Usually,
political instability is overplayed. But it looks pretty grim right now, no
way of knowing what’s going to happen.”

Paresh Nayar of Mumbai-based FirstRand said that markets would react

“very negatively”.
“Markets are going to react very negatively to this news. It’s not a good
outcome at all,” said Nayar, who is the head of currency and money
markets at FirstRand.

On choosing Patel’s interim and permanent replacement

According to people with knowledge of the matter, Patel’s resignation

came as a shock for the Modi government, which didn’t have time to put
out an official Press Information Bureau release and instead released
reactions on Twitter.

Therefore, it’s not clear if the Centre has a clear replacement for Patel in
mind at the moment.

Most former central bank officials The Wire spoke to indicated that in this
case, the Modi government would have to appoint an official to take over
in the interim before it appoints a new governor. According to the RBI Act,
1934, if the “governor or a deputy governor by infirmity or otherwise is
rendered incapable of executing his duties or is absent on leave or
otherwise in circumstances not involving the vacation of his appointment,
the Central government may, after consideration of the recommendations
made by the Central Board in this behalf, appoint another person to
officiate for him…”

Also read: Explained: The Widening Rift Between the RBI and the Modi
Government

The only thing the law says about this interim appointment is that it could
include an officer or employee of the RBI.

It’s possible that the interim governor will come from the central bank’s
four deputy governors (N.S. Vishwanathan, Viral Acharya, B.P. Kanungo
and M.K. Jain) or any of its 12 executive directors.

“The Centre always has a plan B in place,” said Pronob Sen, former chief
statistician, in remarks made to Bloomberg.

“There is a backup system. The question is, will the backup system be
allowed to play its role? If someone is appointed within a week, the fear
will be that this person had already been identified. And therefore the
appointment will be seen as political. And that may turn out to be more
damaging than the resignation itself,” Sen added.
On remaining contentious issues

Patel’s resignation comes four days before the central next board meeting
(December 14). As The Wire reported two weeks ago, this meeting was
also expected to play host to a showdown between the RBI’s management
and the board’s government nominees.

The government’s directors were expected to push for reduced restrictions

on lending and structural changes that would give the board more say in the
central bank’s functioning.

It’s unclear whether the board meeting will take place now on December
14, although it is still a possibility if the government quickly appoints an
interim replacement over the next two days.

The central bank and the Modi government disagree vehemently over five
major issues, some of which were resolved at the last board meeting and
some of which remain an elephant in the room. These include:

1) Transfer of RBI’s ‘excess reserves’ to the Centre.

At the last meeting, the central bank’s board decided to constitute an expert
committee to examine the issue, so this has been put on the back-burner for
now.

2) Removing lending restrictions on weak state-owned banks

This debate was over the controversial prompt corrective action (PCA)
norms, a set of restrictive rules that are applied to unhealthy or weak banks.
The Modi government wanted these norms eased to boost lending and
growth, but the RBI felt that it wouldn’t be prudent to do so.

At the last board meeting, this was kicked down the road, with both parties
agreeing that the matter would be examined by the a RBI sub-committee,
the board for financial supervision (BFS).

Also read: Can RBI’s Independence From Government Interference Be

Politically Justifiable?

3) Capital norms for banks

On this, the RBI gave in slightly at the last board meeting, when it agreed
to relax in part an international capital norm for banks.
 4) Helping SMBs and NBFCs

This has been a mixed bag, with the RBI’s board advising that the central
bank consider a “scheme for restructuring of stressed standard assets of
MSME borrowers with aggregate credit facilities of up to Rs 250 million”.

However, there’s been no further movement on this. And the RBI also
hasn’t given to the Centre’s other demand, that it ease liquidity conditions
for the non-banking finance sector (NBFC). The NBFC industry has
reportedly faced liquidity issues since the near-collapse of IL&FS.

5) Governance shake-up

The last point is over-arching in nature. The government nominees on the

RBI’s board want to transform the board from an advisory forum to a body
that plays a bigger part in the central bank’s policymaking process.

In the run-up to the last board meeting, media reports noted that the Modi
government wanted the central bank to set up sub-committees, which could
include government nominees that would focus on different aspects of the
RBI’s functioning.

Out of these five issues, at least four of them, barring capital norms for
banks, are still up for debate and discussion. With Urjit Patel’s resignation,
it’s unclear how much the Modi government will continue to push and
what Patel’s successor plans on doing to push back

All that happened after RBI Governor

Urjit Patel resigned | 10 points
RBI Governor Urjit Patel’s resignation had immediate effect on the market as
Rupee forwards posted their biggest daily slump in more than five years and
Sensex fell by nearly 750 points on Monday evening.

HIGHLIGHTS
 Urjit Patel said he resigned because of personal reasons

 Opposition said Modi govt's interference in RBI forced him to resign

 Experts say market may become volatile in coming days

Monday, December 10 was expected to be a non-happening day as all the happenings were
expected to happen on December 11, when assembly election results of Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram will be announced. But Monday had its
own plans. With the resignation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel, the
Narendra Modi government suffered a massive unsuspecting blow. The Opposition took no
time in using it to strengthen its ammunition against PM Modi. Comments, reactions and
criticism flew thick and fast from party chiefs, chief ministers, and market experts through
the evening.
Here is all that happened on Monday in 10 simple points:
1) RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigned from his post after a long-draw battle of disagreements
with the central government. In his short resignation letter, Patel did not write anything
critical of the government and said his decision to resign was a personal one.
ALSO READ | Markets may bleed red as RBI Governor Urjit Patel steps down, election
results tomorrow
2) Analysts on the other hand said this decision was taken because the Modi government for
long had been trying to pressure the RBI to ease its lending norms and other policies.
3) Media reports in November has said that Urjit Patel had a meeting with PM Modi and
discussed the various points of friction between the central bank and the Prime Minister’s
Office. It was learnt that a middle ground had been agreed. But Patel’s sudden resignation,
just three days ahead of a key RBI Board meeting, suggests that things weren’t on the right
track.
4) Initially, there were reports that RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya too has resigned.
However, the RBI later clarified that this was incorrect. Acharya’s name is important because
his speech in late October was the first major indication that the RBI and the central
government are sharing less than cordial relations. In his speech, Acharya had cautioned the
government from infringing upon the RBI’s autonomy, saying that doing this may prove to
be catastrophic.
ALSO READ | Shocked, surprised, very unfortunate: Experts on RBI Governor Urjit
Patel's resignation
5) Soon after Urjit Patel’s resignation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley wrote public messages in praise of Patel’s work as the central bank
governor. Modi said he will be missed.
6) The Opposition latched upon the news of Patel’s resignation. Congress president Rahul
Gandhi alleged Patel had to resign because he was trying to save the institution of RBI from
PM Modi’s government. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the BJP a
party whose leaders are behaving like dictators.
7) Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too issued a comment on Patel’s resignation. He
said RBI Governor Urjit Patel’s sudden decision to step down is a severe blow to the
economy. Patel's sudden resignation, at a time when the Indian economy is faced with many
headwinds is very unfortunate and is a severe blow to the nation's economy, he said in a
statement.
ALSO READ | Urjit Patel steps down. Raghuram Rajan says all Indians should be
concerned
8) Urjit Patel’s resignation had immediate effect on the market. The Rupee forwards posted
their biggest daily slump in more than five years; the Sensex fell by nearly 750 points and
closed at less than the 35,000 mark on Monday evening.
9) Experts have cautioned that the markets may be volatile for the next few days until the
government takes reassuring decisions to ease investor’s concerns.
10) The central government has announced that Urjit Patel’s successor will be selected by a
high-level panel headed by the Cabinet secretary. Once the panel finalises the name, it will be
sent to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
12.What are GM crops?

What is genetic
modification (GM) of
crops and how is it
done?
DNA sequencing results
Genetically modified (GM) plants: questions and answers
GM is a technology that involves inserting DNA into the genome of an organism. To produce
a GM plant, new DNA is transferred into plant cells. Usually, the cells are then grown in
tissue culture where they develop into plants. The seeds produced by these plants will inherit
the new DNA.

The characteristics of all living organisms are determined by their genetic makeup and its
interaction with the environment. The genetic makeup of an organism is its genome, which in
all plants and animals is made of DNA. The genome contains genes, regions of DNA that
usually carry the instructions for making proteins. It is these proteins that give the plant its
characteristics. For example, the colour of flowers is determined by genes that carry the
instructions for making proteins involved in producing the pigments that colour petals.

Genetic modification of plants involves adding a specific stretch of DNA into the plant’s
genome, giving it new or different characteristics. This could include changing the way the
plant grows, or making it resistant to a particular disease. The new DNA becomes part of the
GM plant’s genome which the seeds produced by these plants will contain.
The first stage in making a GM plant requires transfer of DNA into a plant cell. One of the
methods used to transfer DNA is to coat the surface of small metal particles with the relevant
DNA fragment, and bombard the particles into the plant cells. Another method is to use a
bacterium or virus. There are many viruses and bacteria that transfer their DNA into a host
cell as a normal part of their life cycle. For GM plants, the bacterium most frequently used is
called Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The gene of interest is transferred into the bacterium and
the bacterial cells then transfer the new DNA to the genome of the plant cells. The plant cells
that have successfully taken up the DNA are then grown to create a new plant. This is
possible because individual plant cells have an impressive capacity to generate entire plants.
On rare occasions, the process of DNA transfer can happen without deliberate human
intervention. For example the sweet potato contains DNA sequences that were transferred
thousands of years ago, from Agrobacterium bacteria into the sweet potato genome.

There are other ways to change the genomes of crops, some of which are long established,
such as mutational breeding, and others of which are new, such as genome editing, but in this
Q&A we are focusing on GM as it is currently usually defined for regulatory purposes in
Europe.

What are GM crops?

The term genetically modified (GM), as it is commonly used, refers to the transfer of genes between
organisms using a series of laboratory techniques for cloning genes, splicing DNA segments together, and
inserting genes into cells. Collectively, these techniques are known as recombinant DNA technology.
Other terms used for GM plants or foods derived from them are genetically modified organism (GMO),
genetically engineered (GE), bioengineered, and transgenic. ‘Genetically modified’ is an imprecise term
and a potentially confusing one, in that virtually everything we eat has been modified genetically through
domestication from wild species and many generations of selection by humans for desirable traits. The
term is used here because it is the one most widely used to indicate the use of recombinant DNA
technology. According to USDA standards for organic agriculture, seeds or other substances derived
through GM technology are not allowed in organic production.

Which GM crops are currently grown in the U.S.?

Although in the U.S. genetically engineered versions of 19 plant species have been approved, only eight
GM crop species are grown commercially (Figure 1). Because several of them are major crops, the area
planted to GM varieties is very large. Most current GM crops have been engineered for resistance to
insects, tolerance to herbicides (weed control products) or both.
Figure 1. Currently grown GM crops in the U.S., traits for which they are modified, and percent of total acreage of the crop
that is planted to GM varieties. IR=insect resistant, HT=herbicide tolerant, DT=drought tolerant, VR=virus resistant.

What traits have been modified in GM crops?

Insect-resistant crops contain genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The protein
produced in the plant by the Bt gene is toxic to a targeted group of insects—for example European corn
borer or corn rootworm—but not to mammals. The most common herbicide tolerant (HT) crops are known
as Roundup Ready®, meaning they are tolerant to glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup®
herbicide). Glyphosate inactivates a key enzyme involved in amino acid synthesis that is present in all
green plants; therefore, it is an effective broad spectrum herbicide against nearly all weeds. Roundup
Ready® crops have been engineered to produce a resistant form of the enzyme, so they remain healthy
even after being sprayed with glyphosate. Some cultivars of corn and cotton are referred to as ‘stacked’,
meaning they have transgenes for both insect resistance and HT. According to USDA-ERS (2013), over
half of the U.S. corn and cotton acreage was planted to stacked cultivars in 2013.

Which GM crops are grown in Colorado?

Corn, alfalfa, and sugar beet are the major GM crops grown in Colorado, but smaller areas of soybeans and
canola are also planted. The corn, alfalfa, and soybean crops are nearly all used as livestock feed. Sugar
beet is used to extract and purify sugar, and canola is used mostly for edible oil. All GM seeds are targeted
to commercial growers; no vegetable or fruit varieties for home production are GM.

What are potential GM crops of the future?

Some potential applications of GM crop technology are:

 Nutritional enhancement: Higher vitamin content; more healthful fatty acid profiles;
  Stress tolerance: Tolerance to high and low temperatures, salinity, and drought;
 Disease resistance: For example, orange trees resistant to citrus greening disease or American
chestnut trees resistant to fungal blight;
 Biofuels: Plants with altered cell wall composition for more efficient conversion to ethanol;
 Phytoremediation: Plants that extract and concentrate contaminants like heavy metals from polluted
sites.

How are GM crops regulated in the U.S.?

Three U.S. government entities have authority to regulate GM crops: the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They do not, however,
individually regulate all GM crops. For example, USDA is involved in approving the
field release of most GM plants, but EPA is involved only in pest and pesticide
resistance traits, and FDA only regulates crops destined for food, feed, or
pharmaceuticals. Thus, EPA does not have authority to regulate a vitamin-enhanced
tomato, and FDA would not regulate a drought tolerant turfgrass. These federal
agencies review extensive information submitted by the crop developer, for example,
the nature and stability of the transgene and its protein product, effects on non-target
organisms in the field environment, composition of the food product, and potential
for allergic reaction. If the agencies are satisfied that the proposed crop does not pose
threats to the environment and does not increase risks for food or feed safety, the
crop is determined to have nonregulated status, that is, it is approved for
commercialization.

Are GM crops grown in other countries?

According to a recent report (James 2014), GM crops were grown in 26 other
countries in 2013. The largest global acreage crops were soybean, corn, cotton, and
canola, in that order. The U.S. has the greatest area of these crops, about 40% of the world total. Other
large producers include Brazil, Argentina, India, and Canada.

Besides GM crops, are there other GM ingredients in our food supply?

No GM food animals have yet been approved in the U.S., although a GM salmon engineered for rapid
growth is under review. GM microorganisms are used to produce rennin for production of cheese and GM
yeast has been approved for winemaking .

For more information on GM crops, see

the following CSU fact sheets:
How does GM technology differ from other Bt Corn: Health and Environment, Fact
plant breeding techniques? Sheet No. 0.707
Managing Corn Pests with Bt Corn, Fact
The era of scientific crop improvement dates back to around Sheet No. 0.708
1900, when the impact of Gregor Mendel’s studies on trait Labeling of Genetically Engineered
inheritance in peas became widely recognized. Since then, a Foods, Fact Sheet No. 9.371
broad range of techniques has been developed to improve crop
yields, quality, and resistance to disease, insects, and environmental stress. Most plant breeding programs
rely on manual cross-pollination between genetically distinct plants to create new combinations of genes.
The progeny plants are intensively evaluated over several generations and the best ones are selected for
potential release as new varieties. An example is a tomato variety that is selected for disease resistance and
tolerance to cool temperatures. Other techniques included within the conventional plant breeding toolbox
are development of hybrid varieties by crossing two parental strains to produce offspring with increased
vigor; and induced mutations to create useful variation. GM technology is much more precise in that it
transfers only the desired gene or genes to the recipient plant. Another branch of agricultural
biotechnology—distinct from GM technology—involves selecting plants for DNA patterns known to be
associated with favorable traits such as higher yield or disease resistance.

The shared DNA code

Most organisms store their genetic information in the form of DNA molecules in chromosomes. The
sequence of chemical bases in a DNA strand encodes a specific order of amino acids, which are the
building blocks of proteins. Proteins carry out many functions in cells and tissues, which together are
responsible for an organism’s characteristics. Because most life forms share this same language of
heredity—and due to scientific advances in molecular biology—it is now possible to transfer a gene from
one species to another, for example from a bacterium to a plant, and have it function in its new host.

What is inserted into a GM plant?

The inserted DNA fragment contains one or a few genes, which contain the DNA sequence information
encoding specific proteins, along with DNA segments that regulate production of the proteins. The inserted
fragment also sometimes contains a marker gene to easily identify plants that have incorporated the
transferred genes, also known as transgenes, into their chromosomes.

How are transgenes inserted?

There are two principal methods for transgene insertion:

Gene gun: In this method, microscopic pellets of gold or tungsten are coated with the transgene fragment
and shot at high velocity into plant cells or tissues. In a small proportion of cases, the pellet will pass
through the cells and the DNA fragment will remain behind and become incorporated into a plant
chromosome in the cell nucleus.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens: This method utilizes a biological vector, the soil dwelling
bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which in nature transfers part of its DNA into plants and causes
crown gall disease. Genetic engineers have taken advantage of this DNA transfer mechanism while
disarming the disease-causing properties. Plant and bacterial cells are co-cultivated in a petri dish under
conditions that facilitate gene transfer. This allows incorporation of genes in a more controlled manner
than with the gene gun; however, it does not work equally well in all plant species.

How are whole plants obtained from plant cells or tissues?

Insertion of transgenes is generally an inefficient process, with only a few percent of plant cells or tissues
successfully integrating the foreign gene. Various strategies are used to identify the small percentage of
cells/tissues that have actually been transformed. The next step is to develop those cells or tissues into
whole plants capable of producing seed. This is done through a process called tissue culture, that is,
growing plants on agar or a similar medium in the presence of plant nutrients and hormones under
controlled environmental conditions.

What happens next?

The crop developers then begin a long series of evaluations to determine that the gene has been
incorporated successfully, that it is inherited in a stable and predictable manner, that the desired trait is
expressed to the expected level, and that the plant does not show any negative effects. Evaluations are
initially done in controlled greenhouses and growth chambers. Once sufficient seed is produced and the
 appropriate permission is received, experimental plants are grown in field trials. Field evaluations follow
strict guidelines that include isolation from related plants to avoid cross-pollination, careful cleaning of
planting and harvesting machinery, frequent monitoring of crop growth, and checking the field for two
seasons after the trial for the presence of volunteer plants that have arisen from seed inadvertently left
behind.

 The early days of genetically modified foods

 Transferring genes from one organism to another
 The numerous benefits of genetically modified foods
 What about potential risks?
 The bottom line – are GMO foods safe or not?

Genetically modified foods are a hot and most controversial topic in today’s
society, with many fierce advocates on both sides, and they all make some
very good points. There have been numerous conflicting studies on the
safety of genetically modified foods but the problem is deciding which ones
are trustworthy, as many of them have been funded by the parties that
have a stake in the outcome, which creates a conflict of interest and means
that the research has been compromised. Going through all the available
information and research on the subject is not an easy task and would take
an incredible amount of time, so we will help you make an informed
decision. The fact is, whether we are aware of it or not, and whether by
choice or not, most of us eat genetically modified food on a regular basis.
The Centre for Food Safety claims that around 90 percent of soy and corn
grown in the United States today has been planted using genetically
modified seeds.

The early days of

genetically modified foods
The first genetically modifies foods appeared in the mid-90s, when a US
company called Calgene produced a tomato that was resistant to
degradation generally associated with a natural tomato. The product was
sold without any additional labels and cost up to five times more than
regular tomatoes, but it was relatively well received in the United States.
However, when the product made its way to Europe, it was not met with the
same enthusiasm, with one notable UK scientist being among its most
vocal opponents. While researching safety procedures for genetically
modified foods, he discovered that lab rats experienced a whole range of
physical changes. He blamed the genetic modification process for these
changes and went public with his concerns about the technology. His
findings made European consumers quite anxious and even led many food
companies to proclaim that they would never produce genetically modified
foods. The European Union made the labelling of all genetically modified
foods mandatory, and the same was done by Australia and China. Overall,
countries like the United States and India have been more receptive to the
idea of genetically modified foods and are starting to produce more and
more of them every year, but Europe still remains sceptical. The most
common genetically modified foods today are soy, corn, tomatoes,
potatoes, grapes, sugar cane and rice.
Genetically modified foods are a hot and most controversial topic in today’s society.

Transferring genes from

one organism to another
So what exactly are GMO foods? The term GMO is short for genetically
modified organism and it is used to describe food of which the
characteristics have been genetically altered using certain scientific
techniques. For example, by transferring one or more specific genes from
other organisms can give a plant, fruit or vegetable new or improved
features that they didn’t have before, such as resistance to certain
herbicides and pests or better flavour and higher nutritional value. Similar
genetic changes happen in nature as well, they just take hundreds of
thousands of years. It’s called evolution. Scientists simply decided to skip a
few steps and bring the future to us now.

The numerous benefits of

genetically modified foods
There are numerous potential benefits associated with genetically modified
foods, but the fact that they can be grown just about anywhere is probably
the most significant. That quality, along with the possibility of producing
higher yields, gives us the best chance yet to end world hunger one day.
Genetically modified crops are more resistant to adverse weather
conditions, as well as pesticides and herbicides. Furthermore, they can be
engineered so as to have higher nutritional value, increasing the amount of
proteins, vitamins or minerals in their structure, which translates to a more
balanced and healthier diet for all of us. The so-called ‘golden rice’, which
is rich in vitamin A, is probably the best example of this technique.
Genetically modified food can also be altered so that it grows faster, tastes
better, looks better and lasts longer. Farmers in particular have been
supportive of the technology as it would allow them to reduce costs and
stop worrying about droughts and other environmental hazards destroying
their entire harvests.

What about potential risks?

People have always feared the unknown, what they don’t understand, so
it’s only natural for them to have reservations about genetic modification.
However, those who oppose genetically modified foods do have some valid
concerns that need to be thoroughly explored. The biggest fear is that
ingesting genetically modified food can result in people developing allergies
or some other health issues, some of which may be life-threatening. For
example, inserting genes from an allergenic food such as peanuts could
possibly cause the genetically modified organism to become allergenic as
well and produce severe allergic reactions. Some people even blame
GMOs for the rising number of antibiotic-resistant germs, because we inject
antibiotic-resistant genes into certain GMO crops. There are also some
environmental concerns, such as what the long-term effect on the soil is, as
well as concerns that the technology may have a negative influence on the
biodiversity by killing a host of beneficial insects. Whenever you remove an
organism from the environment, no matter how harmful it may be, you
could be removing some other organism’s food source that inadvertently
leads to its extinction. Furthermore, there is the possibility of GMO seeds
spreading onto the farms where non-GMO foods are being grown, causing
problems for organic farmers. Last but not least, it’s not yet possible to
determine what the long-term effects of genetically modified foods may be.
The bottom line – are GMO
foods safe or not?
As it happens, it is a question that cannot be answered with a simple yes or
no. It depends on many different factors, including the technique used to
modify the organism or the type of gene transferred onto it. The American
Medical Association believes that genetically modified foods are safe, as
does the World Health Organization. To this day, there are no studies with
conclusive evidence that GMO foods are responsible for the rising number
of food allergies. There are also no studies with conclusive evidence that
GMO foods are responsible for the rising number of antibiotic-resistant
germs. There is no conclusive evidence whatsoever that GMO foods are in
any way harmful to humans. With that in mind, just because you can’t
prove that something is there, it does not mean that it’s not. Science does
not claim to have all the answers. Maybe there is something we haven’t
thought to look for, maybe we just don’t have the technology yet. As long
as there is even the slightest possibility that those who oppose GMOs are
right, we should do everything in our power to make sure that we are safe.

Another thing to consider is that there is no scientific testing method that

can prove if a food comes from a genetically modified source or not. Sugar
is always just sugar, its chemical composition does not change when it’s
derived from a source that has been genetically modified. If someone tells
you that their food is GMO free, you have to take their word for it. Today,
GMO foods need to satisfy the same safety requirements as non-GMO
foods. There is even a set of standards, recommendations and guidelines
for food production and safety called Codex Alimentarius, developed by the
World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of
the United Nations, whose main purpose is to protect the consumers’
health. Even taking all that into account, the debate is ongoing and not very
likely to stop anytime soon.

13.What is climate change?

Learn about the causes of climate change and how you can
reduce its threat.
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Climate change
Climate change is the rise in average surface temperatures on Earth, mostly due to the
burning of fossil fuels.

ARTICLE
Say Hello to the New Face of Climate Change
Climate change, also called global warming, refers to the rise in average
surface temperatures on Earth. An overwhelming scientific consensus
maintains that climate change is due primarily to the human use of fossil
fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the
air. The gases trap heat within the atmosphere, which can have a range
of effects on ecosystems, including rising sea levels, severe weather
events, and droughts that render landscapes more susceptible to
wildfires.

Is climate change real?

There is broad-based agreement within the scientific community that
climate change is real. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration concur that climate change is indeed
occurring and is almost certainly due to human activity.

What are the causes of climate change?

The primary cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels, such as
oil and coal, which emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere—
primarily carbon dioxide. Other human activities, such as agriculture and
deforestation, also contribute to the proliferation of greenhouse gases
that cause climate change.

While some quantities of these gases are a naturally occurring and critical
part of Earth’s temperature control system, the atmospheric concentration
of CO2 did not rise above 300 parts per million between the advent of
human civilization roughly 10,000 years ago and 1900. Today it is at
about 400 ppm, a level not reached in more than 400,000 years.

Increased burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change.

(Photo: Chris Conway/Getty Images)

What are the effects of climate change?

Even small increases in Earth’s temperature caused by climate change
can have severe effects. The earth’s average temperature has gone up
1.4° F over the past century and is expected to rise as much as 11.5° F
over the next. That might not seem like a lot, but the average
temperature during the last Ice Age was about 4º F lower than it is today.
Rising sea levels due to the melting of the polar ice caps (again, caused
by climate change) contribute to greater storm damage; warming ocean
temperatures are associated with stronger and more frequent storms;
additional rainfall, particularly during severe weather events, leads to
flooding and other damage; an increase in the incidence and severity of
wildfires threatens habitats, homes, and lives; and heat waves contribute
to human deaths and other consequences.

Climate change: the debate

While consensus among nearly all scientists, scientific organizations, and
governments is that climate change is happening and is caused by human
activity, a small minority of voices questions the validity of such
assertions and prefers to cast doubt on the preponderance of evidence.
Climate change deniers often claim that recent changes attributed to
human activity can be seen as part of the natural variations in Earth’s
climate and temperature, and that it is difficult or impossible to establish
a direct connection between climate change and any single weather
event, such as a hurricane. While the latter is generally true, decades of
data and analysis support the reality of climate change—and the human
factor in this process. In any case, economists agree that acting to reduce
fossil fuel emissions would be far less expensive than dealing with the
consequences of not doing so.

Climate change (or global warming), is the process of our planet heating up.

The Earth has warmed by an average of 1°C in the last century, and although that
might not sound like much, it means big things for people and wildlife around the
globe.

Unfortunately, rising temperatures don’t just mean that we’ll get nicer weather – if
only! The changing climate will actually make our weather
more extreme and unpredictable.

As temperatures rise, some areas will get wetter and lots of animals (and humans!)
could find they’re not able to adapt to their changing climate.

What causes climate change?

1. Burning fossil fuels
Over the past 150 years, industrialised countries have been burning large
amounts of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. The gases released into
the atmosphere during this process act like an invisible ‘blanket’, trapping heat from
the sun and warming the Earth. This is known as the “Greenhouse Effect”.

2. Farming
Believe it or not, cows’ eating habitscontribute towards greenhouse gases. Just like
us, when cows eat, methane gas builds up in their digestive system and is released
in the form of… a fart! This might sound funny, but when you imagine that there are
almost 1.5 billioncows releasing all that gas into the atmosphere, it sure adds up!

3. Deforestation
Forests absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas – from the air,
and release oxygen back into it. The Amazon rainforest is so large and efficient at
doing this that it is often called ‘the lungs of the Earth’. Sadly, many rainforests are
being cut down to make wood, palm oil and to clear the way for farmland, roads, oil
mines, and dams.

How will climate change affect the planet?

The Earth has had many tropical climates and ice ages over the billions of years
that it’s been in existence, so why is now so different? Well, this is because for the
last 150 years human activity has meant we’re releasing a huge amount of harmful
gases into the Earth’s atmosphere, and records show that the global temperatures
are rising more rapidly since this time.

A warmer climate could affect our planet in a number of ways:

– More rainfall

– Changing seasons

– Shrinking sea ice

– Rising sea levels

How will climate change affect wildlife?

Climate change is already affecting wildlife all over the world, but certain species are
suffering more than others. Polar animals – whose icy natural habitat is melting in
the warmer temperatures – are particularly at risk. In fact, experts believe that
the Arctic sea ice is melting at a shocking rate – 9% per decade! Polar bears need
sea ice to be able to hunt, raise their young and as places to rest after long periods
of swimming. Certain seal species, like ringed sealsmake caves in the snow and ice
to raise their pups, feed and mate.

It’s not just polar animals who are in trouble. Apes like orangutans, which live in the
rainforests of Indonesia, are under threat as their habitat is cut down, and more
droughts cause more bushfires.

Sea turtles rely on nesting beaches to lay their eggs, many of which are threatened
by rising sea levels. Did you know that the temperature of nests determines whether
the eggs are male or female? Unfortunately, with temperatures on the rise, this could
mean that many more females are born than males, threatening future turtle
populations.

How will people be affected by climate change?

Climate change won’t just affect animals, it’s already having an impact on people,
too. Most affected are some of the people who grow the food we eat every
day. Farming communities, especially in developing countries, are facing higher
temperatures, increased rain, floods and droughts.

We Brits love a good cuppa, (around165 million cups of the stuff every day!), but
we probably take for granted just how much work goes into growing our tea.
Environmental conditions can affect the flavour and quality plus it needs a very
specific rainfall to grow. In Kenya, climate change is making rainfall patterns less and
less predictable. Often there will be droughts followed by huge amounts rain, which
makes it very difficult to grow tea.

Farmers might then resort to using cheap chemicals to improve their crop to earn
more money, even when long-term use of these chemicals can destroy their soil.

How are people coping with climate change?

Buying Fairtrade products can help make sure a farmer is paid a fair wage. This
means they can cover their costs, earn enough money to have a decent standard of
living, and invest in their farms to keep their crop healthy, without needing to resort to
cheap methods of farming which can further damage the environment.

This support also helps farmers to replace eucalyptus trees – which take up a lot of
water – with indigenous trees that are better for the farmers’ soil. They can learn to
make fuel-efficient stoves which will not only make them a little extra money, but
also reduce the carbon footprint of the community – cool!

How can I help prevent climate change?

Small changes in your own home can make a difference, too. Try switching to
energy-saving lightbulbs, walking instead of using the car, turning off electrical items
when you’re not using them, recycling and reducing your food waste. All these little
things can make a difference.

14.Impact of 'Beti bachao, beti padhao'.

There’s a powerful saying, “When you educate a man, you educate a man but when you
educate a woman, you educate a generation”. This is because of the benefits of educating
girls permeates the entire family and have far-reaching impacts within the entire society.
Women make up for almost half of the total population of India but they still lag behind men
in a lot of areas. It is harrowing to note that a lot of females are not even allowed to be born.
Many of those who are fortunate enough to see this world are denied of some of their most
basic rights: quality education and healthcare. Many are married off in their teenage. Over
the last many years, a significant fraction of number of women has been at the receiving end
of discrimination and exploitation. Needless to say, it should be government’s top priority to
empower women in a country like India that has witnessed male domination for years.

Women upliftment is nearly impossible if issues like illiteracy, inequality, sexual harassment
and female infanticide are not combated in the right manner. The year 2015 saw the launch
of a flagship scheme by the Government of India, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save
daughters, educate daughters). The scheme aims to beget awareness regarding the waning
Child Sex Ratio (CSR), apart from perking up the efficiency of several welfare schemes that
have been rolled-out for women. The programme is being administered through a well-
framed national campaign and a focussed multi-sectorial effort in 100 districts having a
shallow CSR.
As Census data lays down, in the year 2001 the child sex Ratio in India (0-6 years) was a
mere 927 girls per 1,000 boys, which further declined in 2011 to a staggering 918 girls for
every 1,000 boys. To address this dwindling CSR is one of the core intentions of this
scheme and it is garnering massive support from NGOs like Save the Children who are
already doing pioneering work in fostering girl child education and welfare. NGOs work
through the support of philanthropic individuals, many of whom donate online to contribute to
the good of the society.

‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ is a collaborative initiative being run by Ministry of Women and
Child Development, Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare and it covers all Indian states and union territories. The scheme has three
primary objectives:

1. Prevent female infanticide

The steep downfall in the CSR is a prime indicator of women disempowerment in the
country. CSR puts a light on the pre-birth discrimination on the basis of gender that
manifests in the form of unacceptable practice of female infanticide. Convergent efforts by
government agencies and NGOs are crucial to ensure survival, safety and empowerment of
the fairer sex. Under the scheme, district authorities are required to effectively monitor and
ensure that the use of sex-determination tools by families and doctors lead to stringent
action by law. Several healthcare centres indulging in such practices have been sealed
owing to this programme. Parents, families, doctors and the community at large are being
oriented to not resort to sex-determination during pregnancy.

2. Devise new schemes and work cohesively to ensure that every girl child is secured
and protected
BBBP programme is being implemented with full commitment of government officials across
the country. These officials are working in close coordination with each other in order to
ensure survival, well-being, security and education of the girl children. The government has
been actively working to converge BBBP with other schemes that have been implemented
for the well-being of girls in India. Several sub-schemes have also been rolled out as a part
of the umbrella BBBP scheme. For instance, Sukanya Samriddhi scheme is a small savings
scheme wherein the parents of a girl or a legal guardian can open a dedicated savings
account for her in any post office or in some of the authorized commercial banks. One needs
to make contribution to the scheme for the first 14 years only. In the remaining seven years
one will earn interest from the scheme without depositing.

3. Ensure every girl child gets quality education

This is a very significant aspect of the BBBP scheme. Right to Education Act, 2010 entitles
every child the right to free education till the completion of elementary education in a
neighbourhood school. Unfortunately, the Act does not see its proper implementation in
letter and spirit. If the girls are educated properly, they will grow up to be self-empowered
individuals, better equipped to take their socio-economic decisions in their own and
society’s best interests. Under the BBBP scheme, district-level education officials have to
ensure that the benefit of free elementary education reaches all the girls in their areas. There
is active involvement of schools and other grass root- level organisations in this. The school
management committees that are able to achieve 100% transition of girl students at various
educational levels are awarded under the BBBP scheme.

Conclusion

The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme is a praiseworthy initiative by the Government of India
to address the issues revolving around girl children in India, right from the time they aren’t
even born to them turning adults. Apart from generating global headlines, the initiatives
under the scheme have started bearing fruit as the level of awareness among the masses to
work for girl child upliftment is increasing. An assessment of the scheme is due in July 2016.
Success of this scheme will add tremendously to the economic growth of the nation. This is
because to march ahead, India cannot afford having a large part of its population remain
neglected and marginalised.

As responsible members of the society, it is our duty as well to contribute for the betterment
of girl children. One can donate for education of marginalised girls to NGOs working in that
area and strengthen the cause. Remember, donation and tax benefits go hand-in-hand.

In all of Save the Children's programmes on education, there is a special focus on helping
more and more girls reach school. Your support can help us do a lot more for the most
marginalised girl children of India. Will you help?

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a government social scheme launched by the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi in order to address the gender imbalance and discrimination against girl child in
the Indian society. This scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 22nd of January in 2015
at Panipat, Haryana on Thursday. This scheme is to aware people about the importance of girls
in the society. It is to increase awareness among common people to save the lives of girl child by
completely removing the female foeticide. People should celebrate the birth of their girl child and
educate them with full responsibility as they do for their boy child. This programme is launched
by the Modi government regarding safety and protection of the girl child all through the country.
This scheme was the urgent need of today’s time as without saving and empowering women of
the country, development is not possible at all. Women cover around half population of the
country so they are half power of the country. That’s why they need equal rights, facilities and
opportunities to go ahead and contribute to the development of India. This scheme is regarding
girl safety, protection and better education in the future without much load on the parents. In
order to support this campaign, the government of India has started another programme named
as Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. This scheme involves in reducing the burden of parents at her
young age. Because, according to this scheme, parents have to deposit some money in the bank
on monthly basis for which they will get benefited in future at the young age of their girl child
whether for the education or marriage. Such ambitious approach of government in the form of
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme will surely bring positive changes in the status of women in
India. It is launched by the government with well planned objectives, strategies and action plan to
make it really effective. It is to save the lives of the down trodden girls and give them opportunity
of higher education so that they can be empowered and participate in all the working areas.
According to this scheme, around 100 districts (having low CSR) have been chosen to take
necessary actions first. This scheme is to improve welfare of the girl child by creating awareness
about gender discrimination in the society. The proposal of big amount of Indian rupee has been
passed for the women safety in urban and large cities of the country. This scheme alone can
support only however cannot completely solve the problem of girl child, it needs to be supported
by all the citizens of India. Rules and regulations, made to reduce crimes against girl child,
should be followed strictly and there should be strict punishment on violation. The Study is Purely
Theoretical. The Study is based on secondary data sources. The necessary information about
the Brief information about Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme and its various components are
collected from Books, Journals, Internet Source or related topic. The Researcher study about
the. Brief information about Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme. The Research Work includes I.
Introduction II.Methodology III. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme. IV Conclusion

15. Should rivers be inter-linked?

Do we really need interlinking

of rivers?
The river interlinking project will adversely affect land, forests,
biodiversity, rivers and the livelihood of millions of people
Interlinking of rivers is a very expensive proposal. It has huge adverse
environmental impacts on land, forests, biodiversity, rivers and the
livelihood of millions of people. It is a socially disruptive proposition. It will
not only add to climate change impact (destruction of forests means
destruction of carbon sinks, and reservoirs in tropical climate are known
sources of methane and carbon dioxide), but will also reduce our capacity
to adapt to climate change.

Take, for example, the Ken-Betwa link which is the government’s top
priority. The link will facilitate export of water from drought-prone
Bundelkhand to the upper Betwa basin, as the detailed project report
(DPR) makes clear. The Ken-Betwa link’s hydrology is effectively a state
secret, so there is no way to check if the claim of Ken river being surplus is
valid. There has been no credible environmental impact assessment of the
link and no public hearings in canal and downstream affected areas. The
link’s environmental management plan is still being prepared.
The Ken-Betwa link threatens about 200 sq. km of the Panna tiger reserve,
and with it the Ken river and large parts of Bundelkhand. Yet, it does not
have an environment clearance, a final forest clearance, and its wildlife
clearance is being scrutinized by the Central-empowered committee
appointed by the Supreme Court. In fact, both forest and wildlife clearance
recommendations are under the condition that the power project will be
taken out of the forest/protected area, but the environment clearance
recommendation assumes the project will be inside the forest/protected
area. So even that is invalid.

The government justifies the Ken-Betwa link, and indeed the river
interlinking project as a whole, by saying that it will provide irrigation,
water supply, hydropower and flood control. But we need to understand
that most of India’s water benefits, including irrigation, come from
groundwater. In fact, in the past two-and-a-half decades, the net national
irrigated area from big dams has decreased by about 1.5 million hectares
from a peak of 17.79 million ha in 1991-92, according to government data.
But in the same period, India’s total irrigated area has gone up—primarily
due to groundwater. Groundwater is our water lifeline and whether we like
it or not, whether we want it or not, groundwater is going to remain our
water lifeline for decades to come.

However, our current use of groundwater is not sustainable. The focus of

our water resources development should be on how the groundwater
lifeline can be sustained. Will Interlinking of rivers help in this? No, since
Interlinking of rivers entails a large number of dams that will lead to
destruction of rivers, forests, wetlands and local water bodies, which are
major groundwater recharge mechanisms.

So as far as irrigation is concerned, it seems the river interlinking project is

likely to create more problems than benefits. The same is true for water
supply.

As far as hydropower is concerned, it is clear that large hydropower projects

are no longer a viable option in India. The power minister has repeatedly
said in Parliament over the last two years that hydropower projects of over
11,000MW are stuck due to lack of finances and questions over viability.
The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh has stated that private developers
are exiting the sector as they consider the projects to be non-viable. The
situation in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh is similar.

It costs over Rs10 crore to produce one megawatt of hydropower, which in

turn produces less than four million units of electricity. This means the per
unit cost of power from such projects is in excess of Rs8 per unit, when
there are no takers for power that costs even Rs3 per unit. In any case,
Interlinking of rivers will be needing more power to lift the water than what
it is likely to produce.

Can the river interlinking project flood-proof the flood-prone river basins?
While theoretically, a large reservoir can help moderate floods in the
downstream areas, our experience on the ground doesn’t inspire as much
confidence. For example, heads of government, state officials, and the
Comptroller and Auditor General have on numerous occasions pointed out
that big dams such as the Ranganadi dam, the Damodar dams, the Farakka
and Bansagar dams, and the Hirakud dam have brought avoidable flood
disasters to Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, respectively.

The other problem with the river interlinking project is that of storing large
quantities of waters. Most of the sites suitable for the big reservoirs are in
Nepal, Bhutan and in the North-East—and each one has made clear their
opposition to big storage reservoirs.

If the water cannot be stored in big reservoirs during the monsoon, which is
when some rivers are flooded, then the other option is to transfer the water
to deficit basins during this time. But when the Brahmaputra is in floods, so
is the Ganga and all the rivers through which the water needs to be
transferred, including the Subarnarekha, the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the
Krishna, the Pennar, and so on. Why should these rivers, that are already
facing floods, receive more water?

There is no doubt that if we can store water during the monsoon, we can
make it available in the post monsoon months. But the water resources
establishment sees big dams as the only storage option. Yet, the biggest,
cheapest, most benign, possibly fastest and most decentralized storage
option for India is the groundwater aquifer.

In other words, what India needs is not interlinking of rivers but something
else to achieve water, agriculture and livelihood security.

Himanshu Thakkar is coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers

and People.
Water resources minister Uma Bharti has
emphasised that long-term solution to mitigate
floods and drought lies in the interlinking of
rivers along with building large storages.
In the pipeline: Uttar Pradesh has conveyed its
support to Ken-Betwa ( Uttar Pradesh and Madhya
Pradesh) river interlinking project.
 The detailed project report of Damanganga-
Pinjal(Maharashtra and Gujarat) link and Par-Tapi-
Narmada(Gujarat and Maharashtra) interlinking
projects is in an advanced stage.
 Kosi-Mechi and Kosi-Ghagra links, envisaged in the
Himalayan region is also in the pipeline.
The pros and cons: Apart from reducing the impact of
floods, interlinking will increase India’s utilisable
surface water by 25 per cent.
 However, experts feel the transfer of such enormous
amounts of water will inundate forests and land for
reservoirs. The weight of billions of litres of water may
even have seismic implications in the Himalayan
region, experts said.
 The idea of interlinking of rivers was first suggested
by Sir Arthur Cotton, an irrigation engineer during the
British Raj. He called for linking the Ganga and the
Cauvery for navigational purposes.
 The idea to link rivers got a shot in the arm with the
establishment of the National Water Development
Agency in 1982 by the then prime minister Indira
Gandhi.
 The National Democratic Alliance government (1999-
2004) was keen to implement the interlinking of
rivers (ILR) project.
Know all about PM Modi's
ambitious Rs 5.5 lakh crore
river-linking project
The idea behind interlinking of rivers is to deal with the problem of
drought and floods afflicting different parts of the country, while
decreasing farmers’ dependency on uncertain monsoon rains
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Rs 5.5 lakh crore Rivers Inter-link plan is a
large-scale civil engineering project that aims to link rivers through a network of
reservoirs and canals across India.
The mission of this programme is to ensure greater equity in the distribution of water
by enhancing its availability in drought-prone and rainfed areas.

Why interlinking of rivers

PM Modi's project has plans to interlink more than 60 rivers across India, including
the Ganges, aiming to reduce floods in some parts and water shortages in other
parts of the country.
The idea behind this mammoth project is to deal with the problem of drought and
floods afflicting different parts of the country at the same time. It also targets to
decrease farmers’ dependency on uncertain monsoon rains and bringing millions of
hectares of cultivatable land under irrigation.
The National Perspective Plan envisions about 150 million acre feet (MAF) or 185
billion cubic metres of water storage along with building inter-links.
These storages and the interlinks will add nearly 170 million acre feet of water for
beneficial uses in India, enabling irrigation over an additional area of 35 million
hectares, generation of 40,000 MW capacity hydro power, flood control and other
benefits, says a Wikipedia page on ILR plan.
Floods inundate several parts of the country, affecting millions every year
Water-surplus rivers will be dammed, and the flow will be diverted to rivers that could
do with more water. In all, some 30 canals and 3,000 small and large reservoirs will
be constructed with potential to generate 34 gigawatt of hydroelectric power.
The canals, planned between 50 and 100 meters in width, will stretch some 15,000
kilometres.
How this project will work
The project is being managed by India's National Water Development Agency
(NWDA), under the Union Ministry of Water Resources.
The Inter-link project has been split into three parts:
1. A northern Himalayan rivers inter-link component
2. A southern Peninsular component
3. An intrastate rivers linking component
The NWDA has studied and prepared reports on 14 inter-link projects for Himalayan
component, 16 inter-link projects for Peninsular component and 37 intrastate river
linking projects.
Timeline: History of proposals
The interlinking of rivers has been envisaged at a cost of over Rs 5.5 lakh cr
- The Inter-linking of Rivers proposal has a long history in the country. During 19th
century, a British engineer had proposed the plan to interlink major rivers to hasten
trade and to resolve the issue of droughts in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa regions.
- In the 1970s, Dr. K L Rao, dam designer and former irrigation minister had
proposed "National Water Grid" and suggested that the surplus water of
Brahmaputra and Ganga basins should be diverted to water deficit areas of central
and south India.
- In 1980, the Ministry of Water Resources came out with a report entitled "National
Perspectives for Water Resources Development". This report had split the water
development project in two parts – the Himalayan and Peninsular components.
Later, the Congress Party came to power and abandoned the plan.
- In 1982, a committee of nominated experts was set up through National Water
Development Agency to complete detailed studies, surveys and investigations in
respect of reservoirs, canals and all aspects of feasibility river interlinking.
- From 1982 through 2013, the NWDA produced many reports over 30 years, but the
projects were not pursued.
- The idea was revived in 1999, after the NDA formed the government at the Centre.
The BJP-led NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee had propagated the idea of
interlinking of rivers. The proposal was modified to intra-basin development as
opposed to inter-basin water transfer.
- By 2004, UPA government was in power, and it resurrected its opposition to the
project concept.
- In February 2012, while disposing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) lodged in the
year 2002, the Supreme Court (SC) refused to give any direction for implementation
of Rivers Interlinking Project.
- However, SC directed the Ministry of Water Resources to constitute an experts
committee to pursue the matter with the governments as no party had pleaded
against the implementation of Rivers Interlinking Project.
What now?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pushing the idea through hurdles

PM Narendra Modi has pushed through clearances for the first phase of the project
despite opposition from environmentalists. The Interlinking of River (ILR)
programme, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has been taken up on high
priority. The minister for water resources is monitoring the progress of ILR on a
weekly basis.
As per the directives of the Supreme Court, a Cabinet Note on ILR was submitted to
Union Cabinet in July, 2014. The Union Cabinet approved the constitution of the
Special Committee on ILR in August, 2014.
The Special Committee on ILR, as per the directions of Supreme court, was
constituted on September 23, 2014, which, after considering the views of all the
stakeholders, is proceeding ahead to expedite the objectives of the interlinking of
rivers.
Vigorous efforts have been taken up for generating consensus with development of
alternative plans and also setting out road maps for implementation of mature
projects.
Task Force on ILR
A Task Force for Interlinking of Rivers was constituted by the Ministry in April, 2015
which also meets the requirement of Committee of experts as directed by the
Cabinet while approving the constitution of Special Committee.
Details of important ILR projects
1. Ken – Betwa Link Project
Ken-Betwa link project has been declared as National Project by the Government of
India. That will involve construction of a dam on the Ken river, also known as the
Karnavati, in north-central India and a 22-km (14-mile) canal connecting it to the
shallow Betwa.
Detailed proceedings/documents of the public hearing under Phase I of Ken – Betwa
link were submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change by
Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board in April, 2015.
The various clearances for Ken – Betwa link project are in the advance stages and
the Government is all set to start implementing this National Project as model link
project of ILR programme.
Video: Details of the Ken-Betwa project

16. Is Freedom of press important?

An independent press is one of the essential pillars of a

democracy, and we need to support journalists and
whistleblowers alike to protect it, says lawyer and free
press advocate Trevor Timm.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution is only 45 words, but it packs a
punch. It protects free speech and a free press in America (in addition to religion,
assembly and petition); without it, the country would look completely different.
“The First Amendment is the safety valve of our democracy,” says US free press
advocate Trevor Timm (TED Talk: How free is our freedom of the press?). “It has
always been the bulwark against secret government, against authoritarianism and
against tyranny.”

Americans take great pride in their press freedom. But the truth is, it’s under
attack. This trend goes beyond the current president and his administration
branding credible news outlets as “fake news” and threatening journalists and
leakers with lawsuits. What’s perhaps less widely known is the Obama
administration’s prosecution of a record eight whistleblowers for leaking
government secrets to the media. Journalists are also increasingly being stopped
and searched at US borders, and they’ve recently been arrested for covering
protests at the inauguration and at Standing Rock. For these reasons, the US ranks
number 43 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index. That’s right —
42 countries, including Ghana, South Africa and Jamaica — are judged
by Reporters Without Borders to have greater press freedom than the United
States, whose freedom is enshrined in its most important document.

Timm, a lawyer and a TED Fellow, runs the Freedom of the Press Foundation, a
nonprofit organization that defends journalists through Internet advocacy,
crowdfunding campaigns and tools to protect reporters and their sources
(including SecureDrop, a safe way for whistleblowers to send information to
journalists). The Foundation’s newest tool is the US Press Freedom Tracker, which
monitors violations in the US. Here, Timm shares a brief overview of press
freedom in America and explains why government whistleblowers are so vital to
an independent press.

The US owes its existence in part to a free press. “Some of the most important
voices before and during the American Revolution were anonymous pamphleteers
who were writing under pseudonyms, talking about the crimes of the British
government,” Timm says. Speeches, pamphlets and newspapers were critical in
informing and galvanizing public support for the revolt. And because a free press
was so pivotal in their efforts to overthrow British rule, the Founding Fathers
decided to protect that right with the First Amendment, ratified in 1791.

But the rights protected by the First Amendment have never been absolute.US
history has been marked by an ongoing conflict between the government’s
attempts to strengthen and protect itself and the press’s attempts to scrutinize and
report on the government. Along the way, the US government has scored some key
victories in stifling the press. The Sedition Act of 1798 made it criminal to criticize
high-ranking government officials; anti-war activists during WWI were jailed; and
FDR created an Office of Censorship during WWII in an attempt to control the
media narrative around the war effort. However, a number of Supreme Court cases
in the 20th century were able to establish robust legal protections for the press.
These cases include Near vs. Minnesota (1931), which held that it was largely
unconstitutional for a government to censor the press, and New York Times v.
United States (1971), which ruled that the Nixon Administration could not use
vague pronouncements of “national security” to censor the publication of the
Pentagon Papers.

“Fake news” is more than an insult — it hampers the press in its efforts to
protect the public. Thomas Jefferson famously mused that he’d rather have
newspapers without a country than a country without newspapers, and for good
reason. An independent press ensures that citizens stay informed about the actions
of their government, creating a forum for debate and the open exchange of ideas.
And the press also occupies another critical role: watchdog. “We’re in a situation
now where one party controls three branches of the government, so the fourth
estate, the press, is really the last mechanism that the public has to force
accountability on government,” Timm says. But if people don’t believe the
mainstream media can be trusted, then they won’t believe journalists if they
publish evidence of corruption or illegal activity by the government. That’s the
troubling situation we could find ourselves in if “fake news” becomes shorthand
for reporting that the government doesn’t agree with.

The press relies on whistleblowers to help keep the government in

check.Consider some of the most explosive political scandals of the last 50
years, from Watergate to the Pentagon Papers to the CIA torture program in the
early 2000s. “The only reason that reforms were made is because investigative
reporters talked to whistleblowers in the government and published information the
government tried to keep secret,” Timm says. In the last few months, we’ve
witnessed a deluge of leaks from within the White House, some of which have
aimed to highlight potential conflicts of interest or possible corruption. While the
administration has threatened both the whistleblowers as well as the journalists
who’ve spoken to them, Timm says these types of leaks are essential to a healthy
democracy. “We understand the press will make the lives of our leaders a little bit
harder,” he says. “But that is as intended.” Critics claim that leaks can jeopardize
national security and imperil American lives. But responsible news organizations
operate according to ethical standards, consulting with government officials before
releasing sensitive information and refraining from publishing stories that would
cause the public more harm than good.

In recent years, the US government has taken legal action against journalists’
sources. Recent whistleblowers have been prosecuted under the Espionage Act of
1917, a law passed during WWI to prevent insubordination and the disclosure of
military secrets to foreign enemies. From 1917 until 2009, only one government
whistleblower was convicted under this law. But from 2009 to 2016, the Obama
administration used it to prosecute eight whistleblowers, including Chelsea
Manning and Edward Snowden, and many predict that the law will continue to be
used aggressively against sources. The Espionage Act has been called
unconstitutional by the ACLU because it is selectively used against leakers who
depict the government in bad light and it does not allow for whistleblowers to
argue in court for the public interest served by the release of leaked information.
Ultimately, says Timm, the increasing use of the Espionage Act makes sources less
likely to approach journalists with classified information, even if it would benefit
the general public, for fear of being jailed.

The Espionage Act could be deployed against reporters, too. Nixon tried and
failed to use the Espionage Act against the New York Times for publishing the
Pentagon Papers. But the narrow Supreme Court ruling in that case leaves open the
possibility that it could one day be used to criminally prosecute journalists for
publishing leaks, says Timm. “There have been a half-a-dozen cases over the past
50 years of administrations threatening to use the Espionage Act directly against
reporters for publishing stories about national security, and they’ve never fully
gone down that path,” he says. “But it’s always been a cloud that has loomed over
journalists.”

A new database keeps tabs on press freedom in the US. While Timm and other
media observers sensed that free press violations have been increasing over the
past decade, no one was actually keeping a record. Now for the first time, the US
Press Freedom Tracker will comprehensively count and document press freedom
violations in America, including reporter arrests, border stops and court orders for
surveillance. “We want to raise awareness about how it’s not just journalists who
are affected by the erosion of press freedom rights,” Timm says, “it’s really the
public that ultimately suffers.”

Despite mounting challenges, journalists must continue to keep the public

informed. “The press should always be antagonistic and aggressive and not
kowtow to any administration, no matter what party they’re part of,” Timm says.
“So in some ways, Trump has brought out the best in journalism.” He adds that
Americans should feel “incredibly lucky” to have the First Amendment enshrined
in the nation’s Constitution — “hardly any other countries in the world have such a
clause.” Now it’s up to all of us to continue to appreciate this freedom and demand
that it remains protected.

Freedom of Press
Freedom of the press protects the right to obtain and publish
information or opinions without government censorship or fear of
punishment. Censorship occurs when the government examines
publications and productions and prohibits the use of material it finds
offensive. Freedom of press applies to all types of printed and
broadcast material, including books, newspapers, magazines,
pamphlets, films and radio and television programs.
The Constitution's framers provided the press with broad freedom.
This freedom was considered necessary to the establishment of a
strong, independent press sometimes called "the fourth branch" of
the government. An independent press can provide citizens with a
variety of information and opinions on matters of public importance.
However, freedom of press sometimes collides with other rights, such
as a defendant's right to a fair trial or a citizen's right to privacy. In
recent years, there has been increasing concern about extremely
aggressive journalism, including stories about people's sexual lives
and photographs of people when they were in a private setting.
In the United States, the government may not prevent the publication
of a newspaper, even when there is reason to believe that it is about
to reveal information that will endanger our national security. By the
same token, the government cannot:
 Pass a law that requires newspapers to publish information
against their will.
 Impose criminal penalties, or civil damages, on the publication
of truthful information about a matter of public concern or even
on the dissemination of false and damaging information about
a public person except in rare instances.
  Impose taxes on the press that it does not levy on other
businesses.
 Compel journalists to reveal, in most circumstances, the
identities of their sources.
 Prohibit the press from attending judicial proceedings and
thereafter informing the public about them.
Collectively, this bundle of rights, largely developed by U.S. Supreme
Court decisions, defines the “freedom of the press” guaranteed by
the First Amendment. What we mean by the freedom of the press is,
in fact, an evolving concept. It is a concept that is informed by the
perceptions of those who crafted the press clause in an era of
pamphlets, political tracts and periodical newspapers, and by the
views of Supreme Court justices who have interpreted that clause
over the past two centuries in a world of daily newspapers, books,
magazines, motion pictures, radio and television broadcasts, and
now Web sites and Internet postings.
The framers' conception of freedom of the press has been the
subject of intense historical debate, both among scholars and in the
pages of judicial opinions. At the very least, those who drafted and
ratified the Bill of Rights purported to embrace the notion, derived
from William Blackstone, that a free press may not be licensed by the
sovereign, or otherwise restrained in advance of publication
(see New York Times Co. v. United States, 1971.) And, although the
subject remains a lively topic of academic debate, the Supreme
Court itself reviewed the historical record in 1964 in New York Times
Co. v. Sullivan and concluded that the “central meaning of the First
Amendment” embraces as well a rejection of the law of seditious
libel — i.e., the power of the sovereign to impose subsequent
punishments, from imprisonment to criminal fines to civil damages,
on those who criticize the state and its officials.
To a great extent, however, what we mean by freedom of the press
today was shaped in an extraordinary era of Supreme Court
decision-making that began with Sullivan and concluded in 1991
with Cohen v. Cowles Media Co. During that remarkable period, the
Court ruled in at least 40 cases involving the press and fleshed out
the skeleton of freedoms addressed only rarely in prior cases. In
contrast, although the Court in the early part of the last century had
considered the First Amendment claims of political dissidents with
some frequency, it took nearly 150 years after the adoption of the Bill
of Rights, and the First Amendment along with it, for the Court to issue
its first decision based squarely on the freedom of the press.
That 1931 case, Near v. Minnesota, ratified the Blackstonian
proposition that a prior restraint — a legal prohibition on the press’s
ability to publish information in its possession — will almost always
violate the First Amendment. Near is a landmark, not just because it
was the Court’s first decision to invoke the press clause, but because
it established a fundamental precept of constitutional law — that
once the press has gotten its hands on information that it deems to
be newsworthy, the government can seldom, if ever, prevent that
information from being published.
Over the course of the quarter-century following Sullivan, the Court
made it its business to explore the ramifications of the case on a
virtually annual basis. During that period, the Supreme Court’s
elaboration of what we mean by a free press focused on the nature
of the official restraint alleged to compromise that freedom as well
as the extent to which the First Amendment protects the press from a
given species of governmental action or inaction. Thus, in cases
such as Near and the “Pentagon Papers” case (1971's New York
Times Co. v. United States, the Court established that freedom of the
press from previous restraints on publication is nearly absolute,
encompassing the right to publish information that a president
concluded would harm the national security, if not the movements of
troopships at sea in time of war. In 1974's Miami Herald Publishing
Co. v. Tornillo, the Court embraced the analogous proposition that
the government has virtually no power to compel the press to publish
that which it would prefer to leave on the proverbial “cutting room
floor.”
In that regard, however, it must be noted that not all media are
“created equal” when it comes to entitlement to the full protections
of the First Amendment’s press clause. Most significantly, because of
a perceived “scarcity” of the electromagnetic spectrum, the Court
has held that Congress and the Federal Communications
Commission may regulate the activities of broadcasters operating
over “public” airwaves in a manner that would surely violate the First
Amendment if applied to newspapers. (Compare Red Lion
Broadcasting v. FCC (1969) with Tornillo.) The Court’s reasoning
in Red Lion, in which it upheld the Commission’s “Fairness Doctrine”
and “personal attack” rule — i.e., the right of a person criticized on a
broadcast station to respond to such criticism over the same
airwaves licensed to that station — has never been disavowed,
although the justices have expressly declined to extend it to other,
later-developed communications media, including cable television
(1994's Turner Broadcasting v. FCC) and the Internet (1997's Reno v.
ACLU), to which the “scarcity” rationale for regulation is plainly
inapplicable.
Even in the broadcast context, however, Sullivan and the cases that
followed it stand for the proposition that the First Amendment
protects the publication of truthful information about matters of
public concern, not just from prior restraint, but also from subsequent
punishment, at least in the absence of a demonstrated need to
vindicate a competing government interest of the “highest order.”
This formulation has come to be known as “the Daily Mailprinciple,”
after the Supreme Court’s 1979 decision in Smith v. Daily Mail
Publishing Co., in which the Court held that a newspaper could not
be liable for publishing the name of a juvenile offender in violation of
a West Virginia law declaring such information to be private. The
protections against subsequent punishments for reporting the truth
afforded by the Daily Mail principle are not absolute, but the barriers
to such government regulation of the press are set extremely high.
Sullivan and cases that followed also hold that the First Amendment
protects the publication of false information about matters of public
concern in a variety of contexts, although with considerably less
vigor than it does dissemination of the truth. Even so, public officials
and public figures may not recover civil damages for injury to their
reputations unless they were the victims of a reckless disregard for
truth in the dissemination of a “calculated falsehood.” Indeed,
private persons may not collect civil damages for reputational harm
caused by falsehoods relating to a matter of public concern unless
the publisher’s conduct violates a fault-based standard of care. And
although expressions of “opinion” are not always immune from legal
sanction, in its 1990 decision in Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., the
Court held that statements not capable of being proven false, or
which reasonable people would not construe as statements of fact
at all, but rather as mere “rhetorical hyperbole,” are absolutely
protected by the First Amendment.
By the same token, the Supreme Court has been considerably less
definitive in articulating the degree of First Amendment protection to
be afforded against restraints on the freedom of the press that are
indirect and more subtle than the issuance of a prior restraint or the
imposition of criminal or civil sanctions subsequent to publication.
Thus, for example, in its 1978 decision Zurcher v. Stanford Daily, the
Court held that the First Amendment does not protect the press and
its newsrooms from the issuance of otherwise valid search warrants.
Similarly, in 1979 in Herbert v. Lando, the Court concluded that the
press clause does not encompass a privilege that would empower a
journalist to decline to testify about the “editorial process” in civil
discovery. Most significantly, in 1972 in Branzburg v. Hayes, a sharply
divided Court was skeptical of the contention that the First
Amendment protects journalists from the compelled disclosure of the
identities of their confidential sources, at least in the context of a
grand-jury proceeding. The Court, however, has not addressed that
issue in the 30 years since Branzburg, and has effectively permitted
the lower courts to fashion an impressive body of law grounding just
such a “reporter’s privilege” firmly in the press clause itself. That
privilege, however, is by no means absolute and may be forfeited in
a variety of circumstances, especially when no confidential source is
thereby placed in jeopardy or when disclosure is sought in the
context of a grand-jury or other criminal proceeding.
And, finally, the Court has held that the First Amendment affords the
press and public affirmative rights of access to at least some
government proceedings. In a series of decisions beginning with
1980's Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, the Court established
that the First Amendment not only protects the press from prior
restraints and other government-imposed penalties, but also invests
the press and public with a right to attend criminal trials and other
judicial proceedings. This right, however, is not absolute and is
routinely balanced against other competing interests articulated by
the proponents of secret proceedings. Nevertheless, in such cases,
and others like 1975's Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, the Court has
expressly recognized the structural role that the press plays as a
“surrogate” for the larger public in gathering and disseminating
information on its behalf and for its benefit. Significantly, however,
the Court has taken great pains not to anoint the press with First
Amendment-based rights and immunities beyond those enjoyed by
any speaker, “lonely pamphleteer” (see Branzburg v. Hayes, 1972),
or Internet chat-room participant.
Indeed, the Court has rejected arguments advanced by the
institutional press that, because of its structural role in ensuring the
free flow of information in a democratic society, it ought to enjoy
unique protections from otherwise generally applicable laws that
inhibit its ability to gather and report the news. Thus, in 1991 in Cohen
v. Cowles Media Co., the Court effectively concluded the treatise on
the freedom of the press it began in Sullivan; it did so when it
emphasized that the press is properly subject to liability under the
“generally applicable” law of contracts when it breaks a promise to
keep a source’s identity confidential, even when it does so in order
to report truthful information about the source’s involvement in a
matter of public concern.
In the decade following Cohen, the Court again fell largely silent
when it came to the First Amendment’s application to the institutional
press. As the 21st century dawned, however, the Court interrupted
that silence, at least briefly, to revisit the extent to which a “generally
applicable” law such as the federal wiretap statute can
constitutionally impose criminal penalties and civil liability on the
dissemination by the press of the contents of unlawfully recorded
telephone conversations, at least when the information so
disseminated is the truth about a matter of public concern.
In 2001 in Bartnicki v. Vopper, the Court held that, even when a
statute is directed at deterring unlawful conduct (e.g., the
interception of telephone conversations) and not at penalizing the
content of press reports, it nevertheless constitutes a “naked
prohibition” on the dissemination of information by the press that is
“fairly characterized as a regulation of pure speech” in violation of
the First Amendment. In so holding, the Court ushered in a new
century of First Amendment jurisprudence by reaffirming both
the Daily Mail principle — the fundamental right of a free press to
disseminate truthful information about public matters — and the
“central meaning of the First Amendment” on which it is based —
Sullivan’s recognition that the “‘freedom of expression upon public
questions is secured by the First Amendment’” so that “‘debate on
public issues should be uninhibited, robust and wide-open.’”
While it is undeniable fact that freedom of press is essential
ingredient of democracy, it does not mean it will advance the goals
of democracy.
Namely, once in this country that now seems far away, radio and
television broadcasters had an obligation to operate in the public
interest. That generally accepted principle was reflected in a rule
known as the Fairness Doctrine. The rule, formally adopted by the
Federal Communications Commission in 1949, required all
broadcasters to devote a reasonable amount of time to the
discussion of controversial matters of public interest. It further
required broadcasters to air contrasting points of view regarding
those matters. The Fairness Doctrine arose from the idea imbedded in
the First Amendment that the wide dissemination of information from
 diverse and even antagonistic sources is essential to the public
welfare and to a healthy democracy.
In August 1987 the FCC repealed the Doctrine, claiming that it was
unconstitutional, although the Supreme Court had ruled unanimously
in 1969 that the Fairness Doctrine was not only constitutional but
essential to democracy. As a result, general public is very rarely
served with fair and balanced information. The public airwaves serve
today no other purpose but to express the opinions of those who can
pay for air time. Some authors argue that mainstream media
journalism today is a shameful joke because of president Reagan's
decision to abolish Fairness Doctrine. Once upon a time, the Fairness
Doctrine ensured that the information we receive - information vital
to the ability of the people to govern in the manner intended - came
from a wide variety of sources and perspectives. Reagan's policies
annihilated the Fairness Doctrine, opening the door for a few mega-
corporations to gather journalism unto themselves. Today, Reagan's
old bosses at General Electric own three of the most-watched news
channels. This company profits from every war Americans fight, but
somehow is trusted to tell the truths of war. Thus, the myths and lies
are sold to us.
Why freedom of press and media is important?
A free press and media are vital in the democratic country. There is some importance is given to the press and
media are following as:

 The press and media enjoy the greater opportunity of freedom in the democratic country.
 They are independent among important checking on governm ent and administrators.
 The press and media are free to raise voice against any social ill or wrong. It is the internal vigilance of the price
of liberty.
 Press and media can also raise voice against any dictatorship, corruption and mal practices.
 They work day and night and deliver the accurate news with the high speed. They complete their duties always.
 No one people will get information about the country without the press and media.
 Press and media are also necessary for the fulfillment of the democratic ideologies

17.My career choices were influenced by…

What Influences Your Career
Choice?
When we think about career choice, several things immediately come to mind – job
description, training and education required, career outlook, and salary – but there are a
number of other factors that may influence your decisions. Let's explore some of these
factors as addressed by multiple career development theories. Theories can help us frame why
and how things happen. In this case, career development theories help us explain why and how
we choose to pursue specific career fields.
There are a lot of theories to consider in the relatively new field of career development. As you
read through the factors below, you'll see that many of the related theories address some of the
same issues. No one theory explains everything, so it's good to consider these factors from
multiple perspectives.
Influence Factors
Skills and Abilities – Considering your skills and abilities and how they may fit a particular
occupation comes out of one of the earliest career development fields, Trait-Factor theories, and
is still used today. These theories recommend creating occupational profiles for specific jobs as
well as identifying individual differences, matching individuals to occupations based on these
differences. You can identify activities you enjoy and those in which you have a level of
competency though a formal assessment. There are many available online, including the Skills
Provider at CareerOneStop.
Interest and Personality Type – Holland's Career Typology is a widely used to connect
personality types and career fields. This theory establishes a classification system that matches
personality characteristics and personal preferences to job characteristics. The Holland Codes
are six personality/career types that help describe a wide range of occupations. You can find out
your Holland Codes, and receive a list of related occupations, by completing a questionnaire
such as the one provided by the U. S. Department of Labor's O*Net Interest Profiler.
Life Roles – Being a worker is just one of your life roles, in addition to others such as, student,
parent, and child. Super's Lifespan theory directly addresses the fact that we each play multiple
roles in our lives and that these roles change over the course of our lives. How we think about
ourselves in these roles, their requirements of them, and the external forces that affect them,
may influence how we look at careers in general and how we make choices for ourselves. For
more information, read about Super's Life Career Rainbow.
Previous Experiences – Krumboltz's Social Learning and Planned Happenstance theories
address factors related to our experiences with others and in previous work situations. Having
positive experiences and role models working in specific careers may influence the set of careers
we consider as options for ourselves. One aspect of Social Cognitive Career Theory addresses
the fact that we are likely to consider continuing a particular task if we have had a positive
experience doing it. In this way, we focus on areas in which we have had proven success and
achieved positive self-esteem.
Culture – Racial and ethnic background, as well as the culture of an individual's regional area,
local community, and extended family, may impact career decisions. Our culture often shapes
our values and expectations as they relate to many parts of our lives, including jobs and careers.
Multicultural career counseling has emerged as a specialized field to take these influences into
consideration when counseling clients and students. We can’t attribute the predominant
characteristics of a culture to any one of it's individuals, but having an awareness of the values
and expectations of our culture may help us understand how we make our career choices.
Gender – Both men and women have experienced career-related stereotypes. Gender is a factor
included in multiple career development theories and approaches including, Social Learning and
multicultural career counseling. How we view ourselves as individuals may influence both the
opportunities and barriers we perceive as we make career decisions. Studies of gender and
career development are ongoing as roles of men and women in the workforce, and in higher
education, evolve.
Social and Economic Conditions – All of our career choices take place within the context of
society and the economy. Several career theories, such as Social Cognitive Career Theory and
Social Learning, address this context in addition to other factors. Events that take place in our
lives may affect the choices available to us and even dictate our choices to a certain degree.
Changes in the economy and resulting job market may also affect how our careers develop.
Childhood Fantasies – What do you want to be when you grow-up? You may remember this
question from your childhood, and it may have helped shape how you thought about careers
then, as well as later in life. Career counseling theories are expanding as programs related to
career choice are developed for all ages, including the very young. Ginzberg proposed a theory
that describes three life stages related to career development. The first stage, fantasy, where
early ideas about careers are formed, takes place up to age 11.
Work with your career counselor!
It's important to understand that career choice is not made based on any one factor. Our choices
are subject to many influences – individual, cultural, social, and environmental. The combination
and interaction of various influences on your decision-making are unique to you and your
situation. There may also be multiple options, several "good-fits" for you, instead of a single, right
choice. Keep in mind that as you change, learning and experiencing new things, and external
factors change, such as the economy, you will continue to revise and fine-tune your career
choices.
There is a lot to consider, but you don't have to figure it all out on your own. Work with a career
services counselor at your institution's career center or your State Workforce agency. These
professionals will be able to assist you with assessments and additional resources, and discuss
how different theories may be applied to your career development process.

18. The Rafale deal

What Is Rafale Deal Controversy?

All You Need To Know
In September 2016, India signed an inter-governmental agreement with
France, dubbed as "Rafale deal", in which India bought 36 off-the-shelf
Dassault Rafale twin-engine fighters for a price estimated to be Rs. 58,000
crore or 7.8 billion Euros.
NEW DELHI:
In April 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India will buy 36
French-manufactured Rafale fighter jets off-the-shelf from Dassault, the French
aircraft builder and integrator. The Rafale was chosen in 2012 over rival offers from
the United States, Europe and Russia. The step was needed to upgrade India's
ageing fleet. The original plan was that India would buy 18 off-the-shelf jets from
France's Dassault Aviation, with 108 others being assembled in India by the state-
run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited or HAL in Bengaluru.

The Modi-led BJP government, however, rowed back from the commitment of the
last UPA government to buy 126 Rafales, saying the twin-engined planes would be
too expensive and the deal fell through after nearly decade-long negotiations
between India and France. There were a lot of hiccups over costs of the aircraft.
However, faced with the dipping number of fighters and a pressing need to upgrade
the Indian Air Force, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened and decided to
buy 36 "ready-to-fly" fighters instead of trying to acquire technology from Dassault
and make it in India.
Soon after the deal was declared, the Congress accused the ruling BJP of non-
transparency in the multi-billion dollar deal and called it "one of the biggest
failures" of the 'Make-in-India' programme.

In January 2016, India confirmed order of 36 Rafale jets in defence deal with France
and under this deal, Dassault and its main partners - engine-maker Safran and
electronic systems-maker Thales - will share some technology with DRDO (Defence
Research and Development Organisation) and some private sector companies and
HAL under the offsets clause.

The twin-engine Rafale combat jet is designed from the beginning as a multi-role
fighter for air-to-air and air-to-ground attack is nuclear-capable and its on-board
Electronic Warfare (EW) systems can also perform reconnaissance and radar
jamming roles.

Rafale deal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with French president Francois Hollande during an official dinner in
Paris. Photo Credit: AFP

Nearly one- and-half years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the
proposal during a visit to Paris, finally in September 2016, India signed an inter-
governmental agreement with France, dubbed as "Rafale deal", in which India will
pay about Rs. 58,000 crore or 7.8 billion Euros for 36 off-the-shelf Dassault Rafale
twin-engine fighters. About 15 per cent of this cost is being paid in advance. As per
the deal, India will also get spares and weaponry, including the Meteor missile,
considered among the most advanced in the world.

Additionally, an accompanying offset clause was sealed through which France will
invest 30 per cent of the 7.8 billion Euros in India's military aeronautics-related
research programmes and 20 per cent into local production of Rafale components.

In November 2016, however, a political warfare over the Rafale deal began and the
Congress accused the government of causing "insurmountable loss" of taxpayers'
money by signing the deal worth Rs. 58,000 crores. It also claimed that the Anil
Ambani-led Reliance Defence Limited had been unfairly picked to be the French
firm's Indian partner. The Congress alleged that the cost of each aircraft is three
times more than what the previous UPA had negotiated with France in 2012.
 3 COMMENTS

The claims were rebutted by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Anil Ambani-
led Reliance Defence Limited with the government saying that the renegotiated deal
was transparent and better than the deal negotiated by the previous UPA
government as it includes a superior weapons package and logistical support, which
had been absent in the previous one. Reliance Defence had also said that its
subsidiary Reliance Aerostructure and Dassault Aviation formed a joint venture -
Dassault Reliance Aerospace, after a bilateral agreement between two private
companies and "the Indian government has no role to play in this."
The Congress, however, kept up its attacks on the government for refusing to table
details of the Rafale deal over alleged irregularities. The Defence Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman told the Parliament earlier this week that the details of the deal with
France for the Rafale fighter jets cannot be disclosed as per the inter-governmental
agreement as it is "classified information".
Officials say that due to national security reasons, there is a confidentiality clause in
the Rafale deal which bars the buyer and seller from talking about the pricing,
making it impossible for any government to reveal any detail about the defence
deals.

In a counter-attack to the Congress, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the party
of "seriously compromising" country's security by seeking details of weaponry
purchased along with the aircraft. He also advised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to
"learn" from former Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee "lessons on national
security".

The dee Supreme Court today (December 14) dismissed all writ petitions demanding
a court-monitored CBI probe into the Rafale jet deal. The apex court said it had no
objections to any aspect of the deal and gave it the go-ahead.
The ruling today came on four petitions that had asked the Supreme Court to set up a
court-monitored probe into the signing of the Rafale deal. The petitions had alleged
that the Modi government not only overpaid for 36 Rafale jets but also promoted
crony capitalism.
The Modi government had signed an inter-governmental deal with France in 2016 for
the sale of 36 Rafale medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) in flyaway
condition. The deal, however, came under intense political scrutiny in India and in
France after the Opposition alleged that Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence had
been signed on as the offset partner by weapons manufacturer Dassault Aviation, even
though the company had no previous experience.
The deal has been at the centre of much controversy, with the Opposition making it a
key weapon in its arsenal against the Modi government.

KNOW ALL ABOUT THE DEAL HERE:

The UPA government released tenders for 126 MMRCA fighters, based on the demand by
the Indian Air Force in 2007.
In January 2012, a French company, Dassault Aviation made the lowest bids for their aircraft
Rafale. According to conditions 126 jets were required, out of which 18 fighters were to be
imported in a fly-away condition. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was supposed to
manufacture the remaining 108 jets with assistance from Dassault.
HAL and Dassault signed a workshare agreement in 2014. Negotiations were carried out over
pricing, technology, weapons system, customisation and maintenance.
No final UPA deal because it was never finalised. The Congress party claims that it had
negotiated a deal with the price of Rs 526.1 crore per jet but whether Dassault agreed to
deliver the jets with India-specific requirements in a given timeline could not be known
because this UPA deal never went through.
In April 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Paris and announced government's
decision to buy 36 Rafale fighters in a flyaway condition, citing critical operational
requirements of the Indian Air Force. In June, defence ministry officially withdrew the 126
aircraft deal tender.
Cut to January 2016 when French President François Hollande visited India on the occasion
of Republic Day. A memorandum of understanding on the purchase of Rafale jets was signed
between India and France.
India and France signed the final deal for 36 Rafale jets for €7.87 billion (approximately Rs
59,000 crore) in 2016. According to this deal, the delivery of jets would start from September
2018.
In October 2016, business tycoon Anil Ambani officially entered the picture. Anil Ambani's
Reliance Defence and Dassault Aviation announced a joint venture. Under the contract,
Dassault was mandated to make compensation investments (offsets) in India worth 50 per
cent of the value of the purchase.
Fast forward to 2018, while the Congress had been alleging favouritism by the Modi
government for over a year, the first real blow to the Centre came when French publication
Mediapart interviewed former French president Francois Hollande revealed that he had no
choice in selecting the Indian offset partner and the name of Reliance was given by the Indian
side.
Hollande's interview added fuel to the fire in the controversy surrounding the deal. India's
Ministry of Defence issued statements reiterating that neither of the two governments was
involved in the commercial decision. Dassault Aviation issued a statement claiming it was
Dassault's decision to choose Reliance and it had signed similar contracts with several other
companies.
The Congress alleged that the Modi government signed the contract with France at a much
higher price than negotiated during the UPA rule. Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders
demanded that the government must reveal the price of Rafale. The government rejected the
demand saying that the price disclosure is covered under the secrecy clause of the deal. Rahul
Gandhi claimed that he had been told "personally" by former French President Francois
Hollande that the Modi government could reveal the price of Rafale without jeopardising the
defence deal.
The Opposition stepped up its attack on the Modi government regarding the deal. Congress
started alluding to PM Modi as the corrupt guard ("chowkidar chor hai").
Four separate petitions filed before the Supreme Court raising questions about the pricing,
choice of Reliance as the offset partner, as well as the process followed in finalisation of the
Rafale deal. The four petitions were filed by advocates Prashant Bhushan, ML Sharma and
Vineet Dhanda, former parliamentarians Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie, and AAP MP
Sanjay Singh.
A bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi reserved verdict in the case on November 14 after
extensive arguments. While reserving the verdict, the apex court had said that the pricing
details of Rafale jets could only be discussed after it decides on whether to make it public.
The apex court had asked wide-ranging questions from the government on issues including
lack of a sovereign guarantee from the French government, selection of Indian offset partner
by the Dassault Aviation and need of entering into inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with
France. During the arguments, the Centre had filed details of the pricing and the process
followed during the deal in a sealed cover before the court, and had claimed that the details of
the deal were being kept secret "in the national interest".
December 14: The Supreme Court said today that it found nothing wrong with the Rafale
deal. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said that it had studied the
matter "extensively" and that it was "satisfied that there is no occasion to doubt the process
[of signing the Rafale deal]". The Supreme Court, however, said that the Rafale deal process
was perfectly fine and dismissed all PILs that demanded a court-monitored probe into it. The
Supreme Court also said it was not its job to examine the pricing of the Rafale jets.
19. Unemployment in India
Unemployment in India: Types, Measurement and Causes!
Unemployment may be defined as “a situation in which the person
is capable of working both physically and mentally at the existing
wage rate, but does not get a job to work”.

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In other words unemployment means only involuntary

unemployment wherein a person who is willing to work at the
existing wage rate does not get a job.

Types of Unemployment in India:

1. Open Unemployment:
Open unemployment is a situation where in a large section of the
labour force does not get a job that may yield them regular income.
This type of unemployment can be seen and counted in terms of the
number of unemployed persons. The labour force expands at a
faster rate than the growth rate of economy. Therefore all people do
not get jobs.

2. Disguised Unemployment:
It is a situation in which more people are doing work than actually
required. Even if some are withdrawn, production does not suffer.
In other words it refers to a situation of employment with surplus
manpower in which some workers have zero marginal productivity.

So their removal will not affect the volume of total production.

Overcrowding in agriculture due to rapid growth of population and
lack of alternative job opportunities may be cited as the main
reasons for disguised unemployment in India.

3. Seasonal Unemployment:
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It is unemployment that occurs during certain seasons of the year.

In some industries and occupations like agriculture, holiday resorts,
ice factories etc., production activities take place only in some
seasons. So they offer employment for only a certain period of time
in a year. People engaged in such type of activities may remain
unemployed during the off-season.

4. Cyclical Unemployment:
It is caused by trade cycles at regular intervals. Generally capitalist
economies are subject to trade cycles. The down swing in business
activities results in unemployment. Cyclical unemployment is
normally a shot-run phenomenon.

5. Educated Unemployment:
Among the educated people, apart from open unemployment, many
are underemployed because their qualification does not match the
job. Faulty education system, mass output, preference for white
collar jobs, lack of employable skills and dwindling formal salaried
jobs are mainly responsible for unemployment among educated
youths in India. Educated unemployment may be either open or
underemployment.

6. Technological Unemployment:
It is the result of certain changes in the techniques of production
which may not warrant much labour. Modern technology being
capital intensive requires less labourers and contributes to this kind
of unemployment.

7. Structural Unemployment:
This type of unemployment arises due to drastic changes in the
economic structure of a country. These changes may affect either
the supply of a factor or demand for a factor of production.
Structural employment is a natural outcome of economic
development and technological advancement and innovation that
are taking place rapidly all over the world in every sphere.

8. Underemployment:
It is a situation in which people employed contribute less than their
capacity to production. In this type of unemployment people are not
gainfully employed. They may be employed either on part-time
basis, or undertake a job for which lesser qualification is required.
For example a Post Graduate may work as a clerk for which only
S.S.L.C. is enough.

9. Casual Unemployment:
When a person is employed on a day-to-day basis, casual
unemployment may occur due to short-term contracts, shortage of
raw materials, fall in demand, change of ownership etc.

10. Chronic Unemployment:

If unemployment continues to be a long term feature of a country, it
is called chronic unemployment. Rapid growth of population and
inadequate level of economic development on account of vicious
circle of poverty are the main causes for chronic unemployment.

11. Frictional Unemployment:

Frictional unemployment is caused due to improper adjustment
between supply of labour and demand for labour. This type of
unemployment is due to immobility of labour, lack of correct and
timely information, seasonal nature of work. etc.

Measurement of Unemployment:
There are three measures or estimates of unemployment. These are
developed by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). They
are:

1. Usual Status Unemployment:

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Also known as open unemployment or chronic unemployment. This

measure estimates the number of persons who remained
unemployed for a major part of the year. This measure gives the
lowest estimates of unemployment.

This concept used to determine the usual activity status of a person

as employed or unemployed or outside the labour force. The
persons covered may be classified into those working or available
for work in their principal activity sector and subsidiary sector.

2. Weekly Status Unemployment:

The estimate measures unemployment with respect to one week. A
person is said to be unemployed if he is not able to work even for an
hour during the survey period. In other words according to this
estimate a person is said to be employed for the week even if he/she
is employed only for a day during that week.

3. Current Daily Status Unemployment:

It considers the activity status of a person for each day of the
preceding seven days. The reference period here is a day. If a person
did not find work on a day or some days during the survey week,
he/she is regarded as unemployed.

Normally if a person works for four hours or more during a day, he

or she is considered as employed for the whole day. The daily status
unemployment is considered to be a comprehensive measure of
unemployment.

Causes of Unemployment in India:

The important causes of Unemployment in India are as follows:

1. Rapid growth of population and increase in labour force.

2. Underdevelopment of the economy.

3. Slow growth in the agricultural sector.

4. Defective system of education.

5. Absence of manpower planning.

6. Degeneration of village industries.

7. Inappropriate technology.

8. Slow growth of industrial sector.

9. Immobility of labour.

10. Jobless growth.

The following are the main causes of unemployment:

(i) Caste System:

In India caste system is prevalent. The work is prohibited for
specific castes in some areas.

In many cases, the work is not given to the deserving candidates but
given to the person belonging to a particular community. So this
gives rise to unemployment.

(ii) Slow Economic Growth:

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Indian economy is underdeveloped and role of economic growth is

very slow. This slow growth fails to provide enough unemployment
opportunities to the increasing population.

(iii) Increase in Population:

Constant increase in population has been a big problem in India. It
is one of the main causes of unemployment. The rate of
unemployment is 11.1% in 10th Plan.

(iv) Agriculture is a Seasonal Occupation:

Agriculture is underdeveloped in India. It provides seasonal
employment. Large part of population is dependent on agriculture.
But agriculture being seasonal provides work for a few months. So
this gives rise to unemployment.

(v) Joint Family System:

In big families having big business, many such persons will be
available who do not do any work and depend on the joint income of
the family.

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Many of them seem to be working but they do not add anything to
production. So they encourage disguised unemployment.

(vi) Fall of Cottage and Small industries:

The industrial development had adverse effect on cottage and small
industries. The production of cottage industries began to fall and
many artisans became unemployed.

(vii) Slow Growth of Industrialisation:

The rate of industrial growth is slow. Though emphasis is laid on
industrialisation yet the avenues of employment created by
industrialisation are very few.

(viii) Less Savings and Investment:

There is inadequate capital in India. Above all, this capital has been
judiciously invested. Investment depends on savings. Savings are
inadequate. Due to shortage of savings and investment,
opportunities of employment have not been created.

(ix) Causes of Under Employment:

Inadequate availability of means of production is the main cause of
under employment. People do not get employment for the whole
year due to shortage of electricity, coal and raw materials.

(x) Defective Planning:

Defective planning is the one of the cause of unemployment. There
is wide gap between supply and demand for labour. No Plan had
formulated any long term scheme for removal of unemployment.

(xi) Expansion of Universities:

The number of universities has increased manifold. There are 385
universities. As a result of this educated unemployment or white
collar unemployment has increased.

(xii) Inadequate Irrigation Facilities:

Even after the completion of 9th five plans, 39% of total cultivable
area could get irrigation facilities.

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Due to lack of irrigation, large area of land can grow only one crop
in a year. Farmers remain unemployed for most time of the year.

(xiii) Immobility of labour:

Mobility of labour in India is low. Due to attachment to the family,
people do not go to far off areas for jobs. Factors like language,
religion, and climate are also responsible for low mobility.
Immobility of labour adds to unemployment.

All these factors add to unemployment.

Unemployment rate rises to

27-month high; labour
participation goes down’
This is also the highest unemployment rate since September 2016 when it
stood at a high of 8.46%

Estimated unemployment rate shot up to a 27-month high of 7.38 per cent

in December 2018 and the numbers of those employed fell by 1.09 crore
over the last 12 months from 40.78 crore employed in December 2017 to
39.69 crore in December 2018.
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These are the estimates provided by CMIE database on “Unemployment

Rate in India” that is based on the panel size of over 1,58,000 households.
The CMIE data, however, also shows that alongside the rise in
unemployment, there has been a dip in the labour participation rate.

The unemployment rate in December 2018 shot up to 7.38 per cent from
6.62 per cent in November 2018 and 4.78 per cent in December 2017. This
is also the highest unemployment rate since September 2016 when it stood
at a high of 8.46 per cent.

A closer look at the numbers show that a large part of the drop in
employment over the last 12-months is on account of job losses in rural
areas. Of the total drop of 1.09 crore jobs in calendar 2018, 91.4 lakh or
over 83 per cent of the jobs were lost in the rural areas, shows the
database.
The number of those employed in rural areas dropped from 26.94 crore in
December 2017 to 26.03 crore in December 2018. The remaining 17.9 lakh
jobs were lost in the urban areas as the overall numbers of employed fell
from 13.84 crore to 13.66 crore.
However, in line with a dip in the unemployment rate, the CMIE data shows
that there has been a dip in the estimated labour participation rate —
proportion of working-age people (which is people of 15 years or more)
who are willing to work and are either actually working or are actively
looking for work.
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According to the CMIE data, the estimated labour participation rate came
down to 42.47 in December 2018 from 43.57 in December 2017. It
however, stood at 45.15 in December 2016 and at 47.84 in September
2017.
In an article in October 2018, Mahesh Vyas, MD and CEO of CMIE wrote,
“In my opinion, the LPR is more important than the unemployment rate
because it tells us how many people are willing to work.”
He further said that while a high LPR directly contributes to growth, if a very
small proportion of people are willing to work then a low unemployment rate
does not mean much. Data shows that while the trend in urban and rural
areas have been broadly the same in calendar 2018, it was contrasting in
calendar 2017.
While the urban regions witnessed an overall increase in the number of
employed by 35.5 lakh, the rural areas witnessed over 10 lakh job losses in
2017 too

20. Reconstruction of the state after the Kerala

flood
Ernakulam/Bengaluru: In the months that followed the floods in
Kerala, A. Raju, who drives an Uber cab in Ernakulam saw his dreams
crumble.
The floods disrupted all walks of life, and when he could not pay for his car,
the private financier took possession of it. He was allowed to keep driving
under the condition he hand over the bulk of his daily earnings.

It’s nearly 100 days since the century’s worst floods lashed Kerala, but for
many like Raju, life is yet to get back to normal. According to a United
Nations study, the floods caused damage of ₹30,000 crore.

“There are institutional bottlenecks. Kerala has no proper master plan for
any district; hundreds of areas and buildings damaged in the floods were
built on dubious legality in the first place. Before the state, the system itself
needs a reconstruction,” a person aware of official talks said on condition of
anonymity.

“A ₹4 lakh compensation was announced for people whose houses were

damaged. Out of the total 2.4 lakh people whose houses and land were
either fully or partially damaged, only 6,537 people applied for
compensation so far, and the state compensated only 1,656 people,
spending only ₹16 crore,” Congress leader and opposition leader in Kerala
assembly, Ramesh Chennithala told reporters on Sunday.

On Friday, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had complained that the

inadequacy of central funds was affecting the pace of rebuilding. Kerala had
asked for a ₹5,616 crore relief assistance from the centre, out of which the
centre has given so far only ₹600 crore.

“Small scale businessmen were to get bank loans of up to ₹10 lakh. But
banks have not yet given them, as the government failed to create a
consortium. At least ₹1 lakh interest-free credit was offered through
Kudumbasree (Kerala’s biggest women’s self-help group). Some 1.42 lakh
have applied for it, but only 38,441 have given loans,” Chennithala said
Sunday.

Even as the flood waters have begun to recede, people in the southern
Indian state of Kerala are yet to come to terms with the extent of damage
caused to lives and properties. The state faced its worst disaster since 1924,
and it is now important to rebuild infrastructure and rehabilitate the
displaced population. It will be a long road ahead for the authorities to
restore normalcy.

In its simplest form, disaster management can be classified into three

phases – before, during and after the event. During the floods, the
government of Kerala took all the possible measures to save lives and
provide emergency assistance. Now, the focus will shift to recovery and
rehabilitation. But, before the state can start re-building infrastructure and
communities, it will need to tackle one of the biggest problems that arises
after a disaster of this magnitude – the amount of flood waste produced.
We are already witnessing this and it is imperative that Kerala deals with its
waste situation immediately.

Flood waste may be contaminated by hazardous materials, sewage,

carcasses and medical waste. Since the waste and debris would be wet,
there is an increased chance of rot and decay within a shorter duration.
Therefore, flood waste disposal should be undertaken as quickly as possible
in a scientific manner, to avoid risks to public health and further damage to
the environment. As people start returning to their homes, they will start
cleaning their houses and disposing the unwanted waste. Not handling the
waste in a proper manner might expose them to contamination risks.
Though people might be able to segregate waste at a household level, it
might not be possible for all of them to store it for collection later.
Indiscriminate dumping in the open, scattered sites will further pollute the
surroundings. After the floods, local authorities may not be in a position to
restore their waste collection services immediately. Their waste
management facilities might also have been damaged in the flood.

The handling of flood waste is also difficult to manage because of the mud
mixed with the debris and the sheer volume of waste, which would be much
higher as compared to the daily waste collected in a normal scenario. After
the floods in Mumbai in 2005, estimates suggest that the daily waste
collected increased by almost three times the usual amount (normally
around 5,000 tonnes per day) immediately after the event. In the first
month, around 2.5 lakh tonnes of waste was cleared from the city. Chennai
collected almost 1.3 lakh tonnes of waste after the floods in 2015, with a
volume of approximately 11,000 tonnes per day, which is double the usual
amount. Though recent estimates are not available, Kerala was generating
more than 8,000 tonnes of waste per day before the floods. Looking at the
severity of the damage, we can anticipate a much higher volume of waste to
be disposed in the state at this moment.

The National Disaster Management Authority has prepared separate

guidelines for flooding and urban flooding, but these directives focus more
on the planning, preparedness and capacity building aspects of disaster
management. Guidelines have also been prescribed for the management of
the dead after such a disaster. However, specific instructions for handling
waste immediately after a disaster still needs to be developed.

The government of Kerala started its flood relief activities including

cleaning of debris as early as July 26. Suchitwa Mission, a technical arm of
the Department of Local Self Government, is the nodal agency for assisting
cities, municipalities and panchayats in sanitation and waste management.
It has been issuing guidelines since August 10, 2018, to assist local
authorities on sanitation activities to be undertaken, urgent measures
needed to restore normalcy in the affected areas, and treatment of animal
carcasses, among other things. It has detailed various critical aspects such
as the roles and responsibilities of the institutions involved in relief and
cleaning, deployment of increased number of volunteers to ensure quick
action and the manner in which people should segregate and store flood
waste at the household level for collection by local authorities later.
Nevertheless, it remains a challenging task for the local authorities of
Kerala to clear the debris and ensure appropriate disposal of waste quickly.

Looking at global standards, the Disaster Waste Management Guidelines of

the United Nations (UN) prescribes “immediate actions” which are to be
undertaken within 72 hours of the disaster. These actions address the most
acute waste issues required to save lives, alleviate suffering and facilitate
rescue operations. The steps proposed include identifying, characterising,
mapping, assessing waste and then prioritising actions such as creation of
temporary disposal sites for different types of waste. After 72 hours, “short-
term actions” have been proposed, which include collection of household
waste from people in the disaster area, assessing the capacity of the local
authority to handle the situation and the need for any external assistance,
and integrating waste management at relief camps with the general waste
management services.

It is necessary to educate people on the need to dispose the debris in a

structured manner. Awareness and public participation are key steps to
ensure quick recovery without any disruption. Local authorities in Kerala
would need to start communication campaigns focusing on the types of
waste that need to be segregated while cleaning, to ensure that organic
waste is stored securely; inform people of the location of temporary
collection points and temporary disposal sites for the segregated waste.
This would help them find appropriate solutions for each type of waste such
as disposal, incineration, reuse, or recycling. The state will need to speed up
the process by simultaneously using multiple ways of treating organic
waste. The operational incinerators in the state can be used for carcasses
and burial should be carried out wherever possible.

The local authorities could reach out to operational factories in their

vicinity that have kilns working in temperatures between 500 and 700
degrees for burning organic waste. Similarly cement plants and waste-to-
energy plants near Kerala might be willing to accept combustible wet waste.
As a temporary measure, support from companies providing organic waste
converters (OWC) could be explored. OWCs are rapid composting
machines which convert organic waste into an odour-free mixture in 15
minutes and into compost in 10 days.

Local authorities should also distribute waste containers to households and

volunteers should support the cleaning activities. Temporary containers
should be provided at collection points to prevent animal access and waste
blowing around. Additional number of trucks would need to be deployed
for faster waste collection to prevent overflow at collection points. For quick
clearance of flood-damaged vehicles, additional cranes might need to be
deployed to clear roads for rescue vehicles. After hurricane Sandy hit New
York City in 2012, 15,000 water-damaged vehicles were taken off the streets
and stored at a rarely used airport in a suburb, until the owners could
properly deal with them. Temporary disposal sites should be identified in
locations which do not hamper the movement of rescue vehicles.

Closed industrial estates or parks away from residential areas could be used
as temporary disposal sites. These sites should have adequate space for
manoeuvring waste trucks as well as vehicles of people who bring waste on
their own. There should be clearly demarcated spaces with signage for
organic waste, building waste, furniture waste, appliances, metals, vehicles,
and so on. Equipment such as cranes, crushers, dumpers, excavators and
mobile-compactors would be required in such a site. It would be easier for
the authorities to handle each type of waste from the piles at the site. For
example, building material debris could be recycled to make valuable
reconstruction material for the state. The state has recently directed Clean
Kerala Company Ltd. to shred plastic waste segregated from the debris and
use it for road tarring. The neighbouring states could also help in such
activities.

Support has been pouring into the state and it is imperative to ensure that
this support continues. It would influence the short and long term actions
that can be taken by the local authorities -- directly influencing the pace of
recovery and rehabilitation in the state, without compromising on public
health or environment.

Manage Waste: Mission Clean-up

Tonnes of e-waste—televisions, computers, mobile phones, refrigerators
and air conditioners—left behind by flood waters pose a challenge. Rajan
Samuel of NGO Habitat for Humanity India says priority should be given
to waste management—a big issue in every natural calamity. “The next
10-15 days are important. We need to have a plan to recycle the debris.
First, we have to collect them and segregate them between what is
recyclable and what is not,” he says, adding, “If we don’t act now, we will
have a big problem.”
Habitat for Humanity has been associated with relief work in 38 disasters
in India, including the Uttarakhand and Chennai floods and over 100
calamities across the world. Samuel says water contamination is one key
area that the administration should focus on to stop an epidemic
outbreak. Only after settling the waste and water contamination issues
should the rehabilitation and reconstruction come, he adds.
The ground level works of rehabilitation and reconstruction should be left
to the local panchayats, and Kerala can follow the Philippines model.
“The Philippines deals with an average of 35 typhoons every year. The
rehabilitation and reconstruction works are handled by the ‘barangays’
(the Filipino equivalent of villages or wards). Kerala can also use the local
bodies and the efficiently-run ‘Kudumbashree’ network in the flood-
ravaged regions,” suggests Samuel.
first priority
❖ There needs to be a plan to recycle the debris
❖ Contamination is one key area that the administration should focus on
❖ The ground level works should be left to the local panchayats
Mobilise Funds: Every Penny Counts
The state government has hiked the excise duty on liquor by 0.5 percent
to 3.5 percent for 100 days, aiming to collect Rs 230 crore additional
revenue. It also announced a special lottery ‘Ashwas’ priced at Rs 250
per ticket to raise Rs 100 crore. Rudra Sensarma, professor of
Economics at IIM-Kozhikode, says the state has to brace itself to raise
revenues from multiple sources, including market borrowings, higher
recoveries from the under-taxed areas such as land and real estate,
reducing leakages and wasteful expenses. “A special purpose bond can
be floated dedicated to the rebuilding of roads and public infrastructure
that will help raise long-term capital at a low-interest rate if the Centre
allows it to be tax-free,” he says. Economist Mary George says the
government, which had planned to collect Rs 500 crore from overseas
investors through ‘masala bonds’, can use the same for rebuilding
infrastructure.
Pooling in resources
❖ State has hiked excise duty on liquor by 0.5%
❖ A lottery at Rs 250 per ticket has been announced
❖ Plans to collect Rs 500 crore from overseas investors
Reconstruct at Any Cost: Nava Keralam on the Anvil
The scale of effort required to rebuild Kerala is proportional to the
magnitude of the calamity. The floods have destroyed 14,000 km of
Public Works Department roads, 82,000 km of local roads and 221
bridges. The rains and the landslides have destroyed or damaged nearly
27,000 houses and 40,000 hectares of farmland. The international airport
at Kochi was closed down, patients were evacuated from hospitals as
water rose dramatically while hundreds of power transformers and key
water pumping stations went out of order, denying hundreds of thousands
of people electricity and drinking water supply for several days.
The government’s preliminary estimates put the losses at Rs 20,000
crore, but it is likely that the final figures will be much higher. Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has talked about building a ‘new Kerala’ or
‘Nava Keralam’.But building several areas from scratch is not easy and
not as simple as it sounds. The funds or lack of it will be the biggest
constraint, though the CM’s Relief Fund collected nearly Rs 721.45 crore
till August 27, besides the Centre’s assistance of Rs 600 crore.
The biggest challenge for the government, however, is to breathe life into
its near-dead economy. Major components of Kerala’s economy—travel
and tourism, spices/agriculture, entertainment, and consumption—have
come to a screeching halt following the catastrophe. Mary George,
economist and former chairperson of the Kerala Public Expenditure
Committee, says the state’s economy is completely devastated, and it will
take at least five years for it to return to normalcy. “Though the
government has pegged the losses at Rs 20,000 crore, I reckon the final
figures will be 7-10 times higher. This is by calculating the losses incurred
by key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, the decline in sales in
automobiles and household goods, the loss of jobs and the destruction
caused to rail, roads, bridges and the Kochi airport,” she explains.
Echoes Rudra Sensarma, professor, economics, at IIM-Kozhikode: “The
fall in consumer purchases during the Onam period (coming on the back
of a slowdown in spending during the Nipah crisis) is going to inflict heavy
costs on the economy.” According to him, it is important that the state
recovers quickly and particularly ensures the tourism sector gets back on
its feet before the start of the tourism season in October. He points out
that the Rs 20,000 crore figure arrived at by the government is almost as
much as the entire fiscal deficit of the state. “Donations and future relief
grants from the Centre and other governments are not going to be
enough,” opines Sensarma.
Rajan Samuel, MD of Habitat for Humanity India, an NGO, and an expert
in disaster relief who has been involved in the reconstruction of Chennai
following the 2015 floods, says the work is still going on even after nearly
four years. “The best-case scenario for Kerala is five years. But
considering the enormity and the scale of the damage, it may take even
more time,” he believes.
money matters
❖ Preliminary estimates put losses at Rs 20,000 crore, but it could be 10
times higher
❖ CM’s Relief Fund has collected nearly Rs 721 crore
❖ The Central Government aid is Rs 600 crore
Manage the Dams: Gatekeepers of Life and Death
The floods triggered a debate whether it was a manmade disaster. Many,
including the Opposition, alleged that the government released waters
from 33 dams at one go, deluging many parts of the state. It’s pointed out
that the rainfall Kerala received was 2,378 mm over 88 days, which was
30 percent less than the 1924 floods, even though it was four times more
than normal. But experts have begged to defer.
James Wilson, special officer, Inter-State Water, Kerala, says in four days
between August 14 and 17, the state received 800-950 mm, which was
almost one-third of the total rainfall it used to receive for an entire year.
Further, there was no warning from the IMD about the impending extreme
rainfall for the four days, he adds. Kerala Dam Safety Authority chairman
and former High Court judge CN Ramachandran Nair says all protocols
were followed during the opening of the dams. “All the district
administrations, including the Collectors, were informed in advance about
the opening of dams. The engineers in charge had to give top priority to
the dams’ safety. If any of the dams had burst, everyone would ask why
the dams were not opened,” Justice Nair explains.
When asked if the dams could have been opened much earlier, he says a
trial run was planned when the Idukki reservoir level touched 2,398 ft but
suddenly the Idamalayar dam reached full reservoir limit forcing the
authorities to open it, causing flooding in downstream Aluva region. “This
delayed the opening of Idukki shutters,” he adds.Justice Nair claims the
opening of the dams were not the only cause for the flooding. “We should
understand the record rainfall across 20,000 sq km of the catchment
areas, which was unprecedented,” he reasons.

21. Sri Lanka political crisis

sri Lanka is in deep political crisis. In an unusual turn of events, two persons claim to
be the prime minister of Sri Lanka -- Ranil Wickremsinghe and Mahinda Rajapaksa.
This was not the case till October 26. Ranil Wickremsinghe was the uncontested
prime minister of Sri Lanka. But that day, he was sacked and Mahinda Rajapaksa was
sworn in as the prime minister.
The 72-year-old Mahinda Rajapaksa has staged a dramatic political comeback. But
now, international pressure is mounting on Sri Lanka to restore order in the island
nation's politics.
Sri Lanka is facing political crisis at a time when it has emerged as a key centre in the
geopolitical game with China increasing its influence in the Indian Ocean country that
sits on a busy maritime trade route.

HERE ARE KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN SRI LANKA: 10 POINTS

1
The president last week accused his unity government partner of Wickremesinghe's the
United National Party (UNP) of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal
Kumara in mid September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate him and former defence
minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Sirisena also accused (UNP) leader of treating very lightly the
alleged plot to assassinate him.
2
The political developments, which has thrown the country into a constitutional crisis,
unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA)
announced that it has decided to quit the unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP.
3
Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had joined to form a government of national unity in 2015 to
bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new Constitution to address the
long-standing issues of the Tamil minority. This had become a major issue in Sri Lanka
during Rajapaksa's rule till 2015 during which time military crackdown crushed Velupillai
Prabhakaran's LTTE completely.
4
Snapping an increasingly uncomfortable tie with Ranil Wickremsinghe on October 26, Sri
Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime
minister.
5
Ranil Wickremesinghe termed his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional. He sought an
emergency session of Parliament to prove his majority. Maithripala Sirisena responded by
suspending Sri Lankan Parliament on October 27. Maithripala Sirisena then withdrew the
personal security of Ranil Wickremesinghe and vehicles in order to accord them to Mahinda
Rajapaksa.
6
In his first address to the nation after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maithripala Sirisena
said that his former ally's political conduct since the victory in 2015 elections was
unbecoming. "He appeared to treat Sri Lanka's future as a joy ride for a coterie of people
around him who had no sense of the common man's thinking," he said.
7
Meanwhile, Mahinda Rajapaksa on October 28 called for a snap parliamentary
election. Rajapaksa looks confident of winning the mid-term parliamentary polls after his
party recently got handsome votes in recently held local body elections.
8
On the other hand, Maithripala Sirisena's sacking of Ranil Wickremsinghe was contested on
the ground that he acted against the constitution of the country. In 2015, Sri Lanka passed an
amendment to the constitution taking away the power of sacking from the president.
9
Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya has backed the claim of Ranil
Wickremsinghe. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said it was "democratic and fair". He has refused to
endorse sacking of Ranil Wickremsinghe as the prime minister despite President Maithripala
Sirisena asserting on October 28 that the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime
minster was in strict accordance with the Constitution.
10
The political crisis in the island nation triggered violence on October 28. One person was
killed and two others injured as the bodyguards of Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga
fired at the supporters of Rajapaksa when they surrounded the cabinet member. Ranatunga is
a Wickremesinghe loyalist.
What is it?
Late on November 9, President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the Sri
Lankan Parliament and called a snap general election for January 5. The
announcement came within hours of his party spokesman publicly
admitting to lacking a majority in Parliament. Mr. Sirisena’s front was
aiming for a majority to push its controversially installed Prime Minister
Mahinda Rajapaksa through the legislature.

How did it come about?

Sri Lanka has been facing a political crisis for a fortnight now, with Mr.
Sirisena abruptly sacking his Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and
replacing him with Mr. Rajapaksa, a former President, apparently defying
the Constitution or more specifically, its 19th Amendment — a 2015
legislation that clipped the powers of the President significantly.
Resisting Mr. Sirisena’s move, Mr. Wickremesinghe maintained that he
was the legitimate Prime Minister and challenged Mr. Rajapaksa to a vote
in Parliament to test their claims to majority. Mr. Sirisena had
earlier suspended Parliamentuntil November 16, possibly to muster
strength for his front, but summoned the House for November 14, amid
growing pressure.

Why does it matter?

Both decisions of Mr. Sirisena — sacking Mr. Wickremesinghe and
dissolving Parliament — have raised serious questions about constitutional
validity. As for the dismissal of Mr. Wickremesinghe, the 19th
Amendment removed the President’s authority to arbitrarily sack his Prime
Minister. Under the Constitution, the Prime Minister’s office does not fall
vacant unless in circumstances of his death, voluntary resignation or loss
of majority in a crucial vote in Parliament. Since none of these is true in
the current situation, a new appointment by the President is
constitutionally ruled out. Some lawyers point to a discrepancy between
the English and Sinhala texts of the Constitution and claim the President,
as per the Sinhala version, still has the power to remove a Prime Minister.
Other constitutional lawyers have argued that while there is a discrepancy
 in language and framing, the import and essence of the Sinhala text is
consistent with that in English, especially when read along with the rest of
the Constitution in Sinhala. On the dissolution of Parliament, the President
does not have the powers to dissolve Parliament within four-and-a-half
years of its convening, unless requested by two-thirds of its members, as
per the 19th Amendment. The President’s side has invoked Article 33(2) C
that lists the powers to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament, in
addition to his existing powers. All the same, critics have noted that while
the Article is a general enumeration of his powers, it is the 19th
Amendment’s specific provision that must prevail in such a situation.

What lies ahead?

The political flux over the past two weeks was the culmination of a bitter
power struggle between Mr. Sirisena and Mr. Wickremesinghe within the
ruling coalition. The two leaders, from traditionally rival parties and with
incompatible ideologies, had joined hands to form the government in
2015, ousting Mr. Rajapaksa. In about three-and-a-half years, they fell
apart. Amid the pressure of a Rajapaksa comeback , Mr. Sirisena chose to
side with him.
The conduct of elections will depend on the Election Commission’s
position on the development and possible legal hurdles, since Mr.
Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) has vowed to move the
Supreme Court on the “illegal” dissolution of Parliament. From the time
the 19th Amendment capped the Presidency at two terms, Mr. Rajapaksa
has been eager to return as Prime Minister. But he is now with Mr.
Sirisena, who brings with him at least part of his unpopular coalition
government’s incumbency. Mr. Wickremesinghe, on the other hand, is
faced with a dual challenge — some within his party have been demanding
a new leader for some time, while those backing him are aware of his
falling political stock amid a growing economic crisis

22. The CBI crisis

EXPLAINED: CBI war between
Rakesh Asthana and Alok Verma
October 24, 2018 08:25 IST

India’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of

Investigation, is witnessing an unprecedented crisis since the
last few weeks.

At the heart of the crisis is the struggle between its two top
bosses -- Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana.

As the case continues to play out in the public with allegations

being countered with more allegations, here’s all you need to
know about the feud and its various twists and turns.

A) People involved

Is this feud a matter of egos clashing?

Is this a case of competitive rivalry gone wrong between Alok Verma and
Rakesh Asthana? To understand the case, here’s a background of the two
top bosses who are at the centre of the infighting.

Alok Verma
 Alok Kumar Verma was appointed as the CBI chief in January 2017 after
being shortlisted from a list of 45 candidates. The committee that
appointed him included Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Mallikarjun
Kharge, Congress leader in Lok Sabha; and JS Khehar, the then Chief
Justice of India.
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He took over as the 27th Director of the CBI on February 1, 2017.

Verma is a 1979 batch Indian Police Service officer and has been in services
for close to 38 years. In all these years, he has served at 24 posts. He was
the Delhi Police Commissioner before being appointed as CBI chief.
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The IPS officer has also served as the Director General for Tihar prisons,
police chief of Mizoram among others.

Rakesh Asthana
A 1984-cadre IPS officer, Rakesh Asthana was appointed as the special
director of the CBI in October 2017. He is said to be close to Bharatiya
Janata Party chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both of
them belong to Gujarat.

The appointment of the Gujarat cadre officer had not gone down well with
many. His appointment was even challenged in the court by senior lawyer
Prashant Bhushan.
He was a part of the Special Investigation Team that looked into the 2002
Godhra train burning case. He also investigated the fodder scam between
1994 to 2001 in which former Bihar chief minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav was
convicted.

According to Prashant Bhushan, he is not fit for the post as his name
figures in the diary of Sterling Biotech, which is being investigated by CBI
itself.

B) Egos clash

An India Today report citing an insider familiar with the developments in

the CBI said, “The rivalry began the day, Asthana’s appointment as special
director was cleared by the government.”

As stated before Verma took charge of the CBI on February 1, 2017. Till
then, Asthana was the acting CBI director.

It is said that when Verma took charge, Asthana started flexing his muscles
and took decisions without keeping the director in the loop.

When his appointment as special director came up for approval, Alok

Verma had opposed the move citing his alleged connection with the Sterling
Biotech bribery case.
C) Allegations vs counter-allegations

All this while it seemed that the tussle between the two heads would
subside. However, in July this year, the infighting came out in the open
when the CBI responded to a query by the Central Vigilance Commission
saying that Rakesh Asthana did not have the mandate to represent agency
director Alok Verma.

The CVC wanted to know as to who from the agency would attend a CBI
selection committee meeting it had called on July 12. CBI chief Alok Verma
was in Uruguay at the time. The CBI responded by requesting the CVC to
postpone the meet to July 19 so that Alok Verma could attend the meeting.
In its letter, the CBI had told the CVC that Rakesh Asthana was under the
scanner of the agency in cases of corruption. Next month in August, Rakesh
Asthana wrote to the cabinet secretary alleging corruption by Alok Verma.

D) Case that started it all…

On 4 October, a Hyderabad-based businessman named Sana Satish -- one

of the suspects in the Moin Qureshi corruption case -- alleged that he paid a
hefty sum to CBI officers to get the agency off his back.

Following this complaint, the CBI registered a case against Asthana as

accused number one and a deputy superintendent of police-rank CBI
officer, Devender Kumar.

Meanwhile, Asthana wrote a letter to the vigilance commission listing 10

cases where Verma allegedly tried to influence the investigation.

He alleged that one Satish Babu Sana, a Hyderabad-based businessman,

paid Verma Rs 2 crore to save himself in the case of meat-exporter Moin
Qureshi who is being probed by the CBI on charges of tax evasion, money
laundering, etc. Asthana also claimed that he wanted to arrest Sana but
Verma scuttled the move.

Asthana further claimed when he and his team wanted to arrest Sana in
February, Verma called him and told him not to do so. Asthana has also
accused Verma of taking him off probes into the IRCTC case against Lalu
Prasad Yadav and the INX Media case involving former finance minister P
Chidambaram.

E) Why was Asthana booked?

A few days ago, the CBI filed an FIR against Asthana and has now arrested
Devendera Kumar, a deputy superintendent of police in the agency, who
has been working with Asthana. Interestingly, the FIR was lodged on a
compliant by Sana accusing Asthana of extorting money from him to shield
him in the Qureshi case.

In his complaint, Sana claims to have paid Rs 3 crore to Asthana through a

Dubai-based middleman Manoj Prasad and his brother, Somesh Prasad, He
claims that Manoj showed him a WhatsApp conversation with Asthana and
he saw Asthana's profile picture with the number which reassured him of
Manoj's links with Asthana. Sana alleged that Manoj also claimed that
Asthana had stayed at his home in London last year. He alleged that
Somesh also dropped the name of a senior RAW officer Samant Kumar
Goel. The FIR has named Goel too as part of the extortion gang.

23. BREXIT

What does Brexit mean?

It is a word that is used as a shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU -
merging the words Britain and exit to get Brexit, in the same way as a possible
Greek exit from the euro was dubbed Grexit in the past. Further reading: The rise of
the word Brexit

Why is Britain leaving the European Union?

A referendum - a vote in which everyone (or nearly everyone) of voting age can take
part - was held on Thursday 23 June, 2016, to decide whether the UK should leave
or remain in the European Union. Leave won by 51.9% to 48.1%. The referendum
turnout was 71.8%, with more than 30 million people voting.

Find the result in your area

What was the breakdown across the UK?

England voted for Brexit, by 53.4% to 46.6%. Wales also voted for Brexit, with Leave
getting 52.5% of the vote and Remain 47.5%. Scotland and Northern Ireland both
backed staying in the EU. Scotland backed Remain by 62% to 38%, while 55.8% in
Northern Ireland voted Remain and 44.2% Leave. See the results in more detail.
ADVERTISEMENT

What is the European Union?

The European Union - often known as the EU - is an economic and political
partnership involving 28 European countries (click here if you want to see the full list).
It began after World War Two to foster economic co-operation, with the idea that
countries which trade together were more likely to avoid going to war with each
other.
It has since grown to become a "single market" allowing goods and people to move
around, basically as if the member states were one country. It has its own currency,
the euro, which is used by 19 of the member countries, its own parliament and it now
sets rules in a wide range of areas - including on the environment, transport,
consumer rights and even things such as mobile phone charges. Click here for a
beginners' guide to how the EU works.
Media captionHow does the European Union work?
When is the UK due to leave the EU?
For the UK to leave the EU it had to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which
gives the two sides two years to agree the terms of the split. Theresa May triggered
this process on 29 March, 2017, meaning the UK is scheduled to leave at 11pm UK
time on Friday, 29 March 2019. A European court has ruled that the UK can decide to
stop the process. Alternatively it can be extended if all 28 EU members agree, but at
the moment all sides are focusing on that date as being the key one, and Theresa
May has put it into British law.

So is Brexit definitely happening?

The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March, 2019 - it's the law,
regardless of whether there is a deal with the EU or not. Stopping Brexit would
require a change in the law in the UK. The European Court of Justice ruled on 10
December 2018 that the UK could cancel the Article 50 Brexit process without the
permission of the other 27 EU members, and remain a member of the EU on its
existing terms, provided the decision followed a "democratic process". Prime Minister
Theresa May has warned Conservative MPs thinking of voting against the deal she
has reached with the EU that they risk "no Brexit at all". This is a reference to
another referendum, which is backed by the SNP, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru the Green
Party, a small number of Conservatives and larger group of Labour MPs, who want
the public to be given the final say, with the option to remain in the EU. They are
trying to get the Labour leadership to back them - but Jeremy Corbyn wants to try
and force a general election first.

Could Brexit be delayed?

The EU might agree to extend Article 50 if its leaders thought there was a chance
the UK could end up staying in, possibly through another referendum, but it would
only be by a few months. The UK's main opposition party, Labour, wants to force a
general election and, after winning it, go back to Brussels to negotiate its version of
Brexit. That would also require Brexit day being pushed back from 29 March,
something the EU might agree to, to give a new UK government the chance to make
its case. If Labour can't force a general election it has said it will push for another
referendum, but it has yet to say what it thinks the question on the ballot paper
should be.

What's the current position on the Brexit deal?

After months of negotiation, the UK and EU agreed a Brexit deal. It comes in two
parts.
A 585-page withdrawal agreement. This is a legally-binding text that sets the terms of
the UK's divorce from the EU. It covers how much money the UK owes the EU - an
estimated £39bn - and what happens to UK citizens living elsewhere in the EU and
EU citizens living in the UK. It also proposes a method of avoiding the return of a
physical Northern Ireland border.
 Here's a guide to the Brexit withdrawal agreement
A 26-page statement on future relations. This is not legally-binding and sketches out
the kind of long-term relationship the UK and EU want to have in a range of areas,
including trade, defence and security.
 Here's a guide to the declaration on future relations

The UK cabinet agreed the withdrawal agreement text on 14 November, but there
were two resignations, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab.

MPs have been debating the deal but the PM postponed a Commons vote
scheduled for 11 December to seek "further assurances" from the EU for MPs about
the post-Brexit plan for the Irish border (see below for more about that).

Downing Street says the vote will be rescheduled for 21 January at the latest,
although Brexit Minister Robin Walker told MPs he hoped it would be sooner.

24. What freedom means to us

Freedom. An important subject, one that we must all think about. Think about what
freedom means to you while you listen to me talk about what freedom means to
me.

First, freedom means independence � the ability to take care of one�s self. If you
can travel by yourself, that�s part of independence. If you can fold your own
clothes, that is part of independence. And if you can cook, and so on and so forth,
that�s also part of independence. But you must put all of these tasks together in
your day-to-day life to achieve independence, and this is part of freedom.

Secondly, free-agency is part of freedom as well. Free agency is the ability to make
choices for yourself. When you can make decisions about what kind of job you
want, that�s free agency. Deciding when to cross a street is free agency. When
you decide what college to attend, that�s free agency. Free agency is the ability to
make good or bad choices.

Now, thirdly, independence and free agency will go together throughout your life.
If you are limited in your independence, you will also be limited in your free
agency. Let�s say a blind person has five choices of getting around. There�s
walking, taking the bus, taking a cab, begging rides off of people, and special
transit for the disabled. Now, let�s say you don�t know how to travel
independently as a blind person. There goes walking and there goes the bus. You
are now limited to taking a cab, begging rides from people, and special transit. But
walking and taking the bus are the most independent and the cheapest ways of
getting around. So now you�re limited to those three options. If you take a cab,
you�ll spend a lot of money. If you beg for a ride, you have to worry about
getting someone you can�t trust. If you take special transit, you have to schedule
your life two weeks in advance. And so the conclusion is that free agency and
independence go hand-in-hand�if you are limited in one, you are
limited in the other.

In closing, these are the things that I think make up freedom: independence, free
agency, and making good choices. The NFB is trying to teach parents about the
importance of these elements of freedom to blind children. We should value them
and try to exercise them in our everyday lives. Now think about what freedom
means to you, and see what you come up with. Thank you for your time and
willingness to listen to this speech.

25. What is Jhan Dhan Yojana

1. What is Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan
Yojana (PMJDY)?
PMJDY is a nationwide scheme launched by the Government of India to ensure
financial inclusion of every individual who does not have a bank account in India.
This scheme aims at providing access to financial services, namely, Banking /
Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, and Pension in an
affordable manner to all. This scheme was launched in August 2014 and according
to reports by the Ministry of Finance, around 4 crore bank accounts have been
opened under this scheme till September 2014.

2. Who offers this scheme?

An individual can consider opening an account under this scheme with any bank
branch or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitr) outlet. Further, accounts opened
under PMJDY can be opened with Zero balance. However, if the account-holder
wishes to get a cheque book, he/she will have to fulfill minimum balance criteria. The
account holders under this scheme will be given a RuPay debit card which can be
used across all ATMs for cash withdrawal.

3. What are the documents required to

open an account under PMJDY?
An account under this scheme can be opened by presenting an officially valid
document.

 The passport,
 The driving licence,
 The Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card,
 The Voter’s ID issued by Election Commission of India,
 The Aadhar Card;
  Any other document as notified by the Central Government in consultation
with the Regulator:

Provided that where simplified measures are applied for verifying the identity of the
clients, the following documents shall be deemed to be officially valid documents:—

1. Identity card with applicant’s Photograph issued by Central/State Government

Departments, Statutory/Regulatory Authorities, Public Sector Undertakings,
Scheduled Commercial Banks, and Public Financial Institutions;
2. A letter issued by a Gazetted officer, with a duly attested photograph of the
person.

Do you have any questions about tax or

finance you need help with?
Talk to our CA

 In case, there is a change in the current address, you need to submit valid
documents to transfer your account to the new address.
 Two passport size photographs are required.
 In case, a person does not have a valid residential address, he/she needs to
submit a valid identity proof issued by the government of India.

Important to note that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified in the year 2014
that those persons who do not have any of the ‘officially valid documents’ can open
“Small Accounts” with banks.
A “Small Account” can be opened by a person on the basis of a self-attested
photograph and putting his/her signatures or thumb print in the presence of officials
of the bank. For such accounts, the aggregate credits have been limited to not more
than Rs 1 lakh a year and aggregate withdrawals have been limited to not more than
Rs 10,000 in a month, and balance in the account at any point of time should not
cross Rs 50,000. The validity of these accounts is 1 year, normally after which such
accounts would be allowed to continue for a further period of twelve more months if
the account-holder provides a document showing that he/she has applied for any of
the Officially Valid Document within 12 months of opening the small account.

4. What are the benefits of the PMJDY

Scheme?
 Insurance Benefits

The account holders under this scheme will get an accidental insurance cover of Rs
1 lakh and a life cover of Rs 30,000 – payment on the death of the beneficiary
(subject to conditions).

 Loan Benefits
 The account holders under this scheme can avail an overdraft facility upto Rs 5,000.
This is available against one account per household. The quantum of the loan may
look small but definitely is a boon to those below the poverty line and would enable
them to reinvest this in more profitable avenues.

 Mobile Banking Facility:

Enabling carrying out transactions through a mobile phone facilitates such account
holders in checking of balance and also transferring funds with ease across India.
The other benefits being:

 The account holders would be eligible for interest on their deposits

 They are not mandated to have a minimum balance in the account
 The scheme allows Direct Benefit Transfer for beneficiaries of Government
Schemes.
 Account-holders can get easy access to pension and other insurance
products with the PMJDY scheme.

26. The UK court ruling on Vijay Mallya's

extradition
HIGHLIGHTS
 A United Kingdom court today ordered the extradition of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya.
 Mallya faces a case of loan default to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore besides allegations of money laundering.
 Mallya had contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is "politically motivated" .
 A high security cell has been kept ..

 New Delhi | Mumbai: Vijay Mallya failed in his bid to stave off extradition from the UK to India to face
charges of fraud and money laundering after the Westminster Magistrates’ Court rejected his plea.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said there was, prima facie, a case against Mallya for fraud,
conspiracy and money laundering, describing him as “this glamorous, flashy, famous, bejeweled,
bodyguarded, ostensibly billionaire playboy who charmed and cajoled these bankers into losing their ..

HIGHLIGHTS
 Vijay Mallya's extradition trial began on December 4 ,2017

 The embattled businessman said he repeatedly offered to pay back 100 per cent principle amount of
dues to Indian banks

 A 14-day window to appeal will be provided to both Mallya and Indian authorities after the initial
order

Embattled businessman Vijay Mallya on Monday (December 10) is scheduled to appear at

London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where a final judgement on his extradition plea is
expected. A team of officials, led by CBI Joint Director S Sai Manohar, is already in London
for the final leg of the case.
The 62-year-old liquor baron is wanted in India for defaulting Indian banks to the tune of Rs
9,000 crore besides allegations of money laundering and diversion of funds.
As pressure from banks mounted, Vijay Mallya fled the country for London on March 2,
2016. He allegedly succeeded in feeling India after dilution of a CBI lookout notice against
him. Mallya’s extradition would be a major boost to the Modi government as it faces general
elections next year.
Ahead of the crucial session at the London court, here are a few interesting facts to know:
Vijay Mallya’s side of the story
Mallya, who has been on bail since his arrest in April 2018, says he repeatedly offered to
repay 100 per cent of the principal amount that he owes to a consortium of 17 banks. On
charges of fraud, Vijay Mallya maintains that it was his Kingfisher Airlines that failed to
repay debts due to a genuine business failure.
He allegedly proposed to repay banks in front of the Karnataka High Court two years ago.
Earlier, Mallya had also alleged the case to be politically motivated and he was being made
the poster boy of loan defaults for no reason.
Respectfully to all commentators, I cannot understand how my extradition decision or the
recent extradition from Dubai [Christian Michel, AgustaWestland middleman] and my
settlement offer are linked in any way. Wherever I am physically, my appeal is -- Please take
the money. I want to stop the narrative that I stole money, he said.
Extradition case details
Vijay Mallya’s extradition case in the UK Court started on December 4, 2017 and a number
of hearings were held in the matter. The Crown Prosecution Team (CPS), led by Mark
Summers earlier sought details to prove dishonesty on Mallya’s part, adding that his
extradition cannot be ruled out on grounds of human rights.
On the other hand, Mallya’s legal counsel, led by Clare Montgomery argued that loan
defaults under Mallya’s name were due to losses at the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines, not due
to any dishonest or fraudulent activity.
Mallya had also confirmed that a consortium of Indian banks, led by State Bank of India, had
initially rejected the embattled businessman’s offer to pay back nearly 80 per cent of the
principal amount in 2016.
14-day window to appeal
If the decision goes against Mallya, he will have a 14-day window to appeal against the
judgement at a higher court. Mallya’s counsel had earlier cited poor condition of Indian
prisons as a reason to prevent his extradition. Upon extradition, Mallya will be kept in
barrack 12 of Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, a video footage of which was submitted to the
London court for inspection.
If the judge finds Mallya guilty, he or she will forward the case to the secretary of state for
deciding whether to order extradition. However, Mallya will be able to appeal against it after
taking permission from UK’s High Court within 14-days from the ruling.
Similarly, the Indian government will also have a 14-day window to appeal if the judgement
is not in favour of Mallya’s extradition. A permission to appeal against it has to be taken from
UK High Court.
If Mallya does not file an appeal against his extradition and the secretary of state agrees to
extradite him, it has to be done within 28 days from the order.
While the Indian government would be hoping for a favourable judgement ahead of general
elections next year, there are high chances that Mallya would file an appeal against it.

27. Expectations of the people for the new RBI

governor
expectation of lower interest rates with further liquidity infusion by the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) under its new chief, along with healthy macro-economic data points, drove the
key equity indices forward

. Expectation of lower interest rates with further liquidity infusion by the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) under its new chief, along with healthy macro-economic data points, drove the
key equity indices forward. Initially, Indian equity market opened on dismal note, but a
sharp bounce back after the five state Assembly election results drove the S&P BSE
Sensex and the NSE Nifty50 to their fourth straight session of gains.

“While the resignation (of RBI Governor Urjit Patel) took the market by surprise, leading to
concerns over the independence of RBI as an institution, the quick announcement of the
appointment of the new Governor (Shaktikanta Das) has helped allay these fears,” said
Shibani Kurian, Senior Vice President, Head of Equity Research, Kotak Mahindra Asset
Management.
The new Governor, former senior bureaucrat Shaktikanta Das, is seen close to the
present dispensation at the Centre. Another key theme of the week was normalisation of
Brent Crude oil price to around $60 after a short-term upward mobility due to OPEC
production cut announcement.
“Crude oil production cut by OPEC was below expectation which had sparked a short-
term volatility, but normalised subsequently. Also, US inventories have gone down this
week,” Anuj Gupta, Deputy Vice President – Research, Commodities and Forex, Angel
Broking, told IANS.
Read | Check out! Bank employees to go on nation-wide strike on December 26; here’s
reason
“We expect the (crude) prices will increase now as the actual affect of the production cut
will start to show from January.”
However, towards the end of the week, advances were capped across the globe as
growth concerns grew after China, the world’s second-largest economy, reported slowing
retail growth.
Consequently, global equity markets ended the week on a negative note. In terms of
investments, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers during the review as they
off-loaded a total of Rs 2,067.19 crore worth of shares, while domestic institutional
investors (DIIs) sold scrips worth Rs 153.21 crore, provisional data from the BSE showed.
Index-wise, the S&P BSE Sensex gained 289.68 points, or 0.81 per cent, to close at
35,962.93 points, whereas the 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 111.75 points, or 1.04 per
cent, to settle at 10,805.45 points.
Also read | Apple Music to shut Connect feature, here is what you should know!
Similarly, the local currency also gained in the past week. The rupee strengthened by 1.1
to 71.90 against the US dollar from its previous week’s close of 70.80.
According to HDFC Securities’ Retail Research Head Deepak Jasani: “Technically, with
the Nifty rallying higher for the fourth consecutive session, the bulls remain in control.
Further upsides are likely in the coming week once the immediate resistances of 10,941
points are taken out.”
“Crucial supports to watch for any weakness are at 10,588 points.”
On a weekly basis, the top gainers on the BSE and the NSE were Yes Bank and Hero
Moto Corp which gained over 8 per cent each, followed by ONGC, SBI, Bharti Airtel and
Mahindra and Mahindra, which gained in the range of 4 to 5 per cent.
In contrast, HDFC lost 2.46 per cent, the most during the week. It was followed by Kotak
Mahindra Bank, Reliance Industries, Adani Ports and HDFC
Expectations from the new RBI Governor
July 8, 2016, 12:36 PM IST Ashima Goyal in Finding the Center | Economy, India | ET

June suffered from a surfeit of exits. But none of them lived up to forecasts of dire
consequences, at least for India. Indian markets have shrugged off both Rexit and Brexit for
now. And since markets are forward-looking it implies they do not foresee problems due to
these exits in the future either.

India, and its institutions, have strengthened and diversified so that they are more immune to
one event or person. Development means sufficient depth to withstand shocks. The outgoing
RBI governor has also contributed to building this resilience. Diversification means these are
normally sufficient positives to counteract a few negatives. Soft oil prices, a pick-up in
reforms, and good rains continue to put India in a sweet spot. Inflation has fallen although
growth remains below capacity. Institutional investors want low deficits, low inflation and a
strong currency, but they also value higher growth. They need not, therefore, be perturbed by
a new governor who gives more weight to growth. Moreover, he will be doing this
constrained by the inflation targeting framework.
The flexible inflation targeting is an example of institutional strengthening. Not only will it
constrain the governor but also it will make his views on the policy rate less important.
Implementation by a monetary policy committee will make for more continuity.

But the person at the top makes a big difference in any complex system since interpretation
and direction are very influential. Under governor Rajan the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) did
better in reducing vulnerabilities and in building foundations for future growth than in
managing the cycle, partly because he believed more in the efficacy of micro-structural and
financial reforms in building for future growth than in trying to stabilize current growth. His
priority was to make India a low inflation economy.

Therefore what kind of beliefs, experience, and training should the new governor ideally
have? What are the areas he must attend to? Freedom from ideology is necessary-he must be
neither a hawk nor a dove. Else he would tend to neglect data and context in favour of fixed
priors. Knowledge of macroeconomics adapted to the intricacies of a more open Indian
economy, as well as of the financial sector and domestic and international reform initiatives
in the sector, is required. Paying careful attention to the data and to special features of the
Indian economy, rather than blindly applying preconceptions or concepts honed in different
economies, is very important in a heterogeneous economy, especially in one implementing
inflation targeting for the first time.

The RBI interacts almost exclusively with the financial sector, but makes policy for the
nation as a whole. So the governor has to make a special effort to be sensitive to the needs of
broad constituencies. The interests of different constituencies are often in conflict and have to
be balanced. While savers and foreign investors benefit from high interest rates, workers,
industry and consumers want lower rates. The room available for change commensurate with
different objectives, keeping the national interest foremost, is often small and has to be
quickly seized. There has to be awareness of policy impact on different parts of the system,
and of interaction across parts.

For example, reducing unemployment gets neglected in India partly because it is poorly
measured. A thin quarterly employment survey available does show employment growth
remained below 2010 levels. There was a rise in 2015 but the fall in export growth hit it
again. There is excess labour supply because of rural outmigration and especially as ten
million young enter the labour force every year. Although structural reform is required in
India, demand shocks also need to be smoothed. Stabilization of such shocks is the essence of
good macroeconomic policy. Otherwise there is an unnecessary sacrifice of output and
employment-many young lives loose the opportunity to flower. It is often said that a small
fall in interest rates is not material for firms’ investment decisions. But interest rates do affect
consumer durable and housing loans-areas where there is excess capacity. And higher sales
affect firms’ demand and their decision to invest.

In Indian conditions where food prices and other supply-side bottlenecks push-up costs and
prices while monetary tightening largely reduces demand and output, tightening has to be
kept as mild as possible, accompanied by coordinated action from the government to reduce
costs. The interest rate can be lowered in line with any fall in costs and inflation. The new
governor, therefore, must be able to work well with the government, even as he clearly
communicates what components of inflation the RBI can affect and for what the
responsibility lies with the government-and therefore how future inflation can be expected to
evolve conditional on policy actions. Good communication is essential to help anchor
expectations of inflation and give predictability to markets. For credibility a framework in
which inflation targeting is expected to work has to be clearly articulated.

For example, food inflation is normally volatile but does not have persistent effects on
inflation. It is only if it is sustained above double digits that rural wages rise and inflation
becomes persistent. The current bout of food inflation is likely to be transitory since wages
are not rising, and the monsoon promises to be normal. Policy rate setting should therefore to
able to afford to look through the food price rise. But given India’s large population for which food is a major
part of the consumption basket, non-inflationary income growth is only possible if
bottlenecks and supply-side disruptions in food production are removed. Continuing and
effective government action in this area is therefore also necessary for monetary policy to
look through a food price rise.

India has a mix of backward and forward-looking behaviour. This implies change in policy
rates must be fast because of lagged effects, but they need not be large. The announced future
direction can affect behaviour today, in a cumulative series of small steps that add up to a
large change, while leaving room for learning and for adapting to shocks. A smaller
cumulative change affects demand as financial deepening improves transmission. The overall
change also has to be small to the extent monetary policy does not want to create a large
reduction in demand, but anchor inflation expectations with complementary supply-side
measures.

As the regulator of banks and payment systems, the governor will have to continue the
process of improving accountability, innovation and inclusion. The emphasis must be on
prudential regulation that creates better incentives, and reduces regulatory delay. The
coordination between macro-prudential and monetary policy also needs to be improved. Even
as domestic systems are made more robust, the new governor must engage with international
fora to ensure emerging market interests are reflected in reforms.

28. Knowledge is an asset

Knowledge can be facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or

education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject’.
There is an old story of the mechanic who is called to a ship because none of the
technicians could mend the problem with the engine that would only make clunking
and sputtering noises. Standing next to the machine, he listened for a few minutes,
pulled out a little hammer and made two taps. Before their eyes, the machine clunking
was transformed into a steady whir, humming along a perfect, smooth tune.
The old mechanic then presented an invoice for $10,000. The owner was irritated by
this and argued that all the mechanic had done was make two tiny taps with his
hammer.“True,” said the mechanic. “The taps were only $1.00 each. The knowledge
to know where to tap costs $9,998.00.”
In the story, the mechanic got paid what he asked for , just because of his
knowledge.The basic driving force behind our every action is knowledge. Flying an
aircraft or cracking CAT, everything requires knowledge.
But is knowledge is the only asset you should accumulate :
For

 Builds confidence: Knowledge provides you with confidence to speak, even if

have no interaction with a specific individual you’ll be able to communicate
easily , because youll know exactly what to say.
 Improves communication skills: For acquiring knowledge we need to read
more, observe more , ask more questions, do research reading, discovering new
facts and figures everyday, making notes of things you learn, Discussing with
people makes that certain snippets stay in your head and once we are through
with that we are able to speak and talk intelligently automatically , because the
journey makes you an informed person.
 Knowledge and experience go hand in hand : Having knowledge about
various areas is important not just for doing peculiar tasks but even for
sustaining as without knowledge about how to operate various objects or
situations in daily course .When companies and organizations look to hire for
positions, they are forced to weigh both the education and the experience that
applicants have to offer. Society rests so much esteem on attaining a degree
that the need for experience is often undermined. So make sure when you are in
the process of learning, you do get experience of modes operandi.
 Knowledge imbues us with authority : and enables us to act and interact with
others in a more moral way. True knowledge commands more respect that
mere empty authority within a hierarchy ever could. If we have knowledge, we
can direct others’ decisions and help them to enhance their lives. Having
knowledge about a relevant subject imbues us with authority. No matter who
we are, or how old we are, if we have knowledge that is useful to other people,
then those people will respect us.

Against :

 Knowledge can be part of your skill set not whole of it: Knowledge is one
of the asset to accumulate but it does not mean it is the only thing you should
focus upon, for example positive outlook about life can help you succeed ,
often said " your energy introduces you before you speak" . You use your
energy to find new and innovative ways to do what you feel needs to be done.
 Expressing knowledge is difficult : We often encounter in debates and
discussions some people are reallly influential in terms of points they make and
others just talk impressively but worthless, that is the power of good speech
delivery where the speaker is called and appraised for just good communication
and not knowledge.
 Life experiences over subjective knowledge :In a survey when asked how
often people used their core subject knowledge in the day to day lives and
 answers that came across were- hardly /never. And the same question when
asked about their skills application in the daily course the respondents gave it
90 % weightage. Which brings us to a subtle conclusion that skills
people acquire are substantially more important to them than the knowledge
from their Core subjects.
 Good health as an asset: leads to success even if you never have encountered
the formal education,meaning that it not the only skill you want to accumulate.

Knowledge is an important skilll agreed but there are other things like application of
knowledge , commmunication of ideas , which are needed in order to thrive.

29. Is patience a virtue in business and

management?
Patience: A virtue in Business and Management.
Patience by definition is the capacity to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without
becoming annoyed or anxious. Patience is even one among the 4 P’s of Entrepreneurship
Persistence, Perseverance, and Passion being other three. In business where there exists a lot
uncertainty regarding market conditions, consumers, and economic conditions, patience becomes
a vital quality for business owners and managers. The right amount of patience enables leaders to
employ prudence and detach from emotions in the decision making and use logic and facts to
substantiate their decision. However, too much patience may spark insecurities and even
instability in the business.
There exist many a number of scenarios in business world where patience is the key such as:
 In the course of Business cycle, all businesses experience ups and downs. The best plans may get
ruined overnight, and sometimes despite best efforts a fresh start is needed. This is where,
patience becomes an essential virtue.
 In the course of a product life cycle, patience is a prerequisite in the introductory phase, where
product is new; it often has slow initial growth as the marketplace needs time to learn and use it.
 Some sectors like banking, investing, trading etc are associated with high level of patience.
Why patience is needed
 To evaluate and research the benefits and risks associated with critical business decisions.
 To identify practical goals and set realistic expectations on performance.
 In strategic planning, negotiations and critical thinking which have significant impact on the
future of a business.
 To achieve the desired levels of success. Any endeavor that could potentially become a great
success requires dedicated and persistent efforts.
Benefits of practicing patience
 Optimism: When we are impatient, we are unable to work toward our business goals in
a dedicated fashion. We have to be certain that rewards will come from adopting a more mature
response. Patience can reward us with positive recognition, better sales, increased customer
satisfaction or stronger profits.
 Prudent decision-making: When it comes to making sound decisions, patience is the most
redoubtable resource. Patience keeps us out of the reach of negative thoughts that could cloud our
judgment.
 Builds reputation: Successful business leaders set themselves apart from the rest of the pack by
mastering the skills such as patience, communication, motivation etc. that lead to success.
Patience enables us the ability to work steadily toward our goals. When goals are reached
 consistently, we build our reputation. Great reputations are developed through persevering, not
giving up.
 Self- management: When we are patient, we take time to choose our response to a given event,
rather than getting swayed by the moment. This allows us to maintain our cool even in
unfavorable circumstances. With self-management we build trust in our capabilities.
 Positive work culture: Developing a culture of high engagement can only be achieved by being
highly dedicated to what you are trying to achieve. Being patient increases our chances of
achieving it. Patient people are better people, and effective managers, business leaders. With
patience we treat other people with a sense of decency, which in turn increases the possibility
they will respond in kind.
Tips to clear GD Round on Abstract Topic
This topic in GD round is one of the hot probable topics and has been carefully chosen and solved
with the sole aim to help you succeed in GD round. If you follow the few key tips, you can
improve your chances to get through the GD round
 Abstract GD Topic is not much data based. So be careful while sharing your opinion as the first
speaker. If you are clear and know the topic well, it is good to be the first to start the Group
Discussion
 If you are not well versed with the topic and feel a bit confused on it, try to gather information
from first 1-2 speakers and then place your view point.
 Since GD is a sort of debate, you should have a clear view point on the
 Use the quote and data, if you are sure of the source else leave it.
 Make multiple entries using the opportunity to speak. Take clue from your predecessor and turn it
to your benefit
 Speak in a firm and audible voice. Don’t shout as it wouldn’t do any good.
Three Reasons Why You Should Be
Patient In Business

Chris MyersContributor

I write about my journey as a first-time CEO and startup founder.


Patience pays off.DAWN ARMFIELD, UNSPLASH

It may be a bit of a generalization, but I don’t think that I’m out of line when I say that
entrepreneurs, on balance, are an impatient bunch.

In order to build a successful business, you have to hustle and be somewhat of a hard-charger.
Impatience, unsurprisingly, is a common byproduct of the entrepreneurial mindset.

I know that I certainly used to fall into this category. It was only after several years of
running BodeTree that I came to realize that in business, patience truly is a virtue.

Avoid “ready, fire, aim” syndrome

I have a tendency to rapidly evaluate situations as I encounter them, which is both a blessing
and a curse. In the best cases, this rapid assessment enables me to quickly grasp a situation
and plot a path forward.

In the worst cases, however, this rapid-fire though process creates a chasm between me and
the people I’m working with. When this happens, I find myself jumping forward to a
conclusion while others are still processing the information at hand.

This “ready, aim, fire” syndrome is all too common amongst entrepreneurs, and while
sometimes it leads to rapid iteration and growth, more often than not it results in problems.

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In my experience, the rapid conclusion I reach is occasionally not as solid as I think.

Sometimes, I overlook critical details, implications, or opportunities. Other times, I grow
impatient and end up alienating the people I’m working with.

Impatience is self-sabotage

When you jump to a hasty conclusion, you end up creating an artificial timeline in your mind.
When people or processes fail to align to that timeline, the mind can run wild.

You begin to question the motives and intentions of the people on the other side of the
equation and put forth ultimatums that may or may not be considered reasonable. This often
leads to two unfortunate outcomes.

First, impatience makes you look desperate. Pushing a partner too aggressively or issuing
unreasonable ultimatums is extremely off putting. In my experience, I’ve found that such
actions come across as a major red flag to external parties. More often than not, it kills the
deal.

Second, and perhaps most importantly, this kind of impatience is the ultimate self-sabotage. It
clouds the judgement, detracts from your credibility, and damages relationships.
I’m particularly guilty of this behavior. Several years ago, my co-founder and I were
approached by a public technology company looking to acquire BodeTree. The deal would
have been transformative and extremely lucrative, but the due diligence process seemed to
drag on for longer than necessary.

In my naïveté, I adopted a “take it or leave it” stance with the other company. Unsurprisingly,
they opted to “leave it.”

Looking back, I realize that I allowed my impatience to influence my actions, which in turn
ultimately scuttled the deal. It was perhaps the most powerful example of self-sabotage in my
career to-date.

All good things take time

One thing I’m sure of in this world is that nothing of value comes easily. In fact, anything of
value takes time, whether it’s a matter of developing a skill, building a relationship, or
launching a business initiative.

Although entrepreneurs like myself like to simplify matters as much as possible, the truth is
that the world is a complex place, full of nuance.

For example, a recent deal that saw BodeTree acquire another business took seven months
from start to finish. As far as acquisitions go, this was relatively fast, but of course it didn’t
feel that way while in the thick of the process.

I’ve said before that every deal dies three times before it closes, and this was no exception.
There were a number of instances where it appeared that the deal would fall through, and I
know that had I given into my natural impatience, they would have.

Fortunately, everyone involved was able to keep their wits about them and reach a successful
conclusion. The result was an opportunity that made sense for everyone involved. It reminded
me of the old maxim: all good things take time.

Patience really is a virtue

As entrepreneurs, we live in a world that values quick thinking and dynamic action. This is
not a bad thing in and of itself. However, when you allow these traits to manifest in the form
of impatience, problems arise.

As difficult as it may be, entrepreneurs must remember that patience, especially in business,
truly is a virtue.

I’m the cofounder and CEO of BodeTree, a tech-enabled franchise services company. I’m a
frequent MSNBC contributor and the author of “Enlightened Entrepreneurship.” All in all,
I’m just looking to bring a bit of Zen to the world of business. Follow me on Twitter
@chris_mye...
MORE
30.What is trolling?.
A troll is Internet slang for a person who intentionally tries to instigate
conflict, hostility, or arguments in an online social community. Platforms
targeted by trolls can include the comment sections of YouTube, forums, or
chat rooms.

Trolls often use inflammatory messages to provoke emotional responses out

of people, disrupting otherwise civil discussion. Trolling can occur anywhere
that has an open area where people can freely post their thoughts and
opinions.

Who are Internet trolls?

Anyone can be an Internet troll. Even the nicest, most reasonable, and mild-
mannered people in real life can exhibit trolling behavior once they get
online.

Why do people troll?

Why would an otherwise seemingly pleasant person resort to the type of
harassment trolls have become known for once they get online?
Psychologists have a few ideas as to why people might engage in online
trolling.

 Anonymity: Most online spaces that encourage discussion allow

people to create user names that aren’t linked to their real
identities. Some will take advantage of this anonymity, making
it easy to avoid real consequences for their behavior.
 Desensitization: Spending a lot of time in an environment can
desensitize you to things you see or hear. Because you simply
get used to them, they become less noticeable. Seeing cruel or
shocking comments online may become the norm over time, and
a person who once thought about the consequences of his or her
actions now may post an insensitive or inappropriate comment
without even thinking about it.
  Personality traits: Some people are naturally opinionated and
outspoken. Others are entertained by making other people upset
or angry. Some people are intolerant of other people’s views and
think their beliefs are infallible. Individuals with these
personality traits may be predisposed to online trolling.

How do you know if you're being trolled?

If you participate in online discussions or post comments frequently, you
may be wondering how to identify trolls or when you’re being trolled. There
are a few general giveaways that indicate you may be dealing with a troll.

Trolls will frequently try to attack something you have revealed you like or
are in favor of. If someone is trying to insult your tastes directly, or if they’re
generally bashing the topic of a forum or post, you probably have a troll on
your hands.

Another way to spot a troll is by their persistence. When trolls sense that
they’re getting an emotional response out of someone, they usually won’t
stop until they’ve gotten their victim sufficiently riled up.

Trolls are also known for their outlandish and outrageous claims. They will
often make ridiculous statements about the subject at hand, again with the
expectation that they will get an emotional response out of people. Trolls
won’t necessarily believe the outrageous claims they make, but their goal is
to convince you that they do believe it.

How to deal with Internet trolls

Now that you know more about what trolling is and how to know if you’re
being trolled, what should you do if you encounter a troll online?

Typically, the best thing to do is ignore the troll. Do not engage this person in
an argument or discussion. It is exactly what trolls feed off of because they
love the attention. On well-moderated forums, an administrator should catch
trolling early and ban the offending user or delete trolling comments,
depending on how offensive they are.

If the trolling is abusive or offensive, you should be able to report trolls who
have made themselves known. How to report someone for trolling will vary
depending on the site or forum you’re on. It may be as simple as clicking
a Report button, but if all else fails you can usually use a site’s Contact
Us link to send an email letting the site's administrators know about
inappropriate behavior.

If you’ve ever been called a troll or been told to stop trolling you may have wondered not
only what that meant, but if you’re like me, where it originated from.

A troll or troller in internet slang is someone that starts arguments or upsets people by posting
off-topic or extraneous messages in some type of online community. Their goal is to cause
people to get emotional and to harass people online.

In the beginning of the Internet, the words troll and trolling had completely different
meanings. Due to the lack of knowledge found online, the world trolling was confused with
the word troll, and eventually the word troll picked up an alternative meaning. A troll is now
a person that trolls or is a troller, not to be confused with what a real troll is.

This caused quite a bit of confusion and took awhile to catch on. Trolling was actually an
intelligently derived term used to describe people online who were just looking to start an
argument.

The word trolling is a word commonly used to describe a method of fishing. In trolling, a
fisherman casts a line out into the water, usually several, and pulls them behind a boat,
hoping that he will catch something.

A troller or someone that trolls is someone that casts a line out in the Internet world in hopes
of hooking someone into an argument, pretty straight forward right?
 Formatted: Font: (Default) roboto, 12 pt, Font color: Black

Unfortunately, because of less intelligent people on the Internet that were accused of trolling,
they didn’t understand the definition of the word, and thought it had something to do with
trolls. Now, when referring to someone on the Internet that starts an argument for fun, they
can either be called a Troller or a Troll, two nouns that at one time had completely different
definitions.

If you like trolling on the Internet, the next time someone calls you a troll ask them to clarify
if they mean troller or if they are calling you a troll, which is a supernatural being in Norse
mythology and Scandinavian folklore. Obviously, being called a troll should be a
compliment.

I was blessed (if that’s the proper word), with the opportunity to watch “trolling” become
“troll” over my lifetime. It’s amazing how quickly the English language changes when it
comes to slang. Up until it became official, I never understood if people were saying you
were a acting like real troll, one that lived under a bridge and surprised or threatened to harm
them.

The real definition of the word “troll” sometimes makes sense in place of the real definition
of “troller”.

Check out the following examples:

Example 1:

User 1: “You see that cubs game last night?”

User 2: “Yeah, that home run in the 7th inning was great.”
Unexpected User: “Wasn’t that a great game?”
User 1 & User 2: “Wohh…Troll alert, who are you? You kind of snuck up on us there, we
weren’t expecting that.”
This is in line with the mythology that trolls hide under bridges and are not seen until the last
minute when they surprise people. Calling someone a troll in this instance basically means
they surprised you.

Example 2:

User 1: “I don’t like it when you talk to me like that.”

User 2: “Hey man, you started it.”
Unexpected User: “Stop it before I kick both of your asses!”
User 1 & User 2: “Easy Troll, there’s no need to get all worked up.”

In this example they are using the word troll to identify your troll like threatening behavior.

The word troll has expanded into video games, especially RTS or MOBA games where users
will intentionally mess with a game full of players just to waste their time or harass people. It
can also refer to someone that is playing people below their skill level in order to dominate
the game instead of playing against people of their own skill level.

31. Is hard work necessary for success?

If you do a quick research on the keys to success, you’ll find plenty of

resources.
Some people will call them the only secrets to success you need to know,
while others will refer to this information as principles, elements, steps,
factors, or else.
But the truth is there’s only one thing you can’t go without if you want to
succeed in any area of life, and that’s hard work.
There’s more behind that, though.
We’re talking about focused and consistent work. That means saying no to
distractions for a long time, not wanting fast results but being patient and
believing in the process, changing your approach and strategies and trying
new things while sticking to your initial vision and always keeping it in mind.
Success doesn’t happen by chance. It takes strategic actions in the right
direction to get there.
It doesn’t happen overnight either. There are more failures during the journey
than most people allow themselves to admit, it’s just that the stories about
overnight success sound better.
In the end of the day, it’s all about how hard you’ve worked on the right thing –
the one which will get you closer to your goal.
But to be willing to invest your precious time, energy and focus, you’ll need to
truly understand exactly why hard work matters. Here are the main reasons:

The Reason Why Hard Work Is The Key To Success

1. It’s the price you pay for what you’re going to get.

If success was free, everyone would have it. But there are few successful
individuals and each of them had put in enough productive work before they
received anything in return.
That’s important, and it’s fair enough. While working hard on what you believe
in, you’re understanding its true value.
You begin to respect the work itself, to build some good qualities along the
way, and to learn important life lessons during it.
2. Hard work helps you build discipline.

In the beginning of your journey, you aren’t ready to handle the success and
all the responsibilities that come together with it. But earning it with sweat and
sacrifices prepares you for that. Here are some examples.
No athlete truly deserves a medal before investing years of his life into
training, before getting his body ready to endure it, before building the
qualities necessary to become a champion and developing the mindset of a
winner, the same applies to your life as well – no matter if it is at work related,
in college related or your dating life.
Successful entrepreneurs wouldn’t have been able to manage people
effectively, build products people love, run a big company, organize their time
well and work with big sums of money, if they hadn’t started from nothing and
earned the chance to get to every next step.
Millionaires also weren’t that good at handling their money, investing wisely or
networking. It took them years, trial and error, and patience to make a fortune.
So the hard work, together with the time it takes, is a must on your journey to
success. It makes you who you have to turn into in order to live the better life
that’s awaiting for you.
What’s more, the harder you work on your dream, the more confident you
become. Those who lack self-esteem also lack determination and end up
losing hope and giving up. But by investing enough energy in this daily, you
start believing in yourself more, you are sure that you’ll succeed, and you
don’t need support from others and no one can put you down anymore.

3. It teaches you values.

You learn to persevere, to find ways to appreciate all you have but still aim
higher, to be patient, to take action instead of waiting for things to happen, to
stop blaming and take responsibility for anything you have or don’t have in
your life instead.
Hard work gives you a purpose, it helps you overcome laziness,
procrastination, your doubts, fear of failure, insecurities, and your bad habits.
4. You make your own luck with it.

Average people spend a great deal of time waiting for things to happen. They
make countless excuses in order to postpone taking action, and are distracted
all the time.
People with goals, on the other hand, constantly do something and try new
stuff to move forward. This way, they’re creating opportunities.
A universal law is that the more you’re focused on something and take action
connected to it, the more doors you open and the more life gives you chances
to get closer to your vision.
Grabbing opportunities and making the most of them is part of working hard.
And it’s the real face of luck.
5. It gives you results.

The best measure for anything is progress. And there’s nothing else that
brings more results on a consistent basis than hard work.
What’s more, action itself leads to more action and at any moment of the day,
you’re building momentum and making sure your journey continues.
Working on your goal itself is the motivation you need to keep moving forward
and say no to distractions from daily life.
Seeing results makes you feel accomplished, grateful and truly satisfied with
what you’re doing. That makes the whole process enjoyable and you find the
strength to persevere.
Now that you know all this, there shouldn’t be a single negative thought in
your mind towards hard work. Never doubt its power and that it’s a necessity.
Instead, create your strategy, make a step-by-step plan and take the first step
towards success no later than today. You won’t regret it!

ByPatrick Banks

Patrick Banks is a Berlin based writer with over 5 years of experience providing
self-development advice. He is a fierce optimist who believes in the power of
making life happen. He shares his opinions on his self-improvement blog-
Get a Wingman
A common adage is that you need to work harder and suffer more than anyone else
if you want to achieve success.

At the most, that’s a half-truth.

From what I have learned from people who have accomplished big things in both
their lives and careers, one of their most common “a-ha moments” was when they
realized that working hard was not enough to succeed, and that often it was even a
waste of time and energy.

Thinking from this perspective, I have collected 3 things that just are as important, or
even more important, than hard work when it comes to achieving success.

1. Purpose
You’ve been working down in the boiler room for so long that you may not even
remember WHY.

If you examined every single person in the world who is considered a failure
(especially by themselves), you would see that all their lives lack the same
ingredient: purpose.

They don’t know where they are going. They don’t know why they do the things they
do and don’t think there can be a reason. They chase only short-term satisfactions
like food or sex, and those are the only things that keep them moving.

They are operating only out of the animal side of themselves. Thus, they are not able
to practice long-term thinking or personal analysis as human beings can.

There is no need to look at very clear cases of failure to find the disease of lack of
purpose. If you are not constantly aware, you will find yourself in the middle of doing
something and won’t know why you are doing it.

Momentum can be a good friend, but is also one of those friends that will make you
waste a ton of time if you don’t keep an eye on it.

Every time you start an action, keep in mind that you are going to keep on doing it for
the rest of your life. Unless, of course, something internal or external reminds you to
start doing something else.

When you start working on something without clearly knowing the expected results, it
may take you hours or days of hard work to realize that it isn’t what you should be
doing, if you ever want to achieve your goals.

Don’t be a busy, hard-working person. Be a hard-planning person who takes

purposeful actions instead.

2. Self-work
Work on yourself 10 times as hard as you work on external elements, and you will
feel that you are moving 10 times faster towards what you want.

Almost all the hard work you have to do to succeed is focused on replacing your
routines and habits with the ones a successful person would have. By deliberately
changing your procedures, you change the results you achieve, the value you
provide, and the way you are seen by yourself and the rest of the world.

If you could perform the same training and habits as Bruce Lee, day after day, there
is no doubt that you would sooner or later become a remarkable martial artist, right?

And what about performing like a person whose success in business has been
outstanding? What if you integrated the same routines and habits that have allowed
others to unlock the power and creativity they needed to succeed in their career or
life?
You could, literally, start performing like that today and get astounding results
immediately.

The only requirement is that you put your old habits and self-limiting beliefs aside,
making space for new ones.

You must look at them before you can let them go; if you don’t recognize the weeds
amongst the flowers, you won’t be able to take them out.

Success is not attained by fighting the old, but by letting it go and building the new in
its place.

3. Belief
If you don’t believe it’s possible for you to achieve what you want, you can work day
and night, but you will never succeed.

Sometimes, all the distance that seems to be separating you from your goals is in
your mind. If you removed those mental barriers, you would see that you could just
reach out and grab what you’ve been pursuing for so long.

As long as you don’t believe that it’s possible for you to have it, you are going to
keep creating excuses and distractions. That’s simply because it feels uncomfortable
or scary to have something you don’t think you are ready to have, or become
someone you don’t believe you can be.

If you removed the negative beliefs about what YOU can have and become, your
reality would change instantly.

Conclusion
I know that these three things also require hard work and focus, but the stress,
frustration and hours of pushing and shoveling they may save you are priceless.

32. Do filmstars make good politicians?

For

- They attract a mass following and can sway public opinion in the right direction.

- The celebrities have been successful in their respective field and have the right ethics

required being successful in politics.

- Celebrities can do a lot for the welfare of the people as they also live in amongst the
common people.

- They have the power to persuade or convince the majority to work in favor of development
of the country.

- They have a huge fan following which only makes it easier for them to operate.

Against

- Whether it is Govinda or any other actor for that matter, no one’s attendance has been up

to the mark in parliament.

- No one has really raised a particular issue, which has worked in the favor of the nation.

- If you were to analyze the achievements of the actors present in politics, it has been close
to negligible.

- They are already so engrossed in their lives, that it has been seen over the years that they

don’t have the political mind frame to perform in politics.

33. Nationalised banks and bad debt

The Base
The history of nationalization of Indian banks dates back to the year 1955 when the Imperial Bank of India

was nationalized and re-christened as State Bank of India (under the SBI Act, 1955). Later on July 19,

1960, the 7 subsidiaries of SBI viz. State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), State Bank of Indore, State Bank of

Saurashtra (SBS), State Bank of Mysore (SBM), State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of

Patiala (SBP), and State Bank of Travancore (SBT) were also nationalized with deposits more than 200

crores.

In the Indian banking scenario, most public sector banks are referred to as Nationalised Banks. This

classification is, however, inaccurate. According to the IMF (International Monetary

Fund), “Nationalisation” is defined as “government taking control over assets and over a
corporation, usually by acquiring the majority stake or the whole stake in the corporation”. In
1949, during the early years of the country’s independence, India’s central bank, the RBI (Reserve Bank of

India) became the first bank to be nationalised. This was an important move since the RBI would soon

become the regulatory authority for banking in India. Most Indian banks at that time were privately owned.

Thus, the Indian government then recognized the need to bring them under some form of government

control to be able to finance India’s growing financial needs.

Nationalisation in Two Phases

By the early 1960s, the Government of India realized that a significant share of deposits coming from the
masses of India was controlled by 14 privately owned commercial banks. Indian agriculture and industries
were booming and the need for finance was high. Financial regulations were also very important at that
time since those would help shape the nature of the country’s economy for decades to come.
Nationalisation became the watchword even the state airline, Air India, was nationalised in 1953.
Acquisition of the Imperial Bank of India in 1955 was the next big step.

With Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s taking over as the Prime Minister of India, the Indian National Congress rallied
for a state takeover of some of the major banks in the country. In what can be deemed a rather hasty move,
the government promulgated an ordinance - the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of
Undertakings) Ordinance, 1969 - thereby nationalising all the 14 banks that were under consideration with
effect from the midnight of 19 July 1969. As a follow-up to passing the ordinance, the Banking Companies
(Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Bill was taken up by the Parliament for discussion. It received a
clear majority as well as the assent of the President within a month of issuing the ordinance.

In 1980, when Mrs. Gandhi was re-elected as the Prime Minister for her third term at the PMO, she
initiated the second spate of bank nationalization. This time about six banks were nationalised and the
Government of India controlled over 90 percent of the banking business in the country. Of the 20 banks
that were nationalised, New Bank of India was later (in 1993) merged with Punjab National Bank.

Why were these banks nationalised?

The nationalization of banks was a significant move undertaken by the government for the development of
the country. Firstly, it instilled public confidence in the banking system encouraging the masses to save
and invest. It allowed for the elimination of regional bias and promoted opening up of branches in the
remote areas of the country as well, thus strengthening the banking network. By elimination of monopoly
or credit competition, nationalization streamlined banking practices in the country, thereby directing funds
where it was most necessary – towards industrial and sectoral development – as planned by the RBI and
the Indian government.

Is SBI a nationalised bank?

The State Bank of India was founded as the Imperial Bank of India in January 1921 through the merger of
Bank of Calcutta, Bank of Bombay and Bank of Madras. In 1955, the Reserve Bank of India bought a 60-
percent stake in the bank and renamed it State Bank of India (SBI Act, 1955). During the nationalisation of
banks in 1969, and again in 1980, SBI was not added to the list of the ‘nationalised banks’ since it was
already a state-owned financial institution. In 2008, the Government of India took over the RBI's stake in
the bank to avoid any conflict of interests within the RBI (which both owned and regulated the SBI). Now
though the SBI and its subsidiaries are often referred to as a nationalised bank, it is a Public Sector
Undertaking (PSU) and not one of the nationalised banks of India. It is India's largest banking and
financial services enterprise as of now.

Similarly, IDBI Bank Ltd. is also a public sector bank but not one of the nationalised banks of India. IDBI
Bank was established in 1964 (IDBI Act, 1964) to aid developmental finance in the country. Initially, it
was a financial institution and did not participate in core banking activities. IDBI Bank was inducted into
banking in 2003 and was merged with IDBI Ltd. - a company, in which the Government of India holds
about 70-percent stake, in 2005.

Nationalised banks in India

1. Allahabad Bank: Founded in 1865, this is one of the oldest established joint stock banks in India.

Allahabad Bank was nationalised on July 19, 1969. The bank's total in 2016 was approximately Rs

18,884.94 crores.

2. Andhra Bank: Andhra Bank was founded in the year 1923. It is a medium-sized public sector bank

which was nationalized in April 1980. The turnover of this bank for the year 2016 was around Rs 18027.42

crores. Andhra Bank was the pioneer of credit cards in India.

3. Bank of Baroda: This bank was established in 1908, some 109 years ago. The turnover raised by this

bank was Rs 42199.92 crores in 2016. Services offered by this bank are international banking and financial

services. The bank's headquarter is situated in Vadodara, Gujarat. It was nationalised in 1969.

4. Bank of India: Bank of India was established in the year 1906 and was nationalised in the year 1969.

This commercial bank is growing rapidly and provides exclusive financial services to its consumers.

Situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra, this bank earned a turnover of Rs 41796.47 crores in the year 2016.

5. Bank of Maharashtra: This bank was founded in the year 1935 and its headquarter is in Pune, India.

It is a private sector bank, which has the largest number of branches in the state of Maharashtra. Bank of

Maharashtra was nationalised in the year 1969 and accumulated a total turnover of Rs 13052.98 crores in

the year 2016.

6. Canara Bank: Canara Bank is one of the oldest public sector banks. The bank has branches in other

countries such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Moscow, etc. It was established in the year 1906 and was

nationalised in the year 1969. The total turnover generated by this bank was Rs 48942 crores in 2016.

7. Central Bank of India: It was founded in the year 1911 and was nationalized in 1969. The
headquarter of this bank is in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. The bank earned a turnover of Rs

25887.89 crores in 2016.

8. Corporation Bank: Corporation Bank is 111 years old. It was established in the year 1906. Its

headquarter is in Mangalore and also has representative branches in Hong Kong, Dubai etc. This bank was

nationalised in the year 1980 and produced a turnover of Rs 19441.24 crores in 2016.

9. Dena Bank: This bank was founded in 1938 by Devkaran Nanjee and was nationalised in 1969. It

generated a total turnover of Rs 10645.73 crores in 2016, although in 2017 it has started making losses. It

is headquartered in Mumbai, India.

10. Indian bank: One of the top performing public sector banks in India, Indian Bank was founded on 15

August 1907. It has its headquarters in Chennai, India. It also has overseas branches in Colombo and

Singapore. The bank was nationalized in 1969 and generated revenue of Rs 7370.16 crores in 2016.

11. Indian Overseas Bank: This major public sector bank is situated in Chennai, India, and provides

banking services at various places like Dubai, Bangkok, Shanghai, to name a few. It was established in the

year 1937 and was nationalized in 1969. The total turnover of this bank is Rs 23517.29 crores in 2016.

12. Oriental Bank of Commerce: OBC or Oriental Bank of Commerce was founded in Lahore in

1943. Currently, it is headquartered in Gurugram, India. It has generated a turnover of Rs 20,058.71 crores

in 2016. It was nationalised in the year 1980.

13. Punjab and Sind Bank: This bank was founded in 1908 and provides banking and financial

services all over India. The bank generated a turnover of Rs 8744.34 crores in 2016. Punjab and Sind Bank

was nationalised in the year 1969.

14. Punjab National Bank: Punjab National Bank was founded in the year 1894 and is one of the

oldest banks. It has its branches in UK, Dubai, Kabul etc. It was nationalised in the year 1969. The total

turnover earned by this bank in 2016 was Rs 47424.35 crores.

15. Syndicate Bank: Syndicate bank was nationalised in the year 1969 and is one of the major banks in

India. It has its headquarters in Manipal, India. The turnover generated by Syndicate bank in 2016 was Rs

6913.09 crores.

16. UCO Bank: UCO Bank or United Commercial Bank was established in 1943. This bank was

nationalized in 1969. It had a turnover of Rs 18560.97 crores in the year 2016 and is one of the most

trusted banks in India.

17. Union Bank of India: This bank was initiated in 1919 and was nationalized in 1980. It generated a

revenue of Rs 32198.80 crores in the year 2016. It has its representative offices in Shanghai, Abu Dhabi,

Beijing, etc.

18. United Bank of India: United Bank of India was founded 1950 and was nationalised in 1969.

Headquartered in Kolkata, this bank was able to generate a turnover of Rs 9936.67 crores in 2016.

19. Vijaya Bank: This bank was established in 1931 in Mangalore, India, but now has its headquarters in

Bengaluru. It generated a revenue of Rs. 12379 crores in the year 2016. It was nationalized in the year

1980. It provides facilities like consumer banking, corporate banking, banking and finance services etc.

Bad debt

What is Bad Debt?

First, let’s determine what the term bad debt means. Sometimes, at the end
of the fiscal period, when a company goes to prepare its financial
statements, it needs to determine what portion of its receivables is
collectible. The portion that a company believes is uncollectible is what is
called “bad debt expense.” The two methods of recording bad debt are 1)
direct write-off method and 2) allowance method.

Bad Debt Direct Write-Off Method

The method involves a direct write-off to the receivables account. Under
the direct write-off method, bad debt expense serves as a direct loss from
uncollectibles, which ultimately goes against revenues, lowering your net
income. For example, in one accounting period, a company can experience
large increases in their receivables account. Then, in the next accounting
period, a lot of their customers could default on their payments (not pay
them), thus making the company experience a decline in its net income.
Therefore, the direct write-off method can only be appropriate for small
immaterial amounts. We will demonstrate how to record the journal entries
of bad debt using MS Excel.

Bad Debt Allowance Method

When it comes to large material amounts, the allowance method is

preferred compared to the direct write-off method. However, many
companies still use the direct write-off for small amounts. The reason for
the preference is because the method involves a contra asset account that
goes against accounts receivables. A contra asset account is basically an
account with an opposite balance to accounts receivables and is recorded
on the balance sheet as such:
The reason why this contra account is important is that it exerts no effect
on the income statement accounts. It means, under this method, bad debt
expense does not necessarily serve as a direct loss that goes against
revenues.

The three primary components of the allowance method are as follows:

1. Estimate uncollectible receivables.

2. Record the journal entry by debiting bad debt expense and crediting
allowance for doubtful accounts.
3. When you decide to write off an account, debit allowance for
doubtful accounts and credit the corresponding receivables account.
Sometimes, people or businesses pay back the amount but at a later date,
which means that you need to reverse the write off you made and record
the collection of the receivables. It would involve the following entry:

How to Estimate Accounts Receivables

As mentioned earlier in our article, the amount of receivables that is

uncollectible is usually estimated. Why? This is because it is hard, almost
impossible, to estimate a specific value of bad debt expense. Companies
cannot control how or when people pay. Sometimes people encounter
hardships and are unable to meet their payment obligations, in which case
they default. The same thing happens to companies as well. Therefore,
there is no guaranteed way to find a specific value of bad debt expense,
which is why we estimate it within reasonable parameters.

The two methods used in estimating bad debt expense are 1) Percentage of
sales and 2) Percentage of receivables.

1. Percentage of Sales

Percentage of sales involves determining what percentage of net credit

sales or total credit sales is uncollectible. It is usually determined by past
experience and anticipated credit policy. Once management calculates the
percentage, they multiply it by their net credit sales or total credit sales to
determine bad debt expense. Here’s an example:

On March 31, 2017, Corporate Finance Institute reported net credit sales of
$1,000,000. Using the percentage of sales method, they estimated that 1%
of their credit sales would be uncollectible.

As you can see, $10,000 ($1,000,000 * 0.01) is determined to be the bad

debt expense that management estimates to incur.

2. Percentage of Receivables

Under the percentage of receivables method of estimating bad debt

expense, companies prepare an aging schedule, as shown below:
Again, the percentages are determined by past experience and past data.
The most important part of the aging schedule is the number highlighted in
yellow. It represents the amount that is required to be in the allowance of
doubtful accounts. However, if there is already a credit balance existing in
the allowance of doubtful accounts, then we only need to adjust it. For
example, let’s assume that there was a $100 credit already existing in the
allowance account. In order to record the adjustment, we simply take the
$372 and subtract the $100, giving us $272 and we record it as follows:

What if instead of a credit balance in the allowance account, we posted a

debit balance prior to the adjustment? Well, in this case, we would simply
add. For example, let’s say there was a $175 debit existing in the allowance
account. In order to record the adjustment, we simply take the $372 and
add the $175 to get $547 and we record it as follows:

Importance of Bad Debt Expense

Every fiscal year or quarter, companies prepare financial statements. The

financial statements are viewed by investors and potential investors, and
they need to be reliable and must possess integrity. Investors are putting
their hard-earned money into the company and if companies are not
providing truthful financial statements, it means that they are cheating
investors into placing money into their company based on false
information.

Bad debt expense is something that must be recorded and accounted for
every time a company prepares its financial statements. When a company
decides to leave it out, they overstate their assets and they could even
overstate their net income.

Bad debt expense also helps companies identify which customers default
on payments more often than others. If a company does decide to use a
loyalty system or a credibility system, they can use the information from the
bad debt accounts to identify which customers are creditworthy and offer
them discounts for their timely payments.

34. Farmers' loans and increasing debt

Nearly 70% of India’s 90 million agricultural households spend more than they earn on
average each month, pushing them towards debt, which is now the primary reason in
more than half of all suicides by farmers nationwide, according to
an IndiaSpend analysis of various government data.
The failing economics of such farms–agricultural households in the south are most
indebted–are exacerbated by additional loans that families take to meet health issues,
leaving them with diminished ability to invest in farming. Outstanding loans for health
reasons doubled over a decade to 2012, and loans for farm business fell by about half
over the same period.

These data help understand the nature of India’s farm crisis in the light of the recent
spate of farmer protests across states to demand loan waivers and better prices for their
crops.

These 62.6 million households spending more than they earn had land holdings of one
hectare or less, according to the 2013 situation assessment survey of farm households
by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the latest available data. In contrast, 0.35
million (0.39%) households owning more than 10 hectares of land had an average
monthly income of Rs 41,338 and consumption expenditure of Rs 14,447, thereby
maintaining a monthly surplus of Rs 26,941.

Nearly 85% of all operational farm holdings in the country are smaller than two hectares
in size, NSSO data show.

No more than a third of Indian small and marginal farmers have access to institutional
credit, as IndiaSpend reported on June 8, 2017, which suggests that loan waivers may
not help them.

Source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme ImplementationNote: ‘Income’ includes earnings from all sources,
including non-farm business and wage labour

Households in southern India are most indebted

Andhra Pradesh has the highest share of indebted agricultural households (93%),
followed by Telangana (89%) and Tamil Nadu (82.1%). The nationwide figure is 52%.

Source: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Indebtedness was listed as the primary reason for 55% of farmer suicides in 2015 and
more than 300,000 Indian farmers have committed suicide since
1995, IndiaSpend reported on January 2, 2017.

Rising healthcare costs swell the debt burden

Apart from meagre farm income, rising healthcare costs increase farmer debt.
Outstanding loans for health reasons have doubled from 3% in 2002 to 6% in 2012,
according to a 2015 analysis of NSSO data by the National Bank For Agriculture and
Rural Development (NABARD). Meanwhile, loans for farm business fell by half over a
decade, from 58% in 2002 to 29% in 2012, as IndiaSpend reported on July 21, 2015.

Source: National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development 2015

Nearly half (48%) of overnight trips made by millions of Indians in rural areas are for
medical purposes.

The corresponding figure for urban areas is 25%.

More than half of India’s rural population uses private healthcare services, which are four
times as costly as public healthcare, and can cost the poorest 20% of Indians more than
15 times their average monthly expenditure, as IndiaSpend reported on July 16, 2016.

“In all the farm households I’ve visited, where people have killed themselves, the single
largest component of family debt was health costs,” said P Sainath, Ramon Magsaysay
Award winner who pioneered farmer suicide reporting in India.

Loan waivers are not a solution

Recently, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra wrote off loans worth Rs 36,359 crore and Rs
30,000 crore, respectively. India faces a cumulative loan waiver of Rs 3.1 lakh crore
($49.1 billion), or 2.6% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2016-
17, IndiaSpend reportedon June 15, 2017.

However, indebtedness is a symptom and not the root cause of India’s farm crisis,
according to a 2007 expert group report on agricultural indebtedness. Chaired by
economist R Radhakrishna, the group reported that the average farm household
borrowing had not been “excessive”, and laid the blame on factors such as “stagnation
in agriculture, increasing production and marketing risks, institutional vacuum and lack of
alternative livelihood opportunities”.

In his 2016 budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had promised to double
farmers’ income by 2022. “We are grateful to our farmers for being the backbone of the
country’s food security. We need to think beyond food security and give back to our
farmers a sense of income security. Government will, therefore, reorient its interventions
in the farm and non-farm sectors to double the income of the farmers by 2022,” he had
said.

Subsequently, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar

outlined a seven-point strategy to double farm income, which included measures to step
up irrigation, provide better quality seeds and prevent post-harvest losses,
as Mint reported on June 17, 2017.

These efforts face a range of challenges, as IndiaSpend said in this March 30,
2016, story. These include: Increasing costs of farm input such as seeds, fertilisers and
irrigation; irrelevance of minimum support price for government procurement; absence of
marketing infrastructure such as warehouses and cold storages; and the fact that 85% of
farmers do not have insurance.

Clearly, India’s farm crisis calls for a multi-pronged solution that addresses each of these
challenges, and loan waiver is only one part.

Farmers in election-bound States have stopped repaying

in anticipation of write-offs
The increasing demand for farm-loan waivers and slippages in
existing loan repayments by farmers in anticipation of write-offs are
giving banks a nightmare.
Apart from drawing the attention of policy makers and political
pundits, last week’s mega farmers’ rally in the national capital has
also created tremors among bankers.
“The expectation of agricultural loan waivers next year when
elections to the Lok Sabha and some key States are slated to be held
is so high that some farmers in many States have gone slow on their
repayment, leading to a bigger bad loan portfolio,’’ said a senior
official of a leading public sector bank.
While overall data for banks are not available yet, individual cases
of election-bound States with loan write-off prospects show
increase in agri NPAs.
In Telangana, which is going to polls on December 7, NPAs went
up by ₹18,194.49 crore in the quarter ended June 2018. Similarly,
non-performing assets in agricultural loans had increased by ₹4,795
crore in the quarter. While NPAs in agri term-loans crossed 12 per
cent, bad loans in total agriculture advances stood at 7.70 per cent.
The NPAs in total outstanding agricultural advances touched 23-30
per cent across States. Bankers are expecting a major announcement
in the ensuing Union Budget about waiver of certain categories of
farm loans and are gearing up to face it.
Recent waivers
The recent history of waivers is a case in point. These include the
Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief (ADWDR) Scheme
announced by the Central government in 2008 and State-specific
farm-loan waivers announced by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in
2014; Tamil Nadu in 2016; and Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab
and Karnataka in 2017.
As per RBI data, UP’s farm-loan waiver was at ₹36,000 crore –
around 2.5 per cent of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP),
while in Maharashtra it was at ₹34,000 crore. Punjab
provided ₹1,500 crore in the State budget for 2017-18 for loan
waiver, while Karnataka has announced a waiver amounting
to ₹8,100 crore for farmers availing loans from cooperative banks.
The loan-waiver promise by States which had either gone to polls
or are now going such as Telangana amount to ₹40,000-90,000
crore approximately.
At a time when inflation and fiscal deficit are major concerns in the
backdrop of stress on other segments of banks loans, loan waivers
can only worsen the situation for already beleaguered banks.
Economists and the RBI have also been critical of such moves.
The micro lenders, another key players in rural credit, however, are
not worried. “Historically, there has been no data to show that farm-
loan waivers adversely impacted MFI advances,’’ BR Diwakar,
Chief Financial Officer, CreditAccess Grameen Ltd, said. The
repayments rates for NBFC-MFIs are over 99 per cent, as per MFIN
data.
35. The relevance of the Nobel peace prize
When the Swedish businessman Alfred Nobel passed away in 1895,
he left behind what was then one of the world’s largest private
fortunes. In his last will Nobel declared that the whole of his
remaining fortune of 31, 5 million Swedish crowns was to be invested
in safe securities and should constitute a fund "the interest on which
shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who,
during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit
on mankind"

Will
The will specified in which fields the prizes should be awarded –
physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature and peace – and
which criteria the respective prize committees should apply when
choosing their prize recipients. According to the will the Nobel Peace
Prize was to be awarded “to the person who shall have done the most
or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition
or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of
peace congresses.”

Norwegian Nobel Committee

Alfred Nobel’s will declared that the Nobel Peace Prize was to be
awarded by a committee of five persons selected by the Norwegian
Storting (parliament). The Storting accepted the assignment in April
1897, and the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Storting was set up
in August of the same year. Read more about the Norwegian Nobel
Committee (as it is now known) here.

Nobel Foundation
In Sweden, however, Nobel's will triggered a lengthy legal battle with
parts of the Nobel family. It was not until this conflict had been
resolved, and financial matters had been satisfactorily arranged
through the establishment of the Nobel Foundation in Sweden in
1900, that the Norwegian Nobel Committee and the other prize-
awarding bodies could begin their work.
First award
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901. The Peace Prize for that
year was shared between the Frenchman Frédéric Passy and the
Swiss Jean Henry Dunant.

36. The PNB fraud

A $2 billion PNB fraud may have been orchestrated by a few rogue
employees, but it escaped detection because of widespread risk-control and
monitoring lapses in many areas of the bank, the bank’s own internal probe
has found.
PNB, India’s second-biggest state-controlled lender, has previously alleged
that a handful of staff at a single Mumbai branch issued fake bank
guarantees over several years to help two jewellery groups—controlled by
Indian diamond magnate Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi—raise
billions of dollars in foreign credit and commit India’s biggest-ever bank
fraud.

Billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi is at the centre of the over $2 billion PNB fraud. Photo:
Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint
The bank’s CEO Sunil Mehta told Reuters in April he had suspended 21
officials and “will not spare” others found involved in lapses, but he also
described the fraud as a “small turmoil”.
However, a 162-page internal report, produced by PNB officials tasked with
probing the fraud, lays bare lapses that go far beyond a few branch officers.
The report, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, lays out how failings
by 54 PNB officials—ranging from clerks to foreign exchange managers,
and auditors to heads of regional offices, allowed the fraud to be
perpetrated. Eight of the 54 are among those who have been charged by the
federal police for their roles in the scandal.

The bank’s CEO Sunil Mehta told Reuters in April he had suspended 21 officials and
“will not spare” others found involved in lapses, but he also described the fraud as a
‘small turmoil’. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

The report, which the PNB officials presented to the bank’s fraud risk
management arm on 5 April, along with dozens of pages of annexed bank
records and internal e-mails, is also part of the evidence submitted by the
federal police in its court case against those allegedly involved in the fraud.
The report’s findings have not previously been made public.

Damning conclusions
The unearthing of the fraud in January has not only exposed shortcomings
in the management of PNB, but has also undermined confidence in India’s
state-run banking sector, which controls over two-thirds of the nation’s
bank assets.
The damning conclusions of the report stand in contrast to the lack of
regulatory action taken by the authorities since the fraud was reported. No
penalty has been imposed on PNB as a result of the fraud and there has
been no senior management shake-up.

Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi colluded with nephew Nirav Modi to obtain fake
letters of undertaking, or LoUs, to perpetrate the PNB fraud. Photo: Mint

A PNB spokesman told Reuters the bank “cannot share details on a sub-
judice case”. He added: “We must reiterate that we will not spare anybody
who is found guilty irrespective of the level or position in the bank,” he said.
PNB did not respond to a question about what action was taken against the
“erring” officials mentioned in the report. The Reserve Bank of India and
the Indian government’s federal banking secretary, Rajiv Kumar, didn’t
respond to requests for comment.

The report does not say whether the PNB investigators believe those
involved in the monitoring failures were aware of the fraud.

Also read: How Nirav Modi pulled off the great Indian bank
robbery
Significantly, they said one of the reasons the fraud went undetected for
years was because of lapses within some of the bank’s critical areas at its
New Delhi headquarters, such as its credit review and international
banking units.
“There was enough evidence to suggest failures,” the team of four senior
PNB investigators said in its report. “It was observed that blatant system
violations/unethical practices/dereliction of responsibilities led bank to
such a catastrophe.”

Fraud at Brady House

The epicentre of the fraud was PNB’s Brady House branch, housed in a
building with an imposing colonial facade in downtown Mumbai. From
there, deputy manager Gokulnath Shetty for years issued fraudulent credit
guarantees over the SWIFT interbank messaging network, the bank and
prosecutors have alleged.

Using those guarantees, companies controlled by Nirav Modi, whose

jewellery creations were once adorned by global celebrities, and Choksi,
received credit from banks overseas to fraudulently fund their businesses,
PNB alleges.

The Brady House branch, the epicentre of the over $2 billion PNB fraud. Photo: Abhijit
Bhatlekar/Mint

Modi and Choksi, both of whom left India before PNB filed its first police
complaint on 29 January, have denied any wrongdoing. Shetty’s lawyer has
said his client is not guilty.
All face charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating, as well as allegations
under India’s prevention of corruption law.

A police source told Reuters on Monday the federal investigating agency

last week asked the international police agency Interpol to help locate
Modi and Choksi.
Calls and text messages to lawyers for Modi and Choksi went unanswered.

Lack of integration
Shetty escaped detection because he did not log his SWIFT transactions on
the bank’s internal software—something he was supposed to do because the
two systems were not integrated.

PNB investigators said the bank’s international banking department and

the IT division had delayed the integration work. They had also not
complied with central bank advisories in 2016 calling for a comprehensive
audit of SWIFT systems in use.

Former PNB employee Gokulnath Shetty helped Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi obtain
the fake LoUs that they used to perpetrate the PNB fraud. Photo: AFP

But more simply, the fraud could have been detected if the branch did the
basic daily SWIFT reconciliation that, according to internal rules, required
logs of transactions on the global payments network to be manually
checked against the bank’s internal system, the investigators said.
“Only one activity would have nailed the whole act at the incipient stage,”
said the report.

The lapses, however, extended beyond the branch.

As per protocol, the daily reconciliation reports should travel up the chain
to PNB’s headquarters in New Delhi. Along the way, they would be signed
off by the Brady House branch head and sent each month to a Mumbai city
regional office that would issue all-clear certificates for the branches it
controls.

But despite receiving just two of the 12 monthly reports from the Brady
House branch last year, the regional office signed off on a “false”
compliance certificate, signalling a clean bill of health for the branch, the
report said.

Also read: The anatomy of the PNB fraud

Moreover, despite a massive missing paper trail, none of the senior
inspection officers, who conducted 10 visits between 2010 and 2017 to the
branch, reported anything “adverse”, PNB’s report stated.

Missed major red flag

The Mumbai city regional office also missed another vital red flag—the
Brady House branch was a star performer, largely because of its dealings
with Modi firms, the PNB report said.

Its import and export transactions in the 12 months to March 2017 stood at
$3.3 billion, 50% higher than recorded two years prior. “The exceptional
growth should have been noticed,” the report said.

A former PNB internal audit official who declined to be identified but

reviewed the growth numbers mentioned in the report for Reuters, said:
“This was sufficient to raise a cause of concern and the reasons thereof
should have been investigated.”

In March 2012, the Brady branch said in an

internal memo that an almost 50% of the
observations flagged in its annual inspection
report remained “un-replied/unattended to
by respective concerned officers”, calling it a
“critical situation”
Signs that audit practices at Brady House were weak were also flagged by
the branch itself, according to two internal PNB documents reviewed
by Reuters.
In March 2012, the branch said in an internal memo that an almost 50% of
the observations flagged in its annual inspection report—mainly auditor
queries - remained “un-replied/unattended to by respective concerned
officers”, calling it a “critical situation”.

Four years later, in 2016, the branch’s assistant general manager issued an
internal memo saying around 18 observations—five described as zero-
tolerance level issues—were pending. The memo was signed by 10 bank
officers, including Shetty.

Late-night emails
Shetty joined the forex division at Brady House in April 2010. In March
2011, the branch issued the first fake credit guarantees of $15.5 million to
Modi’s firms through SWIFT messages, bypassing the internal banking
system, the PNB investigators said.

Over the coming years, Shetty authorized more than 1200 fraudulent credit
guarantees, the report said.

As a mid-level employee, Shetty should only have been able to approve

transactions of up to 2.5 million rupees ($37,000) without sign-off from
more senior officials. But he had been given unlimited approval powers, the
investigators said without explaining how this happened.

Also read: PNB fraud explained: How India’s 2nd largest PSU
bank lost Rs11,400 crore
In the few weeks before his retirement in May last year, Shetty used his
personal Yahoo e-mail address to send 22 e-mails—18 at around midnight—
to reconcile large forex transactions involving the Modi group. The use of
personal e-mail was “overlooked” by the bank’s treasury department, the
report said.

Under PNB policy, no officer should remain in the same office for more
than three years, but Shetty retired after serving in Brady House for seven
years. Three transfer orders were issued for him during his tenure, but he
was never moved, the investigators found.

The report said that it is “incomprehensible” that branch staff did not
notice the fraud being committed.

PNB fraud: Punjab National Bank, India`s second-biggest state-run lender, stunned
the country`s financial sector this month when it announced it had discovered an
alleged fraud worth Rs 11, 400 crore ($1.8 billion) at a single branch in Mumbai. The
fraud, by far the biggest ever detected by an Indian bank, comes to light at a time
when lenders - especially state-run banks - are hobbled by $147 billion in soured
loans on their books, a problem that has slowed lending and hurt the economy.

The following is an explainer on the PNB fraud and its implications for other lenders
and India`s banking sector:

WHAT IS THE FRAUD ALLEGATION ABOUT?

On Jan 29, PNB filed a criminal complaint with India`s federal investigative agency
against three companies and four people, including billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi
and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the managing director of Gitanjali Gems, saying they
had defrauded PNB and caused a loss of 2.8 billion rupees ($43 million).

In a regulatory filing on Feb. 14, the bank updated the sum involved in the fraud to
113.94 billion rupees ($1.77 billion), which it said was determined after further
investigation.

The bank alleges that two junior employees at its Brady House branch in Mumbai
colluded with companies belonging to Modi and Choksi, and issued fraudulent
"letters of undertaking", or LoUs, without asking for any margin money as security,
even though the firms did not have any pre-approved credit limit.

The firms, PNB says, raised short-term credit from overseas branches of other
Indian banks based on these LoUs, and in some instances fraudulent foreign letters
of credit (FLCs) in favour of foreign suppliers.

HOW DID THE FRAUD COME TO LIGHT?

PNB says that on Jan 16 a representative of one of the accused firms presented a
set of import documents to the Mumbai branch and requested buyers` credit to pay
overseas suppliers. Since they had no pre-arranged credit limit, the branch official
asked the companies to put down the full amount as collateral so the bank could
issue LoUs to authorise the credit.
When the representative argued they had used such facilities in the past without
keeping any money as collateral, PNB scanned its records and found no trace of any
transactions, according to the bank`s account.

It then found that two junior employees had issued LOUs over the SWIFT interbank
messaging system without entering any of these transactions on the bank`s own
system. Such transactions went on for years without detection, PNB said.

Bankers say in many Indian banks the SWIFT system, which is used for international
transactions, and the core banking system work independently of each other. In
PNB`s case, it said the outstanding LoUs were not available on its core banking
system run on Infosys`s Finacle software, and so went undetected.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT?

PNB accused three companies - Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds and Diamond R
US - it said belonged to Modi, a high-end jeweller who runs his eponymous Nirav
Modi stores spread from New York to Beijing. Modi was worth $1.7 billion last year,
according to Forbes rankings.

Modi`s companies colluded with the bank staff, PNB said, adding that it suspected
some officials at foreign branches of other Indian banks that extended credit were
also involved. It also named Gitanjali Gems, Gili India and Nakshatra - companies
promoted by Choksi.

A lawyer for Modi has denied any wrongdoing by his client. Modi himself has not
commented publicly, but wrote to PNB in a letter, a copy of which was seen by
Reuters, that his firms owed "substantially less" than the total exposure reported by
the bank.

Gitanjali has also denied Choksi`s involvement in the fraud. Choksi, in an open letter
to employees on Friday, maintained his innocence and advised them to look for
other jobs, as his assets had been seized and he was unable to pay salaries.

WHAT ARE THE AUTHORITIES DOING?

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has so far arrested 12 people - six from
the bank and six from Modi and Choksi`s companies. All have appeared in court and
been held in custody for further questioning.

The Enforcement Directorate, a government agency responsible for fighting financial

crime, says it has seized diamonds and jewellery worth 56.74 billion rupees ($875
million) after searching Nirav Modi`s home and offices. It has also seized nine of his
luxury cars including a Rolls-Royce Ghost.

The Reserve Bank of India this week wrote to banks asking them to ensure their
SWIFT system was integrated with their main banking software by April 30.

The finance ministry has also written to banks telling them to take effective steps to
avoid any similar fraud. The government has said it will not spare wrongdoers in the
PNB case.

WHO ASSUMES THE LIABILITY?

PNB has said the transactions are "contingent" in nature and it is ready to honour
"bona fide" commitments. Reacting to media reports, it said on Friday it had received
no instruction from the RBI or the government to pay the other banks who gave
loans based on the fraudulent guarantees.

Several banks that extended loans based on the PNB guarantees and are at risk of
losing money want PNB to pay up, according to banking sources.

In a Feb 12 "caution notice" addressed to chief executives of 30 banks, PNB said the
other banks also have a share in the blame as they "overlooked" certain Indian
central bank rules.

PNB has said it is following all "lawful avenues available" to recover its dues and it
has asked Modi to respond with a "concrete and implementable" repayment plan.

37. Autonomy of RBI

The autonomy for the Central Bank, within the framework of the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) Act, is an essential and accepted governance requirement. A press release was issued
by the Government on 31.10.2018 as below:

“The autonomy for the Central Bank, within the framework of the RBI Act, is an essential
and accepted governance requirement. Governments in India have nurtured and respected
this. Both the Government and the Central Bank, in their functioning, have to be guided by
public interest and the requirements of the Indian economy. For the purpose, extensive
consultation son several issues take place between the Government and the RBI from time to
time. This is equally true of all other regulators. Government of India has never made public
the subject matter of those consultations. Only the final decisions taken are communicated.
The Government, through these consultations, places its assessment on issues and suggests
possible solutions. The Government will continue to do so.”

The Government asked RBI for a review of its Economic Capital Framework (ECF)
adopted in 2016. As per press release by RBI on 19.11.2018, the Board has decided to
constitute an Expert Committee to examine the ECF, the membership and terms of reference
of which will be jointly determinedly the Government and RBI and that RBI should consider
a scheme for restructuring of stressed standard assets of MSME borrowers with aggregate
credit facilities of up to Rs. 25 crore, subject to conditions for ensuring financial stability.

The details of RBI surplus transferred to the Government during the last five years are as
follows:

Surplus transferred to Government

Financial year of RBI
(in crore Rupees)
2013-14 52,679
2014-15 65,896
2015-16 65,876
2016-17 30,659
2017-18 50,000

This was stated by Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister of State for Finance in a written reply to
a question in Lok Sabha today.
 RBI Autonomy: Is the Government out to
Impound its Autonomous Status?

Recent developments have subsided the prospects of rift between RBI and the Government. The
earlier event indicating the beginning of conflict between the Apex Monetary Authority The
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Financial Authority – Ministry of Finance-Govt of India had
sparked speculations that the Governor of RBI, Mr Urjit Patel could step down as the RBI feels
that Government which should not interfere in its Monetary affairs in keeping and improving the
monetary position of the country to a healthy and globally competitive standard, was trying to
make unnecessary intervention that may hamper its autonomous working.

With the marathon meeting of RBI Board held on Nov 19, 2018, the Government and the RBI
both decided not to follow the path of confrontation and arrive at certain decision for good of the
economy and keep the confronting issues in abeyance.

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RBI Board Meeting Dated Nov 19, 2018

Reserve Bank of India Board held a 9 hours long meeting on November 19, 2018 to discuss
various issues that created rift between the RBI and the Government of India. The issues
included: Capital Requirement of RBI; Financing Norms for Small and Medium enterprises
(SMEs); and to further define and modify the Rules for Weak Banks. The meeting ended calling a
truce between the Government and the Reserve Bank of India with following decisions:
1. The key issues of creating rift between the Government and RBI namely Transfer of Surplus
Reserves and the Relaxed Norms for Weak Banks were referred to committees.
2. Concessions were made on Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of Banks. But the RBI board did not
agree to bring down the capital adequacy ratio in line with bare minimum levels prescribed by
Basel III norms. Simultaneously, the board has extended for one more year the process for
implementation of the capital conservation buffers. According to the statement issued by RBI
after the meeting, ““The Board, while deciding to retain the CRAR (capital to risk weighted asset
ratio) at 9%, agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the last tranche of 0.625%
under the Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB), by one year, i.e., up to March 31, 2020.”
3. Relaxing and Easing the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for weak banks has been
referred to a committee while the government is pushing for a review to allow a few Public
Sector Banks out of this framework. Under RBI’s PCA framework are 11 of the 21 PSBs. In view
of the Government, these PSBs are restricting credit flow to economy, including MSMEs. The
board in its meeting has advised RBI to ask the banks to recast loans upto Rs.25 crore disbursed
to Micro, small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
4. The issue of fixing a capital framework has been referred to the committee. The fixing of a
capital framework would free up RBI’s surplus reserves for transfer to the central government.
Since the government requires to meet its fiscal target of 3.3% of GDP due to low tax collections,
the government is contemplating that the RBI surplus transfer will help it in bridging the gap.
However RBI is of the view that the reserves are very important to protect the economy during
any crisis.
5. No Agreement was reached in regard to the liquidity shortage faced by NBFCs. However, RBI
has announced to inject Rs.8000 crore liquidity through open market operations in November 22,
2018. In order to ease the liquidity crunch at Non-Banking Financial Companies, the largest PSB-
State Bank of India has announced to buy loans worth Rs.45,000 crores from the NBFCs.
Besides, the refinance window of National Housing Bank (NHB) has also been increased to
Rs.30,000 crores.
As such, now the prospects of invoking Section 7 of RBI Act 1934 by the Government, are very
dim and the Central Government and RBI relationship may not go low.

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Back-Ground
 Reserve Bank of India, the central bank of the country is an autonomous organization responsible
for all the key monetary roles like Monetary controls, money supply regulation, foreign
exchange, apex lender to Government, a bankers’ bank among others. RBI was created and is
governed with the RBI Act and as such is a statutory autonomous entity.
 However, in October 2018, the Ministry of Finance, Government of India moved to invoke
Section 7 of the RBI Act. The Section 7 gives powers to the government to seek consultations
with RBI. If necessary, the Government may issue certain binding orders on RBI in public
interest. Despite keeping its existence in RBI Act, this section has never posed any threat to RBI
Auotonomy earlier as it has never been invoked even during the times of Wars fought with
Pakistan and China; during the adverse balance of payment crisis or even during the period of
demonetization that happened on November 8, 2016.
 The three letters under Section 7, that were sent by the Government of India to Reserve Bank of
India for consultation included the issues like Capital Adequacy Norms for Banks governed by
RBI, Liquidity Crisis, Credit to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Corrective
measures for weak banks among others.
 Promptly responding to these letters of GoI, the Reserve Bank of India remained firm on its
stance and did not commit for the changes as desired by the Government in its policy and action
plan.
 The series of events after this communication let the problem aggravate and it is being speculated
that the autonomy of the apex Monetary Authority of India, RBI is at stake and as a result the
Head of RBI – Mr Urjit Patel may step down. During all this controversy, Mr Arun Jaitley, the
Finance Minister of India has asserted that the Government respects the RBI Autonomy and also
feels it is necessary to maintain. Accordingly, the finance ministry has not yet given direction to
the RBI to follow the instructions issued by it while invoking the Section 7 of RBI Act.
What is Section 7 of RBI Act 1934?
The Section 7 of RBI Act has three parts. The most relevant first part which has sparked the
tensions between RBI and the Government, states: “The central government may from time to
time give such directions to the Bank (RBI) as it may, after consultation with the governor of the
bank, consider necessary in the public interest.”
 The Part two of the section 7 of RBI Act says, “Subject to any such directions, the general
superintendence and direction of the affairs and business of the Bank shall be entrusted to a
central board of directors, which may exercise all powers and do all acts and things which may be
exercised or done by the Bank.”

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Why the Need Felt by Government to Invoke Section 7?
So far the discussions and consultations between the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of
India have taken place without resorting to use of Section 7. The invocation of section 7 of RBI
Act is considered very important for consultations as it gives the Government the scope to issue
directions as it finds fit to the Reserve Bank of India.

It is also contemplated that the government might have drawn inspiration for using the Section 7
from a recent judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Allahabad delivered in a case filed by
power producers against the RBI’s February circular that mandates early detection and time-
bound resolution of stressed assets. The High Court had asked the finance ministry to have
consultations with the RBI within 15 days, under Section 7 of the RBI Act 1934 to resolve the
issue.

HC Asks Government Not to Issue Directives to RBI

In its order on August 28, the HC had asked the Govt to refrain from issuing any directives to
RBI. The order said “The central government, however, is not expected to issue any directions, as
contemplated under Section 7(1), indiscriminately or randomly. Such directions are possible
when there exists sufficient material in support.”

RBI Conveyed it Position: Differs from Govt Point of View

In its reply to the Ministry of Finance on the three letters, RBI has conveyed its position on the
need to retain the “stringent” prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for stressed banks and
has stated that there is no liquidity crunch. The MoF, Government of India and RBI have also
differed on the issue of capital adequacy norms for banks.

The RBI has given the instructions that the banks should maintain capital-to-risky asset ratio
(CRAR), including capital-conservation buffer, at 11.5% — 1 percentage point higher than Basel
norms. Besides, the common equity tier (CET)-1 of banks is required to be at least 5.5% of its
risk-weighted assets — again 1 percentage point higher than the global norms.

However, the ministry of Finance wants the stipulation aligned with the international practices
also, so that banks can lend more and add to economic growth.

Government Not Impounding RBI Autonomy: Key Points

 The Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has blamed the RBI for not doing enough to control
“indiscriminate lending” by the public sector banks during 2008-14 period
 This has precipitated the balance-sheet problem of both the lenders and borrowers under severe,
seemingly inescapable stress
 On October 31, 2018 Government said that it respects the autonomy of the central bank but it will
“have to be guided by public interest and the requirements of the Indian economy”
 As the Government wants to manage the fiscal situation, prop up investments & consumption in
the economy, ensure that the small businesses and trade as well as people are not upset with the
 government in the run-up to the elections, the government can insist on high transfer from RBI’s
‘surplus’ pool
 Former chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian had also suggested that the central bank’s
‘excess capital’ could be redeployed to bolster the capital base of state-owned banks
 The finance ministry has also sought changes to the “stringent” prompt corrective action (PCA)
regime for stressed banks
 The Finance Ministry has suggested that the framework of corrective action be aligned with best
global practices to allow banks have room for growth
RBI Dy Governor Acharya Criticises Government Move
RBI Dy Governor has criticized the move of the Government. Finding that government is trying
to sneak into the central bank’s autonomous regulatory space, the Deputy Governor of RBI, Viral
Acharya has criticized the Government’s move and has warned that it could spur “potentially
catastrophic” consequences.

Delivering the AD Shroff memorial lecture, Acharya said governments that did not respect their
central banks' independence would sooner or later incur the wrath of financial markets. The much
discussed famous speech, ‘On the Importance of Independent Regulatory Institution – The Case
of the Central Bank’, by Acharya reaches a host of issues.

The content of the speech which confronts the Government on all the issues against its move to
undermine the autonomy of RBI has aroused unprecedented media response. Acharya’s speech
reveals that he has also spoken for the restoration of RBI autonomy and built a strong and
positive case for RBI independence in three important areas — monetary policy, debt
management, and exchange rate management.

Acharya has pointed out that the breaking down of the RBI autonomy is associated with the
context of regulation of public sector banks, absence of rules of transfer of surpluses from the
RBI to government and recommendations to bypass the RBI’s powers over payment and
settlement systems.

Since RBI performs several functions as a central bank like the role of monetary authority, banker
to the government, debt manager to the government, monopoly issuer of legal tender currency,
the custodian of payment systems and the regulator of banks, all these functions are critical for
growth, macroeconomic stability and financial stability.

Acharya has pointed out that RBI faces constraints in the regulatory framework as well as in
implementation of the regulatory decisions in the regulation of banks, particularly public sector
banks. These limitations are related to asset divestiture, replacement of management and boards,
licence revocation and resolution actions such as merger or sales.

In another speech, on October 12, titled ‘Prompt Corrective Action: An Essential Element of
Financial Stability Framework’ Acharya warned the Government against on diluting the risk
threshold set out by the RBI in various indicators.

While the RBI has insisted on Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) as a regulatory framework to
ensure a healthy banking system for long-term growth, macroeconomic stability and financial
stability, the Government, if it does not respect central bank independence will sooner or later
incur wrath of financial markets, ignite economic fire and come to rue the day they undermine the
regulatory institutions.

Acharya said that the government's horizon of decision-making was rendered short, like the
duration of a T20 match, by several considerations.
 RBI Autonomy at Stake: Experts’ Views
The autonomy of the central bank has not been debated for the first time in the Indian context.
Governor after governor has raised this issue.
 YV Reddy, former RBI Governor said, “A central bank is not expected to be subordinate to the
government.” Adding further he said, “My single objective is to protect the Indian economy from
the Government of India.” He also said, “The jurisdiction of the RBI over public sector banks,
relative to private sector banks, has been restricted by law. The exercise of regulatory authority is
constrained in practice.”
 Raghuram Rajan has also criticized the undue interference of the Government in RBI working.
He said “India needs a strong and independent RBI to ensure macroeconomic stability”.
 Former RBI Governor D Subbarao sarcastically commenting on Government’s interference in
RBI working, said, “But thank God, the Reserve Bank exists.”
 On the move of Government to belittle the autonomy of RBI, Dr Raguram Rajan has pointed out,
“The RBI Governor, as the technocrat with responsibility for the nation’s economic risk
management, is not simply another bureaucrat or regulator, and efforts to belittle the position by
bringing regulatory hierarchy are misguided and do not serve national interest.”
 Experts feel that the RBI needs to maintain a strong balance sheet to perform its functions
effectively. The perception that the RBI capital is in excess of what generally other central banks
have is because of the amounts held in the currency and gold revaluation account (which stood at
`5.29 lakh crore on June 30, 2017). The gains arising out of revaluation of foreign currency assets
are notional and cannot be treated as free reserves that could be transferred to the government.
 In view of all the experts, the Government, as a political entity, needs advice which is in the best
interest of sustaining growth, maintaining macroeconomic stability and financial stability. More
than 80 years of RBI history is witness to the fact that the RBI is the right organisation to advise
the government in this regard. Let the government not treat the RBI as its subordinate.
 While the RBI frames the monetary policies in the long-term interest of the nation, the
government tends to believe that RBI will sing to its tunes as it has made the apex appointments
in the bank
 The Government’s priorities due to upcoming elections may change to deliver on proclaimed
manifestos of the past. The Government may need deliver on populist alternatives as its manifesto
could not delivered upon. But that cannot be the priority of RBI.
 RBI should not be directly subjected to political time-pressures and the induced neglect of the
future. The government should stop using the RBI against the interests of the Nation and let RBI
do its jobs as per statutes, mandates, practises
RBI and Government Interface: Instances of Support
 RBI has put in place a rule-based ‘staggered surplus distribution policy’ (SSDP) in FY18. The
central bank transferred `50,000 crore surplus in two installments, `10,000 crore in March 2018,
to help the Centre tide over a tight fiscal crunch and the remaining amount in August to reduce
the impact of cyclicality in the RBI’s economic capital levels on the surplus transferable to the
government.
 Government should understand that RBI has to take the stressed banks out of the dilemma by
taking various measures. Acharya recently said that without the PCA imposition, some banks
would have witnessed even higher losses and required even higher taxpayer money for re-
capitalisation.
 11 of the 21 public-sector banks are on the RBI’s watchlist for battered financial position. Under
the PCA guidelines, stressed banks operate under some tough conditions. The lenders are
stopped from expanding their branch networks and need to maintain higher provisions. They
may be stopped from lending until they correct their finances.
 RBI has also recently made public its dissent note on certain recommendations of a government
panel under the economic affairs secretary that opposed the idea of setting up an independent
regulator outside the central bank to deal with issues relating to payments.
 As regards monetary policy, the introduction of inflation targeting and constitution of the
Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) are examples of effective and efficient government and
central bank interface.
 Abolition of automatic monetisation, implying RBI financing the deficit of the government and
the introduction of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act again are
landmark decisions jointly taken by the RBI and the government, strengthening the RBI
independence.
 The decision of the government to keep the desired exchange rate management with the RBI is
another example of strong and positive example for building central bank autonomy.

38. Winners compare achievements with goals

39. High profile loan defaulters

Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan in his reply to Parliamentary Panel over
rising NPAs problems in banks had said that during his tenure, a list including
names of high-profile defaulters was being sent to the Prime Minister's office. "
The RBI set up a fraud monitoring cell when I was Governor to coordinate the
early reporting of fraud cases to the investigative agencies. I also sent a list of high
profile cases to the PMO urging that we coordinate action to bring at least one or
two to book. I am not aware of progress on this front. This is a matter that should
be addressed with urgency", Rajan said.

In a note to Chairman of Estimates Committee Murli Manohar Joshi, he further

said: "A variety of governance problems such as the suspect allocation of coal
mines coupled with the fear of investigation slowed down government decision
making in Delhi, both in the UPA and the subsequent NDA governments".

Earlier on Tueaday, Union Minister Smriti Irani launched a scathing attack on the
Congress over former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan's
remarks that most bad loans that account for Indian banks' Non Performing Assets
(NPA) originated during the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) regime between
2006 and 2008.

However, it should be noted that Raghuram Rajan blamed both the UPA and NDA
governments' slow decision making. Project cost overruns escalated for stalled
projects and they became increasingly unable to service debt, he said, adding the
continuing travails of the stranded power plants, even though India is short of
power, suggests government decision making has not picked up sufficient pace to
date.

He further said a larger number of bad loans were originated in the period 2006-
2008 when economic growth was strong, and previous infrastructure projects such
as power plants had been completed on time and within budget.

"It is at such times that banks make mistakes. They extrapolate past growth and
performance to the future. So, they are willing to accept higher leverage in
projects, and less promoter equity. Indeed, sometimes banks signed up to lend
based on project reports by the promoter's investment bank, without doing their
own due diligence," he said.

Rajan's reply came after in August, a parliamentary committee looking into the
issue of mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) has saught former RBI Governor
Raghuram Rajan to appear before it and brief on the matter. Rajan was invited after
former Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Arvind Subramanian praised him before
the Parliament's Committee on Estimates, headed by veteran BJP leader Murali
Manohar Joshi, for identifying the NPA crisis and trying to resolve it.

Joshi has written a letter to Rajan asking to appear before the panel and brief the
members on the issue of mounting NPAs, a source told PTI.

Rajan, who was RBI governor for three years till September 2016, is currently the
Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at Chicago
Booth School of Busines

All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) has announced a list of top 50 loan
defaulters, mainly the corporate firms, whose total default amount to the banks is
allegedly to be around Rs 40,528 crore (Rs 4056.28 billion).

The association demanded a remedy for the bad loans at the earliest to safeguard the
public money in the banks.
The list, released by the association, is on the data on loan not paid from Public
Sector Banks except State Bank of India, IDBI and foreign banks. The association
also plans to come out with top 30 defaulters in each Bank.

The biggest defaulter according to the list is Kingfisher Airlines.

Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited

Rank: 20

Loan not repaid: Rs 700 crore

Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited or DCHL publishes the English-language dailies

Deccan Chronicle, Financial Chronicle and Asian Age and the Telugu daily Andhra
Bhoomi.

Banks have been taking possession of the DCHL’s property and assets and disposing
them off to recover loans.

Enforcement Directorate is also probing the company over money laundering

allegations.

40. The farmer protest in the capital

EW DELHI: Farmers from different parts of the country are knocking at the doors of Parliament in Delhi. Led b y
opposition leaders and activists, nearly one lakh farmers reached Delhi on Thursday for a march to Parliament
today. All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee, an alliance of various farmer bodies, has organised
the protest called Kisan Mukti March. Almost all the opposition parties including the Congress are supporting the
march. The march has disrupted traffic in Delhi on sever ..

What are their grievances?

Farmers demand remunerative prices for their produce and freedom from debt. A pamphlet distributed by the
activists details their grievances. It says farmers get only Rs 5 per kilo for tomato while consumers pay Rs 30.
Similarly, the pamphlet shows such difference in rates of moong dal, apples and milk. “Our life is also cheap. In
the last 20 years, over three lakh farmers have committed suicide,” it says. The pamphlet says the farmers have
no int ..

What do they want?

Protesting farmers demand a special session of Parliament on agrarian crisis to pass two Bills: one pertaining to
one-time full loan waiver, the other for a long-term institutional measures to ensure farmers are not pushed into
debt again. They also demand implementation of Swaminathan Comm ission recommendations that say the
minimum support price should be fixed at 50% above the comprehensive cost of production.

What the government has already done

In July, the Union Cabinet approved a steep rise in the minimum support price (MSP) of cro ps, giving farmers the
promised 50% return on input costs, aiming at easing farm distress and boosting rural demand. The biggest
increase in MSP, about 40-50%, is for coarse grains that are planted by the poorest farmers, mostly in unirrigated
areas. The government said the “historic” Rs 15,000-crore move fulfilled the promise made in this year’s bud ..

Tens of thousands of farmers congregated in the heart of India’s capital on

Friday demanding debt waivers and guaranteed prices for crops,
underscoring challenges Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces before
national elections next year.

A march by more than 50,000 people representing about 200 farmer

groups on Friday was halted a kilometer short of India’s parliament.
Farmers from across the country started gathering in New Delhi Since
Thursday to join the protest, according to Avik Saha, a member of political
party Swaraj Abhiyan. The farm ministry hasn’t yet received any demand
from the protesters, its spokesman said Friday. Farm Minister Radha
Mohan Singh couldn’t immediately be reached when contacted at his office
and on his mobile phone.

Modi’s administration is trying to win over Indian farmers and douse their
ire over the failure to fulfill his promise of 50 percent profit over the cost of
production. As the country heads to polls, due in early 2019, the main
opposition Congress party is moving to cash in on the disenchantment over
unemployment and rising social tensions.

“The calculation of support price that the government fixes is erratic and
erroneous,” said Darshan Pal, a rice and wheat farmer from the northern
state of Punjab, who is participating in the protest. “The government should
include actual rent of land, interest on capital invested and skilled labor
rate while calculating the cost of cultivation of various crops.”

Rising Support
India sharply increases minimum support prices for crops
Source: Agriculture Ministry

The farmers are demanding a special session of parliament to discuss crop

support prices, a nationwide waiver of farm loans amid rising fertilizer
costs and other agricultural inputs. The government’s procurement
agencies, which are mandated to purchase agricultural produce at
guaranteed rates, buy only a small portion of total output, leaving millions
of farmers across the country at the mercy of middlemen.

Top political leaders of several opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi,

Sharad Yadav, Sitharaman Yechury and Arvind Kejriwal, met farmers at the
protest venue.

Election Pledge
Keeping a key election promise made in 2014, Modi earlier this year
approved a 50 percent return over the cost of production. Still, prices of
crops including rice, pulses and oilseeds in some wholesale markets are
below the government-set rates. Lower prices, combined with inadequate
government purchases, have triggered the protests.

About 800 million people of India’s 1.3 billion depend directly or indirectly
on farming, with agriculture accounting for about 16 percent of the
economy. The country is the world’s top grower of cotton and the second-
biggest producer of wheat, rice and sugar.

Indian farmers protest in New Delhi on Nov. 29.

Photographer: Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

Some farmers traveled for more than 2,000 kilometers from different parts
of the country to reach New Delhi to participate in the two-day protest,
according to Raju Shetty, a member of parliament from Maharashtra state,
who is participating in the protest. There was no communication yet from
the government on Friday’s protest, he said. The police said some 1,800
police personnel have been deployed to maintain order.

Indian farmers fetched about 360 billion rupees ($5.2 billion) less last crop
season due to lower market prices of commodities, including rice, corn,
cotton, soybean and some pulses, than what they would have received by
selling at government-set minimum purchase prices, Saha of Swaraj
Abhiyan said.

“The government only announces policies and doesn’t implement them

properly,” said Surveer Singh, 38, a sugar cane and grain farmer from Uttar
Pradesh. “The announcements don’t reflect on the ground and we are
suffering because of that.”

41. Man made environmental disasters

NEW YORK — The oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico is now about the
size of Puerto Rico. It's already reached the marshes of Louisiana.
Oil-covered wildlife are starting to show up along the shores. Shrimp,
fish and oyster harvest areas have been closed. Residents of
Mississippi and Alabama are just waiting for the oil to hit.

As environmental calamity for the Gulf Coast appears imminent, GlobalPost looks at
10 other man-made environmental disasters — both forgotten and infamous — that
could have been prevented.

(Read about the animal species most at risk from the Gulf oil spill.)

The Dust Bowl

The market-driven agricultural practices of U.S. farmers — plowing the virgin topsoil
of the Great Plains and monoculture farming — led to one of the most disastrous
ecological events in the nation’s history. Between 1930 and 1940, drought conditions
and depleted farmland caused severe dust storms, some reaching 10,000 feet in the
sky and called “Black Blizzards.” An estimated 2.5 million people were displaced and
the catastrophe compounded the Great Depression, creating what some have called the
country’s “most hard time.”
Dust bowl of 1935 in Stratford, Texas. (NOAA Photo Library, Historic NWS
collection)

Poison in Minamata Bay

From 1932 to 1968, the Chisso Corporation of Japan released industrial wastewater
with high levels of mercury into the sea around the city of Minamata. The mercury
poisoned the marine food chain and in turn thousands of residents became ill, leading
to the discovery of a new neurological condition called Chisso-Minamata Disease. To
date, more than 1,700 people have died from the disease, which can cause
convulsions, loss of sight and hearing, paralysis, coma and death.

Ecocide in Vietnam

The Rainbow Herbicides showered over the jungles of Southeast Asia included Agent
Blue, Purple and Pink, but Orange accounted for more than half of the nearly 20
million gallons of deadly chemicals used by the U.S. military between 1961 and 1971.
The cost to human life was horrifying and the large-scale destruction of the region’s
environment led to the coinage of the word “ecocide.”
Nguyen Thi Thanh, 53 and her daughter, Tran Thi Le Huyen, 26, who has spina
bifida. (Geoffrey Cain/GlobalPost)

Death in Bhopal

In what is considered the world’s worst industrial catastrophe, 32 tons of deadly

chemical gases leaked into the city of Bhopal, India, on Dec. 3, 1984, and an
estimated 9,000 people died immediately from the invisible, air-born poison. The final
death toll over the ensuing weeks has been estimated at 20,000 and hundreds of
thousands of residents suffered permanent injuries. Today, the Union Carbide plant,
the site of the disaster, remains a toxic waste site contaminating the groundwater in
Bhopal.
Mahmuda Bee, a survivor of the Bhopal disaster. (Raj Patidar/Reuters)

Catastrophe at Chernobyl

First there was Windscale in 1957, then Three Mile Island in 1979, but when a nuclear
reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant in Ukraine had a meltdown in 1986, it became
the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history. The United Nation’s Chernobyl
Forum Report estimated the total number of deaths from cancer caused by the
radiation exposure to be 4,000.
A kindergarten in the abandoned town of Pripyat, Ukraine. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

Keep reading to learn about five more environmental disasters.

The oil crisis

Although it is the most infamous oil spill in history, the Exxon Valdez catastrophe that
dumped 11 million gallons of oil into the Prince William Sound of Alaska in 1989 is
actually far from the largest on record. The Gulf War oil spill in 1991, for example,
resulted in at least 160 million gallons of oil entering the Persian Gulf. Nonetheless,
Exxon Valdez heightened public awareness of the great environmental costs of oil
spills and led Congress to pass the Oil Pollution Act in 1990. Tragically, clean-up
efforts such as high-pressure washing of shorelines that followed Exxon Valdez also
had detrimental effects on the once pristine ecosystem of the sound.
A bird stained with oil after a 2007 spill near Russia. (Alexander Natruskin/Reuters)

Dying oceans

When the cod population crashed in the historically abundant waters off of
Newfoundland in 1992, 40,000 people lost their jobs and the effect on the region’s
marine ecosystem was devastating. Today, fishing stocks from Iceland to Chile are
overfished and suffering. The writing on the wall couldn’t be clearer: The world’s
oceans are being pushed to their ecological limits. And, diminishing populations of
fish don’t just affect the great predators of the seas, they bring the economies and
livelihoods of their human predators down with them.
Wholesale market in Bangladesh. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)

Perfect storm over Lake Victoria

Today, the largest lake in Africa is the center of a perfect storm of environmental
crises: chemical and raw sewage pollution; overfishing; a plague of water hyacinth
plants; exploding algae blooms that suffocate flora and fauna. Additionally, the lake’s
border is shrinking by as much as 150 feet in some places. Forty million Africans in
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are dependent on Lake Victoria for their livelihoods and
sustenance making this one of the worst unfolding environmental disasters.
A highly endangered shoebill. (Reuters)

Rape of the Amazon

Twenty percent of the Amazon rainforest has been lost to logging, soy-farming, cattle
ranches and roads in recent decades. The damage to the forest’s biodiversity is
inestimable and the release of large amounts of carbon held in the forest’s flora could
be accelerating global warming. Some experts now believe the way to mitigate
deforestation of the Amazon could be to create better jobs through sustainable
development. "It's no good people saying the Amazon has to be the sanctuary of
humanity and forget that there are 20 million people living there," said Brazil's
President Luiz Lula da Silva.
The Amazon near Mandaquiri, Brazil. (Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

Our warming planet

Jellyfish swarms. Melting glaciers. Lakes turned to desert. Spreading disease. The
effects of global warming caused by increased greenhouse gases read like descriptions
of the Great Tribulation in The Bible. The first climate change conference was held in
1963 and with increasing urgency, scientists have been raising red flags ever since,
warning us that because of unchecked consumption of fossil fuels, the human species
is approaching a critical threshold where we will no longer be able to influence the
warming climate.
42. Democracy in India
Democracy in India was formed after the nation was freed from the clutches of the British rule in
1947. It led to the birth of the world’s largest democracy. Under the effective leadership of the
Indian National Congress, the people of India attained the right to vote and elect their
government.

There are a total of seven national parties in the country – Indian National Congress (INC),
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI),
Communist Party of India -Marxist (CPI-M), All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP). Apart from these, many regional parties come forward for elections to state
legislatures. Elections to the parliament and state assemblies are held every 5 years.

Democratic Principles of India

Here are the Democratic Principles of India:

Sovereign
Sovereign means independent – free from interference or control of any foreign power. The
country has a government directly elected by the citizens of the country. Indian citizens have the
sovereign power to elect their leaders by elections conducted for the parliament, local bodies as
well as the state legislature.

Socialist
Socialist means social as well as economic equality for all the citizens of the country. Democratic
socialism means attaining socialistic goals by way of evolutionary, democratic and non-violent
means. The government is making continual efforts to lessen the economic inequality by
decreasing the concentration of wealth.

Secular
This means the right and freedom to choose one’s religion. In India, one has the right to practise
any religion or reject them all. The Government of India respects all the religions and does not
have any official state religion. It does not disgrace or promote any religion.

Democratic
 This means the government of the country is elected democratically by its citizens. The people of
the country have the right to elect its government at all the levels (Union, State and local) by way
of universal adult franchise also known as ‘one man one vote’. The right to vote is given without
any discrimination on the basis of the colour, caste, creed, religion, gender or education. Not just
political, the people of India also enjoy social and economic democracy.

Republic
The head of the state here is not a heredity king or queen but an elected person. The ceremonial
head of the state, that is, the President of India is elected by an electoral college for a period of
five years, while executive powers are vested in the Prime Minister.

Challenges Faced by Indian Democracy

While the constitution promises a democratic state and the people of India have been entitled to
all the rights a person should enjoy in a democratic state, there are a lot of factors that impact its
democracy and pose a challenge to it. Here is a look at these factors:

 Illiteracy
Illiteracy among people is one of the biggest challenges the Indian democracy has faced ever
since its inception. Education enables the people to exercise their right to vote wisely.

 Poverty
People belonging to the poor and backward classes are usually manipulated by the political
parties. They are often bribed to acquire their vote.

Apart from these, casteism, gender discrimination, communalism, religious fundamentalism,

political violence and corruption are among other factors that are a challenge for democracy in
India.

Conclusion
Democracy in India has received appreciation from world over. The right to vote to every citizen
of the country has been given without any discrimination on the basis of their caste, colour,
creed, religion, gender or education. However, the huge cultural, religious and linguistic diversity
in the country is a major challenge for its democracy. The differences sought to be created out of
it, are a cause of serious concern. There is a need to curb these divisive tendencies in order to
ensure the smooth functioning of democracy in India.

Democracy in India – Success :-

 India is the world’s largest democracy. India is staying as one unit despite having
vast no of cultures, languages and religions. This is possible because of the
democracy in India. Everyone is satisfied because they have a say in their
country’s future. Keeping a country together is not that easy. Many countries are
lost in the battle of separatist politics. For example, recently Britain is exited from
United Kingdom. But India managed to keep itself as one entity. By this we can
say that democracy in India is a success.
 Democracy is the starting point of any society’s growth. From the day of
Independence, India has come a long way. Now, everyone have a say in
country’s development. Minorities and disadvantaged sections are represented in
parliament which enabled inclusive growth.
 When India got independence, its economy is in shambles. Extreme poverty,
unemployment, food insecurity were the major problems before Indian
government. But India’s democratic constitution successfully balanced
development and welfare of the country. Now, India is one of the fastest growing
economies in the world.
 India is successfully conducting regular elections which is a sign of successful
democracy.
 In India, the actual power is in the hands of citizens because if people do not like
the governance of ruling party, they can overthrow it.

Also Read : Lokpal Bill

Democracy in India – Failure :-

 Though India has a democratic constitution, in reality the power is in the hands of
politicians, bureaucracy, rich and powerful. In many cases, people have no
choice but to accept the decisions of ruling government. For example, from many
years people are fighting against the installation of nuclear plants, but still
government is making deals with other countries to establish nuclear power
plants. And all the people that are forced to leave their lands for development
projects are poor people. These power balances question the very nature of
democracy in India.
 Though people have the power of vote, many politicians are manipulating people
in the name of caste, freebies and welfare schemes.
 The rise in crimes and violence in India is a sign of failure of democracy. In other
forms of governments, punishments for criminals is quick and severe.
 Getting justice is not at all easy in India. Many cases are pending in courts for
years. Victims are forced to suffer again by visiting courts many times if not
throughout their lifetime. We couldn’t improve the situation with our democratic
constitution.
 In India, rich are getting richer and poor are getting poorer. This do not happen in
a democratic country.

Also Read : Top 10 GD Topics of 2019 (with Answers)

Conclusion :-

Indian citizens protest if they are against the decisions of government. People
are expressing their views when government makes a new law or alters an existing
law. This is a sign of success of democracy in India because people have a say in
country’s politics. Though there are some loopholes, people and government
together are working towards deepening democracy in India.

43. Are communal playgrounds necessary?

The Social Benefits of City and Community Playgrounds

Professionals in the medical field have understood the benefits of physical activity for years. Children who
engage in outdoor play benefit from several physical and social aspects of community playgrounds. In addition,
city playgrounds and parks contribute significantly to a sense of community. They also contribute to a reduction in
community crime. Statistics pulled from multiple sources show that community playgrounds deliver a wide range
of communal benefits. AAA State of Play offers commercial grade play structures that our customers can
purchase online.
Battling Obesity: The Role of Community Playgrounds
Children who experience obesity undergo a range of social pressures and rejection. The National Center for
Biotechnology Information revealed in a 2012 study that children experiencing obesity face lower academic
achievement and suffer from poor social adjustment. Furthermore, the CDC reports that 13% of children and pre -
teens experience serious problems with weight. Access to city playgrounds and parks p rovides children and
adults the opportunity to engage in exercise. The CDC revealed that a 25.6% increase in physical activity
occurred when individuals gained access to a play area.

Children experiencing weight problems who have access to a playground ben efit in two ways: they gain the
opportunity to exercise regularly and engage in social activities. The physical benefits associated with
playgrounds are clear. Non-obese children get to socialize with children facing weight problems. Consequently,
with the proper guidance non-obese children can learn empathy and compassion by participating in social play.

Creating a Strong Sense of Community

The National Association of Home Builders reports that community playgrounds are one of the top five important
amenities for homeowners. In addition, small business owners considering relocation also ranked parks high.
Residents who lived in areas close to parks engaged more often in social activities. This increased their sense of
community and belonging. Inner-city neighborhoods undergo a significant decrease in crime rates and the lives of
at-risk youth are improved. For example, the Fort Myers Police Department noted a 28% drop in crimes involving
juveniles. This decrease in crime occurred only after the city of Fort Myers installed a recreation center in the
middle of a low-income neighborhood.

The Social and Developmental Benefits for Children

Studies show that play assists children with adapting to the society in which they live, and the world around them.
The benefits of playgrounds for children extend well beyond any physical gains. Developing strong play and
social skills early in life contribute to a child's ability to develop socially, cognitively and academically. Children
also gain sound problem solving skills and strong self-esteem.
Playgrounds place children in a position to exercise and participate in creative activities. Developmentally
appropriate community playground equipment enhances the skills children gain in social settings. In addition,
when parents participate and encourage social interactions during trips to playgrounds, children benefit from
positive adult guidance in social situations. Several types of playgrounds exist, each of which serve a different
purpose.

Installing Appropriate Community Playground Equipment

In the past, two major playground types dominated the market and formed the basis for several sub -types. In the
United States, the most widely recognized playground configuration is the traditional playground. The second
major playground form is the adventure playground. Sub-types included educational, designer, creative and
preschool. The traditional playground offers swings, merry-go-rounds and jungle gyms, to name a few.

Today, the flexibility offered by technology and materials provides the foundation for more community playground
equipment options. For example, play areas are structured to meet the needs of children in different age groups.
In addition, companies interested in environmental conservation can select recycled plastic equipment. Finally,
playgrounds based on themes deliver a rich learning experience. AAA State of Play's online playground
equipment shop allows you to buy a structure that meets your organization's needs.

Commercial playgrounds are not only places where children can run, jump, and play. To build a commercial
playground in your community means providing your children and their friends a safe place to explore their
imagination, build social skills, and stay active and healthy. Children are more likely to venture outdoors to play
when they have a safe and exciting space to do so, and it gives them a chance to build up their bodies and their
minds as they climb, slide, swing, and sometimes splash their way into fun.
The following commercial playground benefits will help your family and hopefully inspire you to advocate for more
play equipment in your neighborhood.
Fight Childhood Obesity
According to the AAA State of Play program, nearly 13% of children and pre -teens suffer from weight issues.
Overweight children are less likely to succeed in school, more likely to be bullied, and often experience fr om poor
self-esteem and social rejection. Staying active is the best and easiest way for children to avoid obesity, and
community playgrounds encourage outdoor and active play.
Taking your children to the park for a few hours every week will help them stay healthy. Oftentimes, children will
avoid exercise, especially if they are told to do so by doctors or parents. But playing at the park disguises the
exercise as fun and games, giving your child the opportunity to take responsibility for their active lifes tyle and
pursue the activities they actually want to play.
Build Social Skills
Not only do children actively engage with playground equipment, they also engage with other children who are
playing. Playing on a playground helps children develop the social skills they need to succeed in school, including
learning how to take turns, practicing patience, and developing a strong sense of self -control. Developing these
skills early on the playground will help children succeed cognitively, academically, and help them build healthy
and long-lasting friendships. Building these social skills in children is also important to the community as a whole.
When you have a commercial playground, children of different races, creeds, and economic backgrounds can all
play together in a hostile-free environment. This sense of togetherness and equality will translate into
understanding, compassion, and acceptance as these children grow into adults.
Use Your Imagination
Play is an important aspect of childhood development, and when young children are given the opportunity to
explore and play on their own terms, they are preparing their brains for academic problem solving and social
experiences. Playing is a time when kids can re-enact the things they’ve seen, whether it be from their parents or
on TV, and they will start to learn right from wrong, appropriate and inappropriate, as their games progress.
Engaging with other children as they play will also help them build the social skills discussed earlier, but it also
helps them develop a sense of creativity. Allowing children to explore their creative side at a young age will help
them develop the cognitive skills necessary for school as well as give them a huge boost in their self -esteem.
Strengthen Self-Esteem
While imaginative play can build a strong sense of self-esteem in children, so will their interactions with others.
The more they play with other children on the playground, the more they will understand their own sense of self
and what they mean to others.
As they navigate their way through the swing-sets and slides, they will learn how to manage their physical skills,
and as they play with other children, they will navigate their way through social relationships, learning new social
cues along the way. These interactions both on and off the playground equipment provide children with
opportunities to test their physical and interpersonal skills, and you can see their confidence grow the more they
play.
Practice Problem Solving
Problems will arise on the playground. There may be equipment out of reach for younger children that they must
work towards as they get older, and there may be tiffs on the playground between children that will need to be
worked out. As events like these play out, your child will be able to try their hand a t problem solving in order to
come up with the best outcome.
Of course, parental guidance is sometimes required in order to moderate fights and to offer an extra lift on the
monkey bars. But each of these opportunities are opportunities for children to lea rn, and community playgrounds
are safe spaces for this type of self-exploration to happen.
Build a Sense of Community
The AAA State of Play lists community playgrounds as one of the most important amenities families look for
when searching for new homes. Even businesses who are seeking to relocate rank parks as one of their top
choices for nearby amenities. This is because families in neighborhoods with parks are more likely to engage in
social activities outside of the home.
The community playground offers a free and safe communal space for large groups to gather, socialize, and play,
and the more families involved in the planning of a park, the more likely it is to be successful.
Parks are not only for children. They offer adults the same space to relax, e ngage outdoors, and meet other
parents and adults which can lead to fruitful and rewarding adult relationships. Community playgrounds are built
on a sense of togetherness, and bringing people together in a safe space where they can exercise, play, and
interact is the role of a good park.
A community playground will benefit your family in numerous ways. If you are interested in building a park in your
neighborhood, you can apply for a commercial playground grant. We have information on playground grants that
can help you get started here, and we offer state-of-the-art safety equipment that will protect your children and
your family as you play.

44. Browsing at the workplace affects

productivity
With the advent of internet, our lives have become more and more simplified. Internet
use has revolutionized the pattern of working style at the workplace. But it also led to
an increased unprofessional activities at the workplace, such as playing games, texting
and browsing online. It has been shown to affect productivity of the employees at the
workplace. There is a fine line between healthy use and problematic use, which is
getting blurred these days.
So let’s discuss what can be the possible benefits and losses of browsing online at
work.
For: Yes, browsing at work affects productivity adversely

 Inefficacious time loss: By fact we know that majority of employees tend to

browse online and spend time surfing on Internet on websites unrelated to
work. Because “time is money,” every minute wasted has a direct negative
impact on the organisations targets and goals.
 Reduces productivity: The studies have also been revealed which websites
keep employees most off-task. And results are not that surprising- socializing
on Facebook occupy 41%, while 37% use LinkedIn, and 25% are shopping at
Amazon. Other destinations include Yahoo and Google+ and to a lesser extent
 Twitter and Pinterest. After switching from the work website to the browsing
website it takes time and more concentrated effort to get back to the work
which has direct repercussions.
 Loss of human resource: The younger, more tech-savvy worker demographic
appears to be the biggest group of recreational Web surfers. Of employees
between the ages of 18 and 35, approximately 73% reported spending time
inappropriately at work on a daily basis.
 Difficulty in meeting targets: The employees and companies indulged in
target based jobs found it really difficult to meet targets as browsing eats most
of their time.

Against: No, browsing does not affect productivity adversely

 Medium of relaxation: The standard working hours of most of the

organisations is 10 hours, considering that it is not humanly possible to work
for 10 hours straight in a desk job, employees take refuge in social networking
sites, which can actually lift them up and make them able to work more.
 More informed employees: The world of internet is intriguing, you try to
search something but the end up getting plethora of other facts. So you can be
connected to the world, family, entertainment and much more through
browsing. And it’s faster than actually asking everyone how they are or how
the stock market is is doing.
 Increases productivity: The kind of rhetoric work the employees do in order
to gain specialisation takes away the creativity in the process, it becomes
imperative to get some time free of the specialisation regime and regain
productivity.
 Quick fix to problems: Sometimes an employee may find himself trapped in a
problem at that time browsing can be life saving for that employee. If browsing
helps the organisation in keep their valuable personnel and increasing
productivity they must have no problem with it.

Therefore we'd like to say that browsing can affect the work effectiveness and
efficiency but at the same time it can be really helpful sometimes. It will be good idea
if the companies create, publish, and enforce policies on personal Internet use. This
will potentially reduce the liability associated with issues related to employee job
performance.
The Revolution of internet enabled technological tools such as Smart phones, iPods
and other internet-devices including computers within the workplace has let both
positive and negative impact on employee productivity. Internet use has
revolutionized the pattern of working style at the workplace which has led to an
increased use for non professional activities at the workplace. With widespread
connectivity and constantly emerging online activities, people are spending more
time online for studying, learning, communicating, creating, and entertaining
themselves. Though use of internet helped in shaping and promoting job
satisfaction among employees, it has helped in diminishing loneliness and
depression and enhance social support and self esteem.
Mobile internet devices permit employees to enjoy the comforts of doing their jobs
not only during day but also after working hours. Internet use at the workplace
ranges from aimless internet surfing for personal goals not related to work. It is
assumed that most of employees spent at least 1 hour on non work-related activities
during a regular work day, especially using the Internet for personal reasons on
mobile. It emerges that excessive internet use within the workplace culminates to
reduced productivity due to unrestricted autonomy. Essentially, employees spend
most of the time focusing on personal issues rather than focusing on achieving
organizational goals. This leads to loss of productive time hence productivity may
tend to decline. Here is List of Best MBA College in NCR from where MBA in
Human Resource can be pursued.

NET-SURFING AND ITS DYSFUNCTION

Majority of employees regularly spend time surfing the internet on websites
unrelated to work. Because “Time is Money”, every hour wasted has a direct
negative impact on the bottom line productivity. The main reason for slacking at
work is that the employees don’t feel challenged enough in their job. Internet
surfing within the workplace interferes with work life as employees spend most of
their time surfing or chatting instead of working. Therefore, productive time is lost
leading to negative consequences on the overall productivity of a business
organization.
Not only this Internet can be misused as any intentional act by workers to utilize
the internet for non-work related activities within the official working hours. Misusing
the internet has been associated with ruinous activities such as online piracy, theft
of Intellectual property and dissemination of offensive materials.

EMPLOYEES ARE MORE PRODUCTIVE WITH SMARTPHONE

USE
The use of Smart phones within the workplace promotes employee autonomy, good
employee relations and knowledge sharing among employees. This culminates to
increased work engagement and job satisfaction that in turn contributes to increased
work efficiency. Individuals found to be “Internet-dependent” have also frequently
been found to be more attracted to interactive Internet applications, such as
chatting, games, and shopping, whereas non dependent individuals seem to use the
Internet almost exclusively for sending emails and searching for information.
Internet acts as a learning and communication tool for employees enabling timely
conveyance of information over vast geographical distances.
Though web browsing for personal use might be considered unproductive, it has
been linked with increased job satisfaction. Internet users within the workplace
acknowledged that going online while at the workplace improved their morale
towards work. However when internet access is strictly prohibited, the outcome is
deleterious since employees are demoralized besides remaining nu-knowledgeable.
Based on the above Perception, internet use within the workplace brings maximum
benefits when internet management policy is properly managed.
IMPACT OF INTERNET ADDICTION
There is a fine line between healthy use and problematic use of internet surfing,
which is getting blurred these days. Internet addiction of often comorbid with mental
disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, excessive daytime
sleepiness, problematic alcohol use, injury and depression. Although Internet
addiction is currently not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, it is regarded as disorder of concern and cognitive dysfunctions (impaired
working memory) which is associated with internet addiction related to substance
and behavioral addiction. The behavioral addictions among net surfing includes
varied themes such as shopping, exercise, online video gaming , socializing through
social media and unacceptable online behavior. Here is list of best MBA college in
NCR from which MBA program can be undertaken.

HOW TO GET RID OF BROWSING MENACE

In order to alleviate the negative consequences of internet and Smartphone use
within the workplace the following should be done:

 Internet use policy within the workplace should be developed and carefully
monitored to promote compliance. This would help eliminate internet abuse
within the workplace hence eliminating reduced work productivity.
 Organizational management should deploy technology experts to filter
information entering the internet sites within the workplace. This would
restrict the kind of information that employees would access from the internet
sites without demoralizing them.
 Organizations implementing ‘no internet access policy’ should nullify such
policy and instead develop a restrictive internet use policy. This would
promote knowledge sharing and employee engagement hence creating
employee satisfaction.
 Organizations should allow the use of Smart phones and the internet in the
workplace but develop an ethical code to guide their use. This is crucial in
avoiding internet misuse in the workplace setting.

Conclusion
With advancements in technological innovations especially the linkage of
technological devices with the internet has had enormous impact on business
operations and employee work life. There is no doubt that browsing at work place
goes far enough and it affects the productivity adversely being one of the biggest
culprits, yet excessive restriction of internet use leads to decreased employee
morale and loss of satisfaction.
Therefore, organizations should develop sound internet use policy, carefully
implement and monitor employee compliance. This would help achieve optimal
results in relation to the gains of internet use within the workplace. MBA in Human
Resource Management can be pursued from best MBA College in Greater
Noida like Mangalmay Group of Institution which will provide you the gateway to
prosperous future. Kindly visit our website http://www.mangalmay.org/ to
download brochure and more information related to various degree programs.

45. Do brands rule our lives?

Introduction:-
Do brands rule our lives, we will discuss in this context. If it is asked to any lay man that, what do you
understands by the term “Brand”? A simple answer may come from its end that, Brand refers to those
products which can only be purchased by the financially affluent people. But, the reality is something
different; because if we observe technically the term Brand refers to a manufacturer or trader who
does the manufacturing or the trading process of its own products or the products it gets supplied
from other resources & go for the further sales processes to the open market.

Yes! Brands do rule our lives:-

 We always prefer to purchase branded products because; we have an intuition that they are the
best.
 Many of the youngsters prefer to go for branded products because they take it as their style
statement.
 The elite customers never go for any other option rather than going for the branded ones only.
 Brands endorse their products by the help of celebrities & other influential people to attract the
customers by targeting their sentimental inclinations towards the aforesaid personalities.
 Brands are playing a very important role in the lives of individuals as it indicates their taste &
status symbol.
Here we discuss that the brands really rule our lives. we understand “Do brands rule our lives”

No! Brands don’t rule our lives:-

 A common man never prefers the brand; rather it prefers the quality and the value of its money.
Thus it goes for the economic products belonging from each variant.
 As far as the buying behavior of the common man is concerned, they remain inclined about
having a cheaper variant of every product variant with a good quality which can last for a longer
period of time by satisfying its immediate requirements.
 The common buyers who belong from the middle class or upper middle class of our society
never go for the branded products with high price tag, they rather go for the less endorsed or
less known brands for getting the same product at a lower price range.
 The common buyers never prefer to go for high priced or elite brands because their pocket never
allows them to do so, thus they go for the less known ones.
 The brands had never mesmerized the common people by their high budget promotional drives,
because they prefer to have good food rather spending on good brands or elite
brands.
Here we
discuss that the brands don’t rule our lives. we understand “Do brands rule our lives”

Conclusion:-
As per the discussion above, it can be concluded that the brands have their own place in the market
as well as in the conscience of the people; so we can say that brands partially rule our lives because
the inclination and preference towards them (brands) differs from person to person.

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Yes :-

 Companies spend a lot on marketing and influence people through

advertisements and other marketing strategies to promote their brands. Most of
the times, our decisions while purchasing products are influenced by their
marketing strategies.
 Subconsciously, many people judge others based on the branded goods they
use.
 The hype that is created around branded product is so high that people spend
beyond their budget just to fit into the peer group. By this we can say that brands
rule our lives.
 Companies hire data scientists, psychologists to influence and manipulate
consumers. By the amount they put into it, we can say that they are getting huge
profits by manipulating our choices.
 Brands influence us so much that we tend to neglect the loss to local stores
because of brands. Many companies just pack the same product that local stores
sell, and sell them for high prices by branding them. We are caught up in the web
of branded goods that we often forget that local stores do sell quality products for
cheaper prices.
 Many people buy fake imitations of branded goods. By this, we can observe the
importance of brands in our society. Companies market their products in such a
way that using their products is turning into a style statement.
 Companies creates trends. They make us believe that their clothes or products
are in trend, so that we buy them to keep up with the times.

Also Read : Group Discussion topics for School students (with Answers) of
2018

No :-

 Companies just market their products, and the ultimate decision to get influenced
by their marketing strategies lies with us, consumers. So, brands do not rule our
lives.
 We can say that it’s a win-win situation for both companies and consumers.
Companies put so much effort to deliver quality productsto get a good name for
their brands. This helps consumers to not waste money on low quality products.
Once the brand earns the trust of it’s consumers, they tend to buy from the same
companies, and brands build their loyal customer base.
 If we go to a new city or country, we may not know the good local stores that sell
quality products, but if we know the quality of specific brand for the products we
 require, we can easily buy them in super markets. It saves us a lot of time in
figuring out which local store to trust.

Conclusion :-

Although brands do not rule our lives, subconsciously they influence us a lot that
our purchase choices do depend on the advertisements we see in our daily lives.
Some people do recognize it and tries to buy brands that are worth the price, and
some others fall into the trap of branded goods and buys expensive stuff.

HOW DO BRANDS REALLY IMPACT OUR LIVES?

Trying to remember and write down all the brands you see throughout the day on a college campus
would be exhausting. Even just an hour in the CUB on campus would create a list of numerous
brands, and repetitive instances of seeing the same brands and placements. Granted, a college
campus is an atmosphere where brands may be more important or vital to this demographics social
status and all around lives, with athletes and universities having their own brand in which students
want to relate. But the fact is that it is realistically impossible to remove brands from your environment
anywhere you go or live. The interesting thing about brands circa the mid 90’s till now, is that it is less
about the actual product per say, and more about what the “brand” says and does to the person who
wears/owns it. The things people wear have become so important in our society that people talk and
gossip about what brands people wear and how they wear them.

Many people use brands to express their identity and admit that it is a way to determine the type of
person someone is upon first impression. The companies themselves are purposely creating an
importance and social value on their brands. The social justice is buried under all
the unconscious meanings of wearing certain clothes that the normal person undermines as they go
about their days, because it is normal in their environments to be bombarded with hundreds if not
thousands of brands daily. The prices compared to how much it costs to make many of these
products is unjust in itself. We as consumers are fooled and intrigued by the expert advertisers to
have a desire to purchase items that these companies are “making” important in our society, while
making 300% profit on products that are minimal expenses for them to make due to globalization

After watching the No Logo movie, the clothing I wear affects my thoughts more on the injustice that is
gone through to make the shirt or shoes I am wearing, especially how it embodies the idea of
“globalization”. Its hard to know what exactly is going on in other countries, in factories for big name
companies that are based out of our country. Even after doing research, and listening to protestors
and the companies, I personally believe its hard to determine the severity of globalization, and if there
are any advantages for the people in their local lives compared to other jobs. The movie describes
how the workers are paid extremely low wages and many companies now are still trying to lower
production costs, and how companies outsource to so many different places that some parts of
products come from entirely different parts of the world. No matter the severity though, the
globalization process is affecting workers both in the United States (unemployment rate) and workers
across the world, with wages and the amount of jobs being offered.
 In the end, I too an advertising major, am affected by the ads and “brand identities” that are around us
all. I too am brand conscious with all the Nike apparel I wear, and Apple products I love. But the
branding and logos we see and use everyday would not be so bad, if in order for us to have them
other human beings would be exploited, given below survival wages and were subject to the rules and
regulations of dominating brands around the world.

46. Celebrations that unite communities

10 Community Event
Ideas To Bring Everyone
Together
 CHARITY

 SEP 15, 2016

Local events are a great way to bring communities closer together.
Whether you want to raise funds for a worthy cause, bring about
positive change in your area, celebrate something special or simply
get to know your neighbours, a community event will help rally the
masses.

Deciding what type of event you should hold will depend on your
goals, as well as the size and demographic of your target audience.
However, here are 10 tried and trusted ideas for community events
that should help get everyone together. For further ideas, tips and
tricks for community events, join the discussion over industry forum
EventTribe.
1. Host a street party
Street parties or ‘block parties’ are said to have originated in New
York at the start of World War 1. Entire blocks were roped off so a
parade and patriotic singing could be held to honour the members of
that block who had gone off to war. In the UK, street parties started in
1919 as ‘Peace Teas’ after the war as a treat for children in those
times of hardship, and were formal sit down affairs.

From then onwards, street parties were commonly held in England

and Wales on all major national days of celebration, such as the
coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 and the wedding of Charles
and Diana in 1981.

Street parties are now being held at any time, for all ages, to build
community spirit at the street level. They are a more relaxed affair with
attendees asked to bring a dish to share or with a barbecue arranged.
According to Streets Alive, a resource for street party planning, Bristol
is the UK’s street party capital with around 150 held each year.
The government has produced a step-by-step guide for anyone
looking to hold a street party, which can be downloaded here.
Related: Your Guide to Planning a Successful Charity Event
2. Put on a film screening
Who doesn’t enjoy watching a great movie on a big screen with a tub
of tasty popcorn? You can organise a film screening at a local school,
church, community centre or even outside, under the stars. Choose to
screen a recent blockbuster or go for an old classic and embrace a
theme, like ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ with guests encouraged to come
in fancy dress.
On the other hand, if you have a message to get across or are
marking a particular occasion you can choose a relevant movie i.e.
‘The Dam Busters’ to commemorate Remembrance Day or ‘The Fault
in Our Stars’ to raise awareness about living with cancer.

But don’t forget, under UK copyright law, if you are playing films
outside your domestic or home circle, you will need to obtain a licence
to do so (even for free of charge events and fundraisers).

You can apply online for a Single Title Screening Licence (STSL) –
prices start at £83 (plus £150 refundable deposit). For a full price list
click here.
Related: 10 Dos and Dont’s For Running Your First Film Screening
3. Organise a pub quiz
A quiz night with general knowledge questions can appeal to a broad
audience, or you can target particular groups by focusing on specialist
subjects, such as football or music. Theming your quiz can also give it
an extra edge; for example, how about holding one on Halloween with
questions about horror films, along with spooky decorations to get
everyone in the spirit!
The hardest part of holding a quiz night is inevitably writing the
questions. If you research your own trivia on the internet, then be
careful how you select the sites you choose to get the questions from.
Do not just crib from the first list of horror movie facts you come
across – your participants may well have been on the same website!

Alternatively, you can buy a pre-made quiz

pack. Quizpacks.co.uk offers a ‘Quiz of the Month’ with a mix of
general knowledge questions or a ‘Bespoke Quizpack’ where you can
choose from a range of different topics for each round category.
Related: 5 Ways to Make Fundraising Fun with Games
4. Gather a gardening gang
If there’s a green space in your community that has seen better days,
why not organise a group of volunteers to restore it to its former glory?
Digging out weeds, picking litter and planting flowers will transform it
into something for all to enjoy and encourage people to take an active
part in caring for their local area.

Or perhaps your child’s school has an unused area of playing field

that could be put to better use? Approach the PTA about turning it into
a vegetable patch with the help of parents and pupils, growing
produce for school dinners while teaching the children about where
food comes from.

Alternatively, bring everybody together to brighten up your street by

holding a ‘make a hanging basket’ event. Challenge all your
neighbours to get involved and award a prize for the best blooms.

5. Hold a swap shop

Holding a swapping event can have both social and environmental
benefits for your community. Not only does it minimise the number of
unwanted items going to landfill, but it also helps those in need –
according to official statistics, there are 4 million children in the UK
living in households that cannot afford to replace worn out or broken
furniture and electrical items.

A swap shop is a cashless local event where people exchange

unwanted items for something they do want. Not everyone needs to
bring something – the more takers the better it will mean you will have
very little left over at the end.
You may choose to have an event at a specific venue or simply a day
when everyone puts their unwanted items out on the street and
anyone can take what they want.

Just remember to notify the local council first and arrange for the
anything not claimed to be taken to a local charity shop or furniture
reuse organisation afterwards.

Recycle for Greater Manchester has put together a great guide on

running swap shops, which can be accessed here.
Related: 72 Unusual, Fantastic Fundraising Event Ideas
6. Organise an arts & crafts festival
In every community, there are budding artists and craft enthusiasts
that you could bring together by creating your own arts & crafts
festival.

The term arts & crafts covers such a magnitude of different

disciplines, that there really isn’t anything stopping you setting up
stalls selling anything you want; from pottery to watercolours, knitted
wear to jewellery, there’ll be something for everyone to buy.

A community in Highams Park created a community arts festival and

managed to get a local street artist hub to come down and create
some live art. If you’re trying to reach younger members of the
community, live street art is a great way to get them to your festival.
Many street artist newcomers may work for free in order to build some
publicity, if you will be adding a charitable element to the festival, the
artist may even let you auction or raffle off their artwork.

The Highams Park Arts Festival also included installations throughout

the town, most of which were interactive requiring the community
to get crafty themselves and add to the pieces. This is a great way to
get people to walk around different parts of town, as well as making
them part of the festival itself.

Related: How to Organise the Perfect Arts and Culture Festival

7. Use a themed day
There are a multitude of different themed days you could utilise, you
only need to check out the website ‘Days of the Year‘ to see how
many different “National’ days are out there.
A firm favourite, which will also help your local library, is World Book
Day. The best way to get the community involved is by getting
everyone to dress as their favourite character from any book they
choose. This could mean dressing as Where’s Wally, The Cat in the
Hat, Mr Darcy even! The possibilities are endless!
Invite local authors, or even famous authors who have ties to your
community. You can organise a selection of readings with an open-
mic night, and why not organise a poetry competition and get a local
bookshop to donate prizes?

8. Organise a performance
Amateur dramatics has been a long standing part of the community,
so why not gather some aspiring thespians together and organise a
show?

This doesn’t have to be on a stage in the community hall, why not

change things up and create a walking performance? Get the
audience to follow a set course around town, where they can watch
parts of the play in certain areas. Have your actors do scenes or
interact with the audience in-between stops, making them part of the
performance.

Use the seasons to your advantage to entice people to see your

performance. Everyone loves getting into the Christmas Spirit around
December, so why not perform ‘A Christmas Carol’? Or you could
make use of a nearby forest or gardens to perform ‘A Midsummer
Night’s Dream’ when the summer months are here.

9. Food Festival/Farmer’s Market

Who can say no to delicious food? Especially when the town is filled
with the most amazing smells!

Whether you get some local farmers, caterers or local food shops
together, this is a great way to highlight the local produce and local
sellers in the area. As well as getting to eat all the delicious food at
the event, people will know they will be able to buy this produce
locally on any other given day.
Why not think Great British Bake Off and ask the community to create
their own showstopper cakes and raffle them off. No one can turn
down cake, especially if you have a tea stand nearby!

Related: How to Organise the Perfect Food and Drink Festival

10. Fireworks / Bonfire Night
Fireworks always bring in the crowds. There is something about
lighting up the sky that just amazes people. Add a bonfire to the
equation and you have a perfect winter event. Serve hearty food like
jacket potatoes, with a hot chocolate (maybe a Baileys hot chocolate
for the adults) and you’ll keep the crown fed, watered, and more
importantly, warm!

You may be limited to using fireworks to certain nights of the year like
Guy Fawkes Night and New Year’s Eve, but there isn’t anything
stopping you having your own bonfire night with all the added
activities to go with it, like lighting sparklers and toasted
marshmallows.

Related: Fireworks Night Ideas to Make Your Event Sparkle

Conclusion
Holding a community event is well worth the effort. Whether you’re
organising it on behalf of your organisation, club, church or just for
your neighbourhood, bringing people together in this way helps create
a more caring and inclusive community. Ultimately, it can make your
local area a nicer place to live.

Remember that Eventbrite offers you all the tools you need for
organising your community event. This includes your own free-of-
charge professional event page and registration and ticketing system,
as well as facilities to help you promote your event. Click here to get
started! And if you’re new to organising events, learn how to create
an event plan with our handy template.
47. Reading newspapers should be mandatory

10 Benefits of Reading Newspapers for

Students
Newspaper is a very good source of information. It has various sections and topics.
It covers almost all topics. World’s events and political affairs are also highlighted.
Newspaper strengthens the vocabulary and grammar of reader. 10 benefits of
reading newspaper for students are highlighted in this article.

1. It strengthens reading of

students

Newspaper is the best source to strengthen reading for student. Student develops
habit of reading newspaper daily. Reading is a very healthy activity. Reading habit
makes student active learner. Student gets full command on reading with the
passage of time.

2. It enhances the vocabulary of student

Daily reading of newspapers increases the repertoire of student’s vocabulary.

Student learns different words from newspaper. Student can note down difficult
words with meanings. This increases vocabulary of students. Good vocabulary
helps to write impressive essays and assignments.

3. It gives useful information on politics

Different political aspects are presented on newspaper. Political students can get a
vast range of political information from newspaper. Students should make a habit
to read political news, this increases student’s political knowledge.

4. It is a best source to enhance general knowledge

Students who read newspaper daily are very good at general knowledge. They
score very high in general knowledge quizzes. Their reading habit enhances their
critical understanding as well.

5. It keeps student updated with current developments of country and the

world

Newspaper keeps student updated with the latest happenings of country and the
world. Various economic, political and social events are updated. International
relations and foreign policies are discussed.

6. Students get useful ideas and topics for researches/projects

Students get useful ideas about their research proposals. Newspaper is a handy
source to get multiple topics and ideas. Latest researches are also discussed in
newspaper.

7. Student’s writing skill enhances

Reading newspaper enhances writing skills of students. The writing style is

improved and he embellishes his essays and assignments to impress his instructors.
The professors get good impression and student scores good grades in exams as
well.

8. Entertainment and sports news

Students get entertainment and sports news. Different sport events are discussed
and students get to know about different famous personalities of the sports’ world.
The entertainment and sports news are also very important for students. They can
also get unique and different ideas about vogue and latest trends.
 9. Students get useful information on latest discoveries and inventions

Latest discoveries and inventions are published on the newspapers. Students can
get their course related information from newspapers.

10. It makes student a good orator

Student gets information on various topics from newspaper. He becomes a good

orator and it helps him in taking active part in debates and speeches. This is very
necessary for an orator to possess sound knowledge on multiple topics. When a
student possesses knowledge on different topics, he can speak in front of others. It
enhances the confidence of student level.

These are the benefits of reading newspaper for students. Newspaper not only
enhances student’s vocabulary but it enables them to read, write and speak in a
better and impressed way.
*
Improve Skills by Reading News Paper
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” – Joseph Addison

So, do you even have to ask? Of course it’s very important, especially for students, to pick up
the habit of reading in general, and reading newspapers in particular. Over the past few days,
we’ve been discussing a lot of things around Group Discussion, including certain topics that
evaluators could give for GD.

Today, let us understand why it is important for prospective candidates or participants in a

GD to cultivate the habit of reading a newspaper daily.

The benefits of reading a newspaper are aplenty:

Stimulate brain cells:

Your brain needs to be active & engaged and requires the right amount of exercise to keep it
strong and healthy. It also helps you improve focus and increases your attention span – all of
which is possible by devouring your daily quota of news.

Enhance memory & knowledge:

Remember Dr. Seuss’s words – “The more you read, the more things you know. The more
that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” And that’s exactly how newspapers help you… to
go places! Everything you read in a newspaper fills you with bits and pieces of relevant
information which you store unconsciously in your mind/memory which will come out,
inadvertently, at the right time and when you need it the most.

Increase awareness:

You should always know what’s happening around you – in your locality, city, state and
country. You should also understand how global policies/regulations/events impact your life
or your future career. From political and economic affairs to sports, from social media to
scientific and technological advancements, newspapers bring all this info and more to you on
a daily basis.

Better subject-knowledge:
Trust us, reading newspapers daily gives you a better grasp on any subject or topic relevant to
your field. As newspapers are a treasure trove of valuable information, reading them
improves students’ chances of cracking competitive exams like CAT, UPSC, SSB, Bank POs,
or GDs or interviews that involves questions on current affairs.

Improve language skills:

It’s a fact that the more you read, the more new words/terms/phrases you come across which,
in turn, adds to your repertoire of words. A solid command over language, ability to articulate
your thoughts/ideas well, enhanced reading speed, enriched vocabulary and fluency in
speaking – are all the positive outcomes of reading newspapers.

Ease of access:

Newspapers are the cheapest, easiest and best sources of information on various topics/issues.
They are readily available at a minimal cost and are easily accessible – both online and
offline. Whether you’ve access to the Internet or not, you’re sure to have access to news –
thanks to newspapers.

Bridge the gap:

From the pre-Independence era, newspapers have helped inform, instruct and entertain
people, besides uniting them at the time of crisis. Newspapers act as a guiding force for all
the parties involved in the development/progress of the country. They serve as a link between
the rulers and the ruled, the government and its people by publishing experts’ opinions and
healthy criticism on burning issues in the country.

48. Measures to stem air pollution in India

Delhi is staring at yet another season of severe air pollution. The air quality has worsened
in the last couple of days and is expected to dip even further in the coming week. While
authorities are taking every possible measure to fight air pollution, a look at WHO’s seven-
point guide could help them tackle air pollution in Delhi. In a report released this year in
May, the World Health Organization listed out seven steps that need to be taken by
governments and industries to fight increasing air pollution.
Here’s what the government can do to tackle air pollution
 1- Greening of the health sector to minimize its pollution emissions.
2- Build safe and affordable public transport systems and pedestrian- and cycle-friendly
networks.
3- Invest in energy-efficient housing and power generation.
4- Improve industry and municipal waste management.
5- Reduce emissions from household coal and biomass energy systems.
6- Reduce agricultural waste incineration, forest fires and certain agroforestry activities —
for example, charcoal production.
7- Support the transition to exclusive use of clean household energy for cooking, heating
and lighting.
The government has taken several measures including banning industry units and
construction activities to tackle pollution in the national capital. According to the Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the current meteorological conditions are not favourable
for dispersal of pollutants in the capital for the next two days.
The authorities have said that due to biomass burning in the neighbouring states, the air
quality is likely to remain poor on Thursday and Friday.
The Environment Pollution Control Authority on Tuesday urged the people of Delhi to use
public transport for the next few days to keep a check on pollution. The requests came in
the backdrop of reports that suggest private vehicles contribute to 40 per cent pollution in
Delhi-NCR.
Following are 8 measures taken by the authorities to tackle
the air pollution in the city
1. Odd-Even Policy On Vehicles Make A Comeback
Bringing back last year’s odd-even scheme, the government on Thursday said that the policy will
be implemented in the city for 5 days starting from November 13. The policy was first introduced
in January 2016 when the quality of air had nosedived and was re-introduced in April in the same
year. As per the rule, between 8am and 8pm private, non-commercial vehicles are allowed out
on the roads on alternate days – odd days if the vehicle’s license plate ends in an odd number,
and even days if it ends in an even number.
Also Read: Battling Delhi’s Killer Smog: Odd-Even 3.0 Returns From November 13, But Will It
Be A Success?

2. Delhi Authorities Enhance Parking Fees By Four Times

In a bid to discourage people from taking out their cards and reduce vehicular emissions, the
 Delhi authorities including Municipal Corporations of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi
Metro Rail Corporation hiked the parking fees by four times. A spokesperson from North Delhi
Municipal Corporation said that the contractors have been asked to execute the order. “We really
hope it would discourage people from using more private cars, one of the factors for
environmental pollution.
3. Health And Family Welfare Ministry Directs All Hospitals To Be Prepared For The Patient
Load
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda reviewed the situation arising due to
the air pollution in Delhi, and the preparations in the hospitals to deal with the patient load. Shri J
P Nadda directed the officials and heads of all Central Government hospitals to keep a close
watch on the situation. All hospitals have been directed to take all measures to deal with the
patient load due to air pollution. They have been directed to keep nebulizers and other related
equipments in good condition and to be ready to meet with any exigency.
4. Ban On Entry Of Trucks
ANI
✔@ANI

Border entry points from where Heavy & Medium goods vehicles enter into Delhi,
sealed by Delhi Police at 11 PM yesterday: Midnight visuals from Singhu Border

35
7:47 AM - Nov 10, 2017

24 people are talking about this

 Unless, the commercial trucks are transporting essential commodities, all kind of heavy goods
vehicles and trucks have been prohibited from entering the city.

5. Ban On Civil Construction and Strict compliance of Graded Response Action Plan
The construction dust has off late been recognised as one of the major sources of pollution in
Delhi. It can cause health complications like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases,
silicosis, etc. Amidst the current crisis, the Delhi government has imposed a ban on construction
and demolition activities.

A meeting to deliberate the issue of mitigation of air pollution was held under the Chairmanship
of Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Several
decisions were discussed at the meeting, including the strict compliance of Graded Response
Action Plan (GRAP) and other directives issued by top court last month – an effective
enforcement of ban on diesel generator sets, stone crushers, hot mix plants (plant that is used in
the manufacturing of coated road stones) and brick kilns, which have not converted to a cleaner
zig zag technology. The Graded Response Action Plan will be implemented by the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which will monitor air quality from various stations across Delhi-
NCR.
6. Schools To Be Closed Till November 12
The Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday afternoon ordered all the schools
in Delhi (private, government and municipal) to remain closed till Sunday, November 12. “Due to
the deteriorating air quality in Delhi, the health of children cannot be compromised. We have
ordered the closure of all the schools in Delhi until Sunday,” the deputy chief minister had
tweeted.
7. Metro Announces More Trips, Public Transport Buses Increases Its Numbers
The Delhi Metro today announced that its trains will undertake over 180 additional trips and
charge four times the prevalent parking rates to discourage use of private vehicles in light of the
alarming pollution levels in the city. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will be running 3,317 train
trips from November 9 instead of 3,131, an increase of 186 train trips to provide increased
capacity to the public in this weather, it said in a statement. The number of trips will remain
unchanged on the Red Line and the Airport Express Line.The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC)
has been directed to hire 500 buses on a short-term basis and the DMRC has been asked to
procure 300 buses to handle the rush if and when the odd-even scheme was launched.
8. National Green Tribunal Restricts Industrial Activities And Bans Waste Burning In Delhi
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) among its many directions to deal with the grim situation
included a ban on industrial activities and entry of trucks, lambasted the Delhi government and
civic bodies over the worsening air quality in Delhi and neighbouring states.
“No construction activity will be carried out on structures until further orders… all industrial
 activities in Delhi-NCR which are causing emmissions will also not be allowed to carry on their
functioning till November 14”, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar
said

49. The economy one year after GST was introduced

One year of GST: A look at the
journey so far
July 1, 2018 marks one year of the launch of Goods and Service Tax in India. The
policy aims to streamline the taxation structure in the country by doing away with
various taxes imposed by states and Centre and introducing a unified tax system.
New Delhi |Updated: July 1, 2018 11:06:13 am

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GST was launched on the midnight of June 30, 2017, in the Parliament (Express photo by Prem Nath
Pandey)

On July 1, 2017, India ushered in the Goods and Service Tax (GST), the country’s
biggest indirect tax reform since the economy opened up 25 years ago. The policy
aims to streamline the taxation structure in the country by doing away with various
taxes imposed by states and Centre and introducing a unified tax system. A year
on, here is a look at the journey so far.
What is Goods and Service Tax?
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GST is a destination-based tax and is levied at the final consumption point. Under
the new tax regime, the final consumer of the goods and services will have to bear
the tax charged in the supply chain. Manufacturers and dealers can later claim a
refund. As a result, a gamut of indirect taxes like excise duty, VAT, service tax,
luxury tax etc are eliminated under the system. Businesses with an annual turnover
of Rs. 20 lakh (Rs.10 lakh for special category states) are exempted from GST.
When were the bills passed?
Four bills related to the GST were tabled in the Parliament. The Central GST,
Integrated GST, Union Territory GST and the Compensation Law were passed in
March in Lok Sabha. The Upper House passed the bills in April.
CGST Bill: This is related to the levying and collection of GST on supply of
goods and/or services within the boundaries of a state.
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IGST Bill: The IGST bill deals with the supply of goods and/or services between
different states.
Union Territory GST Bill: The UTGST pertains to the supply of goods and
services in the Union Territories.
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The Compensation Bill: The Compensation bill will compensate the states for
loss of revenue which might occur due to the implementation of GST for a period
of five years.
Read | Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, explained
PM Modi, the then president Pranab Mukherjee, Hamid Ansari at the central hall to launch the GST
(Express Photo by Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Follow GST Day LIVE UPDATES

The historic midnight launch
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former president Pranab Mukherjee, Arun

Jaitley and other leaders launched GST on the midnight of June 30 at a function
inside the Parliament’s Central Hall. “GST is a transparent and fair system that
prevents black money and corruption and promotes new governance culture,” PM
Modi said in his speech, adding that while the new policy may cause minor
problems, people will adjust soon. PM Modi called GST as ‘Good and Simple
Tax.’
Calling the tax structure unfair to small traders and business, the Congress, TMC
and Left parties boycotted the launch. Former Prime Minister Singh was also sent
an invitation but he declined. Opposition parties including the JD(U), the NCP, the
BJD, the Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (S) participated in the launch.
Various slabs of GST
The GST Council that includes Union Finance Minister and his counterparts from
different states, rolled out four different slabs for the new tax regime. The slabs
have been set at 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent for different
items or services.
Essential items like food, milk, flour, eggs are taxed at zero rate. Essential items
are pegged at 5 per cent while luxury goods are taxed at 28 per cent. After the
introduction of GST, the council has shifted multiple items from the top tax
bracket of 28 per cent to 18 per cent to shore up public spending and revive
investor sentiment.
Read | GST launch: How India’s new tax regime stacks up against other
countries
Textile Traders protesting against GST in Chandigarh (Photo by Hardik Abrol/File)

States that opposed Goods and Service Tax

Unhappy with the slabs, multiple traders across the country protested the tax
regime. Textile traders and diamond traders took to the streets to voice their
protests. Sweet shop owners in West Bengal had also protested against the
imposition of five per cent GST on products
Jammu and Kashmir was the last state to join the tax regime. The Bill was passed
amid strong reservations by the Opposition who were of the view that GST would
undermine the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The Bill was moved in the
Assembly after a Presidential Order assured that J&K’s special status is guaranteed
under Article 370 of the Constitution.
Read | GST launch: 40-year journey to a common market
Among other states, West Bengal and Kerala were most vocal in their protest
against the new tax structure. While Mamata Banerjee said that the present format
does not support the “unorganised sector”, Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the
government for “ill-planned implementation of GST.”
Items excluded under GST
Alcohol and petroleum products have been kept outside the purview of GST for the
moment. Petroleum Products such as petroleum crude, motor spirit (petrol), high-
speed diesel, natural gas and aviation turbine fuel etc are charged as per the
previous tax structure. GST is also not applicable on electricity. The government is
now, however, mulling to bring petrol under GST in order to combat the rising fuel
prices. “I have already categorically stated this issue several times. The present oil
price hike is due to three main factors — hike in the international price of crude,
fluctuation in the dollar and Indian currency ratio and some of the tax issues are
also there. For long-term solutions, government of India is planning for a holistic
strategy. Bringing petroleum products within the ambit of GST is one among them.
We are sensitive, let’s see how things are unfolding,” Minister of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said.
Express Opinion | One year on, GST regime has advanced cooperative
federalism, helped unify India economically
Alcohol and petroleum products have been kept outside the purview of GST at present.

Express Editorial | A better GST

Govt revises GST slabs
In November last year, the government slashed tax rates on as many as 177 items
of daily consumption to 18 per cent from 28 per cent. In the process, the GST
Council trimmed the list of items in the top 28 per cent GST bracket to just 50
from 228.
Under the new rules, both AC and non-AC restaurants will attract 5 per cent GST,
unlike the previous 12 per cent. However, restaurants in starred-hotels that charge
Rs 7,500 or more per day room will be levied 18 per cent GST.
Chewing gum, chocolates, coffee, custard powder, marble and granite, dental
hygiene products, polishes and creams, sanitary ware, leather clothing, artificial
fur, wigs, cookers, stoves, after-shave, deodorant, detergent and washing powder,
razors and blades, cutlery, storage water heater, batteries, goggles, wrist watches
and mattress are among the products on which the tax rate has been reduced from
28 per cent to 18 per cent.
Wire and cables, furniture, mattress, trunk, suitcase, detergents, shampoos, hair
cream, hair dyes, makeup, fans, lamp, rubber tubes and microscope are some other
items on which tax rate has been cut from 28 per cent to 18 per cent.
Read | Would have resigned if I was in Arun Jaitley’s position: Chidambaram
First GST Council meet
GST Council is the key constitutional body for making recommendations to the
Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax. The GST
Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and it comprises of the Union
State Minister of Revenue and Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or
Taxation of all the States.
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In its first meeting, held in September 2016, the Centre and states agreed on a
timetable for deciding on the tax rate and completion of legislative work. They
decided to exempt businesses with an annual turnover below Rs. 20 lakh out of the
GST net. The main focus areas of discussion remained on rates, threshold limit and
division of power between states and Centre. The Council has held 27 meetings till
date to deliberate on various aspects of GST.

50. The 150th birth aniversary of the Mahatma

On October 2, 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an ambitious cleanliness
programme – the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan with an aim to fulfill the dream of Clean India
as envisaged by Mahatma Gandhi. A deadline was set of making India 100
percent open defecation free (ODF) by October 2, 2019 by Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th
birth anniversary. Since then a lot has changed, Swachh Bharat Mission has achieved
significant milestones in both the rural and urban front and has triggered a nationwide
flurry of activity to improve sanitation and cleanliness in the country. The government
has repeatedly described it as one of the biggest people’s movement. In last four years,
9 crore toilets have been constructed in India and more than 4.5 lakh villages, 450
districts, 20 states and Union Territories have been declared open defecation free
successfully.
Moreover, every year Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 is celebrated as Rashtriya Swachhta
Diwas, and on the occasion more regions of the country are declared ODF.

This year too, India plans to keep up with the tradition of announcing regions free from
the practice of open defecation and plans to make some big announcements. As it is
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ movement, a 15-day
cleanliness drive which will culminate on October 2, with people from across country
coming together for various cleanliness activities. Here is what is lined up to
commemorate the day this year:
Swachh Survekshan Grameen Results Will Be Announced: On October 2, Swachh
Survekshan Grameen results will be declared and it is expected that PM Modi will
honour best states with ‘Swachh Survekshan Grameen Puraskar’ at a function in Delhi.
Swachh Survekshan Grameen was unveiled by the Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation on July 13 with a target to cover 698 districts and gather feedback from 50
lakh citizens and assess the sanitation quotient of villages just like the survey that has
been conducted for the last three years in urban areas.
Some of the parameters in which the villages are being ranked include availability of
toilets, usage of sanitation facilities, hygiene and maintenance of sanitation facilities,
status of littering in public place and status of stagnant water in localities.

Global Sanitation Convention That Will Showcase India’s Sanitation Success

Stories: Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is organising a 4-day Mahatma
Gandhi International Sanitation Convention (MGISC) to mark the beginning of the 150th
birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, which will be commemorated on
October 2, 2019 . The sanitation conclave brings together sanitation Ministers and other
leaders in WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) sector from around the world.
On September 29, President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Mahatma
Gandhi International Sanitation Convention in New Delhi and asserted that Swachh
Bharat is a revolution playing out in real time. He said, “The mission provides every one
of India’s 1.3 billion people an opportunity for a dramatic leap.” He also added that he is
confident that the sessions and proceedings of this Convention will result in actionable
ideas and in a powerful statement towards achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals, and particularly SDG 6.

Along with the President, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Maharashtra Chief Minister –
Devendra Fadnavis, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath and Minister of
Drinking, Water and Sanitation – Uma Bharti, to name a few, also shared their views
about the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis was invited to share Maharashtra’s success story
with global leaders since the state is one of the top performing states in Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan. Mr Fadnavis at the conclave stressed on the state’s plan to sustain its ODF tag
and said, “After becoming ODF, we have given plans of sustainability to every Village
Panchayat, encouraging them by presenting awards every year, even kids engaged
themselves in awareness drive in the state. The state had just 45% toilet cover since
independence (1947 to 2014) & we achieved remaining 55% in just 3 years.”

On his part, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stressed on the fact that Uttar Pradesh will
achieve the ODF status, much before the nation’s target of 2019.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu added that India, a country of 1.3 billion people, is large
and complex, but Swachh Bharat Mission has been a great unifier.

From Rural To Urban Ministry Plan, The Swachh Plans: The Central Government
has adopted Swachhata Hi Seva movement in an unique way, the Ministry of Urban
Development (MoUD) has advised municipalities across the country to conduct
‘plogging’, a unique form of exercise which combines jogging with collection of garbage
from the roads, with citizens from September 15 to October 2. Originated in Stockholm in
2016, plogging is a very common phenomena in Scandinavian countries like Norway
and Denmark and European cities of Edinburgh and Paris. The word has been borrowed
from the Swedish word ‘plocka upp,’ which means ‘pick up,’ and all people are supposed
to do is jog and pick up a garbage from the roads.
Also Read: Rashtriya Swachhta Diwas On Gandhi Jayanti, Few In Bengaluru To Jog
And Clear Garbage To Fight Littering
Expected Open Defecation Announcements
Uttar Pradesh: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the launch of Swachhata Hi Seva
movement on September 15 told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that in accordance with
the Baseline Survey (a survey done in 2012 to identify how many households in India do
not have access to toilets) Uttar Pradesh will be declared open-defecation free by
October 2 this year, and by 2019, every home is expected to have access to toilet.
According to the numbers, the state has been successful in constructing more than 1.7
crore Individual Household Toilets in the rural areas, whereas it has declared 58,982
villages, 29,295 gram panchayats, 116 blocks and 10 districts open defecation free. In
urban areas, 6.6 lakh toilets have been constructed and out of 653 urban local bodies,
234 have been declared ODF of which 83 have been certified ODF by Quality Council of
India (QCI).

Also Read: Pink Toilets In A Uttar Pradesh District To Ensure Menstrual Hygiene
Facilities For Policewomen
Karnataka: The state this year aims to go big on October 2 and plans to announce both
its rural and urban areas free from the practice of open defecation. Currently, the rural
areas have the sanitation coverage of 97 per cent, while Urban areas have a toilet
coverage of only 50.84 per cent, yet the state is confident that this Gandhi Jayanti it will
achieve the coveted ODF Tag.
Urban Karnataka has already missed its two deadlines of going ODF back in October 2,
2017 and December 2017 and now the authorities have set a new timeline of October 2
this year. Major cities and corporation in the urban parts of the state such as Bengaluru,
Hubli are yet to achieve the ODF targets. Whereas, the rural counterparts in order to
achieve the goals by the set deadline have already started taking initiatives, they have
launched a new campaign Swachhameva Jayate (Victory for cleanliness), a rural
cleanliness and sanitation campaign. It is a door-to-door activity headed by children of
primary and secondary schools where they educate people on the importance of
building a toilet at home along with other parameters of cleanliness, hygiene, toilet
usage and waste management.

Also Read: As Karnataka Nears Open Defecation Free Status, Improving Rural Waste
Management Becomes State’s Priority
Jammu And Kashmir: India’s northern most state is already self-declared ODF, but by
October 2, 2018, the state officials expect that Jammu and Kashmir will also get an
official ODF tag subject to the third party verification process by Quality Council Of India
(QCI).
As of September 24, 291 out of 316 blocks, 3,885 out of 4,171 gram panchayats and
7,054 out of 7,565 villages in J&K, have already completed the verification process and
certified ODF. In urban areas, out of 36 urban local bodies, 27 have received the ODF
certification from QCI.

Also Read: Swachhata Hi Seva: Jammu And Kashmir Declared Open Defecation Free
By Governor Satya Pal Malik
Telangana: Today India’s rural sanitation coverage has increased to 92 per cent from
mere 38 per cent in 2014, but Telangana still struggles to get the tag of Open Defecation
Free. According to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan data, the state has the least number of
toilets in the house along with Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
Currently, Telangana has been able to move up its sanitation coverage from to 26 to 89
per cent and make 5,374 villages out of a total of 10,434, 12 districts out of 31 and 65
urban local bodies out of 73 ODF.

The state has already missed the deadline of declaring itself completely ODF by April
2018 and has now set October 2 as their new target. K.T. Rama Rao, Minister of
Municipal Administration and Urban Development asserted that the state will achieve
ODF tag by October 2, 2018 and ODF plus status by October 2, 2019.

Tamil Nadu: With over 52 lakh toilets built within a period of four years in the rural
areas, the eleventh largest state in the country, Tamil Nadu is all set to be declared ODF
by October 2 this year. The state has a total of 32 districts of which 30 have been
declared free from open defecation. While on the urban front, with over 4.37 lakh toilets
490 urban local bodies out of the total 664 urban local bodies have attained the status of
ODF.
Along with these big announcements by the states, Kerala plans to announce its Urban
parts ODF, while Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand aim to announce their
rural parts free from open defecation. On the other hand, Uttarakhand plans to
announce the urban parts free from open defecation.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Set To Declare Its Urban And Rural Areas Open Defecation
Free This Gandhi Jayanti
Apart from states, cities like Noida, Ludhiana and Union Territory Puducherry too are
expected to go ODF this October 2.

If these regions are successful in meeting their ODF target by this Rashtriya Swachhta
Diwas then India’s sanitation coverage which is currently at 92 per cent will hit a major
milestone.
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of
India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh
Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the
importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October
2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues
like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual
hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga
Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.

51. Supreme court ruling on bursting of crackers

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave state governments the flexibility to
choose a timing for bursting firecrackers but stuck to its earlier restriction
of allowing it for only two hours on festival days.
Under its earlier order passed on 23 October, the apex court had allowed
bursting of firecrackers between fixed time slots—from 8pm to 10pm for
Diwali and between 11.55pm and 12.30am on other occasions such as
Christmas and New Year.

The court modified its order following a plea by the Tamil Nadu
government seeking a review and seeking permission for bursting
firecrackers between 4am and 6am.

The 23 October order sought to strike a balance by refusing to impose

a complete ban on the sale of firecrackers ahead of Diwali and
conditionally allowing sale of fireworks that met the standards of low
emission and decibel in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
The top court allowed environment-friendly firecrackers to be sold
but allowed their sale only through licensed traders. The court has
also banned the manufacture, sale and use of so-called joined firecrackers
such as series crackers or laris.
E-commerce platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon were directed to not
sell fireworks online. If they are found to be doing so, they would be hauled
up for contempt of court and may have to face monetary penalties.

The court had earlier observed that there was a need to strike a balance
between the right to health of citizens and the right to carry on trade by
fireworks manufacturers.

A complete ban was opposed by the centre, which argued conditions could
be imposed on the manufacture and sale of high-decibel firecrackers
instead.

The court’s ruling was passed on a plea by three children seeking

restoration of last year’s order banning sale of firecrackers in view of
worsening air quality in the NCR.

We have good news and bad news.

First, let’s get the bad news out of the way: Diwali firecrackers are partially banned.

And now for the good news: Diwali firecrackers are partially banned.

The Supreme Court gave its ruling just 15 days before Diwali on November 7, in
response to a petition on the behalf of three children in September 2015, pleading for
a ban on the manufacture and sale of firecrackers to protect their health. In 2016 and
2017, the SC had passed an order with many restrictions on the manufacture and
sale of firecrackers in Delhi and the National Capital Region. This time, the ban has
expanded to a national ruling.

What exactly does the SC order say?

The apex court observed that there was a need to strike a balance between the right
to health of citizens and the right to carry on trade by fireworks manufacturers.
Accordingly, it laid down the following rules and guidelines in its order.

 Firecrackers
 that are green, or ‘less polluting’ — that is, on the safe side of the decibel
and emission limits — are allowed in Delhi and areas nearby;
 should be burnt only for a couple of hours, between 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on
Diwali and 11:55 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. during Christmas and New Year;
 can be burnt in the southern states for two hours, according to their own
state rulings;
  cannot be sold online through e-portals.
 should be sold only through license holders
 States have been asked to check whether they can try out collective or
community bursting of crackers so that the quantity is reduced
 The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been directed to check the
emission quality one week before and after Diwali
 In Delhi and the NCR, crackers can be burst only in some designated areas
assigned by the CPCB.
 All festivals and functions like marriages too should follow these guidelines.
 Banned crackers on sale in an area could get station house officers of regional
police stations into trouble

Why is everyone outraged by the ruling?

Ironically, regardless of how you interpret the court order, you can expect fireworks!

Those who want the complete ban in order to protect the environment are indignant.
There are 14 Indian cities which are already among the top 15 polluted cities of the
world. Will a partial ban lead to cleaner air, they ask. Moreover, how does partial
cracker time reduce the emission? For just two hours, the entire city will collapse
under the weight of polluted air, points out the anti-cracker brigade.

Those rooting for celebrations are mortified that they will not allowed to burst
crackers all day to celebrate the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya. “What about our
religious beliefs,” they demand.

Firecracker manufacturers are also obviously furious and view it as a violation of

their right to earn a living.

What is wrong with bursting firecrackers?

Firecrackers affect health. Aluminium in crackers could cause skin ailments. They
may contain barium salt, which lets out toxic gases that interfere with our respiration.

Bursting crackers in general triggers problems such as asthma, coughing, bronchitis,

and can aggravate problems associated with lung disease, and in extreme cases
could cause nervous system breakdown and cognitive interference. In the last few
years, the air over the NCR region was thick with pollutants during and around the
festival, which aggravated pulmonary disease among the young and the old alike.

52. 2 years after demonetisation………

2 Years After Demonetisation,
Here’s A Summary Of What Was
Expected & What Really Happened
by Ankit Subarno

It has been two years since a special segment aired on the news sent jolts across
every Indian's wallet. 2018 marks the second year anniversary of Demonetisation,
a move by the government that sought to formalize the Indian economy.

Source: Money Control

A lot has happened since those ₹500 and ₹1,000 rupee

notes were declared invalid by the government.
Source: The Times of India
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A number of promises were made by the government in the wake of

demonetisation. Some materialised well, while others did not. While we cannot
judge whether the two-year-old move was a success or a failure, here is where
those promises stand today.

1. Despite promising to bring down cash in the economy,

cash flow is back to the pre-demonetisation levels.
Lower cash flow in the economy would result in lower chances of counterfeit notes
being circulated in the markets. However, despite a push that was made to promote
digital payments, cash flow in the economy is back to the pre-demonetisation
levels. Post-demonetisation the market was flooded with counterfeit notes.

Source: Financial Express

2. Demonetisation sought to expand the tax base, and tax

collections have actually risen to more than 18%.
Post demonetisation, tax collections increased to more than 18%. But it is still only
1.7% of the Indian population that pay their income taxes.
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Source: Business Today

3. It was promised that demonetisation would curb

terrorism but Naxals and separatists found a way around.
Post-demonetisation, cash squeeze in Chhattisgarh and J&K resulted in a dip in
terrorist and separatist activities. However, after a few months, they started using
the local population and businessmen to launder money.
Source: Quora
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4. The PM promised that demonetisation will help in

bringing back black money stored in offshore accounts,
but more than ₹5 lakh crores still sit in offshore banks.
In March 2018, it was revealed that the amount of Indian black money stored in
Swiss and other offshore banks was estimated to be more than ₹5 lakh crores.
Source: Business Today

5. Demonetisation was aimed at unearthing undisclosed

money in India. ₹1.41 lakh crore has been unearthed since
then.
₹1.41 lakh crore post demonetisation was unearthed by the Income-Tax
Department. Around 18 lakh people with disproportionate income have also
beenidentified by the IT department.
Source: Indian Express
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6. Demonetisation was supposed to help stabilize the

economy but we lost 1.5% of GDP growth.
The Indian economy lost 1.5% of GDP growth. India lost around ₹2.25 crore a
yeardue to the dip in GDP.
Source: IAS Current

7. The government and RBI claim that demonetisation

was a success, however, recent numbers say otherwise.
RBI spent around ₹21,000 crores in handling the mechanics of demonetisation.
However, they recovered only ₹15.44 lakhs in invalid money.
Source: Sify
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Ever since demonetisation came into effect, a number of people and sectors have
been seen to be affected by the temporary cash crunch. This cannot be ignored
while weighing the outcome of the move.
1. Around 115 people lost their lives standing in ATM queues to withdraw money.

2. Businesses saw a dip in demand due to the cash crunch which impacted them
heavily.
3. 15 crore daily wage earners lost their livelihood for several weeks.
4. Demonetisation also caused a loss of about 15 lakh jobs as people were laid off
by companies affected by demonetisation.
Source: Quartz
The entire move cost the country much more than ₹21,000 crores. Do the numbers
translate into what the nation was promised two years back? Prashant Bhushan, a
Public Interest Lawyer in the Supreme Court, in a conversation
with ScoopWhoop explains what he thinks the real reason behind demonetisation
was.

53.Solutions to end bloodshed in Kashmir.

How to bring peace in Kashmir?
June 13, 2018, 3:07 PM IST Economic Times in ET Commentary | India, politics | ET
By Vinay Kaura

It is always difficult to assess the strength of an ongoing insurgency since due to its sheer
nature fighting insurgency is altogether different from fighting a conventional battle. Thus,
the number of militants killed during an insurgency can’t be the true barometer of the success
quotient of a counterinsurgency campaign. As the centre of gravity is in the minds of the
people, the security strategy should normally remain one of containment rather than the
pursuit of an illusory victory to be secured by a massive application of military force to
reverse the thrust of insurgency.

The recent official findings of the Jammu and Kashmir police regarding encounters fuelling
militant recruitment substantiate what David Kilcullen, the renowned counter-insurgency
expert, had observed in 2010 in his book titled Counterinsurgency: “At the start of a
conventional engagement, if we are facing one hundred of the enemy, and we kill twenty, we
can assume that eighty are left. In counterinsurgency, this logic does not hold: the 20 killed
may have 40 relatives who are now in a blood feud with and are obligated to take revenge on
the security forces who killed the 20, so the new number of the enemy is not 80 but 120…
Body counts tell us little about overall enemy strength.”

An explosive mix of cross-border terrorism, proxy warfare, insurgency and persistent civil
unrest has converted the Kashmir Valley into a ‘hybrid’ conflict zone in which many junior
and middle ranking officers of India’s security forces consisting of state police and the
Central paramilitary organisations realize early that the way they have been trained to fight
will not work in this environment, and that their institutional leadership does not have all the
answers they need. However, recent counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir have
experienced considerable success in eliminating both the Pakistan-based terrorists and the
local militants. But that is not the whole part of the story as despite successful operations,
militancy has not taken a back seat. Saner heads knew all along that measuring success by the
number of terrorists and militants killed was not only deceptive but also oversimplification of
Kashmir’s extremely complicated reality.

According to the widely-cited reports, each encounter in the valley triggers a surge in militant
recruitment which far exceeds militants killed in counter-insurgency operations. At the
beginning of 2016, there were around100 active militants in the valley, which rose to about
150 at the beginning of 2018. If 88 locals had joined militancy in 2016, their number stood at
127 in 2017. And this year is going to be the worst in a decade, with more than 80 youths
having already joined the militancy so far. More disturbing than the rise in local recruitment
into militancy is the rising public support for militancy.

Stone pelting has already been converted into a mass ritual with girls and children as new
participants, too young to be aware of what it means. Open support by locals to trapped
militants – particularly during encounters – enabling their easy escape, has entirely changed
the relationship between the locals and the militants. Many encounters have also led to the
death of non-combatant civilians who got trapped in the crossfire. And each civilian death
leads to further violent protests and at times a vicious cycle in which every death leads to
more deaths.

Funerals of slain militants, which customarily attract a mammoth gathering of slogan-

shouting and stone-pelting protestors, have spectacularized death at the hands of state. The
presence of active militants at the funerals, where they give so-called gun salutes to their slain
comrades, has particularly unnerved the security forces as such an unrestrained interaction is
one of the key contributing factors facilitating recruitment into insurgency, besides increasing
Islamist radicalization and religious indoctrination.

Clearly, the security forces feel caught between the conundrum: to kill the militants or not. If
the operations are halted, the militants are likely to get a new lease of life. And if the
operations continue in full swing, the vicious cycle of violence will not be broken. The
experiment of coalition government in the state has already turned into a disaster, which
grows shockingly with each self-inflicted crisis. In the prevailing environment of minimal
governmental credibility and legitimacy, no public effort would suffice to wean the youth
away from insurgency and convince them of a life beyond compulsive India-bashing.

Though there is no single silver bullet which works in all counter-insurgency situations,
however, as argued by Kilcullen in the same book, the golden principle remains the same: ‘A
defection is better than a surrender; a surrender is better than a capture; and a capture is better
than a kill.” Realising the ineffectiveness of ‘killing strategy’, the Modi government recently
came out with a unilateral cessation of military operations during the month of Ramadan
which marks a significant shift in the government’s four-year old Kashmir policy. It also
constitutes a belated recognition that unwarranted trust on hard power cannot bear desired
results. In all probability, the ceasefire is likely to be extended beyond the month of
Ramadan. Though, the government still remains undecided about resuming peace talks with
Pakistan.

Though amnesty has been granted to those convicted of stone-pelting, however its value in
weakening militancy is less clear. Of course, the purpose is to encourage defections by the
misled and the less committed youth. If successful, their direct effect is to reduce the
insurgents’ ranks, and their indirect impact is the visible signs that the counterinsurgency is
succeeding. But the scenario in Kashmir is one of a rapidly evolving insurgency that has
repeatedly absorbed and adapted to past efforts to contain and defeat it. The grim sequence of
events initiated by the elimination of Burhan Wani in July 2016 demonstrates an irreversible
transformation of the political and grassroots dynamics, requiring more than just ‘hardening
of resolve’ to end the insurgency. What is needed at the moment is the deployment of new
socio-cultural resources, and a new operational cultureto wind down the militancy without
alienating more locals who could either join or influence their relatives and friends to join
various terrorist organisations.

The use of force is often unavoidable under as disturbed circumstances as prevailing in

Kashmir, but measures to address people’s grievances have been largely symbolic. Even the
most ideologically driven of militants in Kashmir must be aware that they are fighting against
an incredibly powerful military force and the very notion that they can ever overcome their
opponents is farcical. If this stark awareness has not deterred a growing number of Kashmiri
youth, mostly educated ones, from supporting seemingly irrational insurgency, one cannot
help wondering whether creation of more employment and educational opportunities alone
can do the trick.
With the daily killings and bloodshed we witness, tragedy, death and destruction have
become symbols of life in Kashmir. Day in and day out we hear about loss of precious
human lives in gunfights and encounters. Indian State should, as a democracy, deeply
introspect its failures in Kashmir that have pushed the youths in Kashmir to the wall,
leaving them with no option but to put their lives on the line and resort to militant methods.

India must know it has miserably failed in Kashmir. Kashmir conflict has to be resolved
democratically if this bloodbath has to end and the onus lies on India, it has to take the first
step and initiate the process. A referendum and meaningful dialogue is the only way
forward.

No doubt, there are number of humane hearts in India and Pakistan that are sensitive to
the pain and sufferings of Kashmiris and support the just cause of people but they are still
failing to make any impact. Suffering, it seems, has entered into a constant and unending
marriage with the conflict-ridden Kashmir with the state paying no heed to end or at least
address it.

The saga of human tragedy in Kashmir is brutally unprecedented in nature. Every form of
brutal human rights violation has been committed against the Kashmiris to quell their
sentiments for the just resolution of Kashmir issue. Time is ripe for India and Pakistan to
sit down and hammer out a solution for permanent peace in the subcontinent.

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News » Conflict » India

Bishop calls for an end to bloodshed

in Kashmir
There is no issue in the world which cannot be solved through dialogue, said Indian
Catholic bishops' conference official
Police fire teargas to quell protests after being pelted with stones in Jammu on July 8. (Photo by Umar Shah)
ucanews.com reporters in Jammu and New Delhi
India
July 14, 2016
Church leaders have appealed for peace and restraint after 34 people died in clashes with
security forces in India's Jammu and Kashmir state after a local militant leader was shot and
killed five days ago.
A curfew order continues in India's only Muslim-majority state where violence erupted on July 8
when Burhan Wani was killed in a gun battle with the Indian army. Protests have been held in the
streets since then leaving at least 34 people dead and 1,500 injured.
"The church in India condemns this violence," said Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary
general of the Indian Catholic bishops' conference. "No solution can come of this violence," he
said appealing for dialogue and consultation with all stakeholders to find peace.
"There is no issue in the world which cannot be solved through dialogue and consultation —
violence only begets violence," he said.
In the last 30 years, an estimated 100,000 people have died, including civilians, militants and
army personnel, after militant groups began an armed struggle for freedom from Indian rule or to
merge with neighboring Pakistan.
Both India and Pakistan lay claim to Kashmir since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947.
Pakistan and India have fought at least three major wars over the region. The Indians claim
Pakistanis support militancy in the area, which Pakistan rejects.
The current violence is the worst since 2010 when 100 people were killed in similar clashes.
Father Roy Mathew of Jammu-Srinagar Diocese, which covers the entire state, told
ucanews.com that most of the dead are young people. "We will pray for them and their families,"
he said.
Killed militant leader Burhan was considered a poster boy for the separatist campaign. He
reportedly revived the armed rebellion by recruiting youth. His death is seen as a major setback
to the movement.

Crowds march with the body of militant leader Burhan Wani for this funeral in the streets of
Jammu July 8. (Photo by Umar Shah)
 After his death, Kashmir's separatist leaders called for a three-day strike. Protester's attacked
police stations, paramilitary camps and set government buildings on fire. "Weapons have been
looted from police stations," Additional Director General of Police S.M. Sahai told media.
Officials said police have been exercising restraint, using rubber bullets against stone-pelting
crowds. Shooting has only occurred in self-defense when the crowds attacked police stations
and camps.
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But Muslim militant leaders say police and security forces aimed their rubber pellets at people's
eyes to inflict maximum physical and psychological damage. "There are more than 100 people
with pellet injuries in their eyes who have been admitted in the hospital since the killing of Burhan
Wani," Sajad Ahmad, a doctor, told ucanews.com. "There are children who have injuries in their
eyes, forehead and stomach."
Blaming "vested interests" for the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti
appealed to parents not to let their children be misled. In her televised address, she appealed for
peace saying "some people are only interested in playing politics over dead bodies [but] it is the
family members of these slain youth who have to live with this pain forever."
"Unfortunately some elements are hell bent upon stirring up trouble, mayhem and bloodshed in
Kashmir for their own vested interests," she said.

54. Kartarpur corridor

NEW DELHI: The launch of the Kartarpur corridor between India and Pakistan was packed
with controversy on Monday as a credit war erupted between the Akali Dal, an ally of the
ruling BJP at the centre, and Punjab's ruling Congress. The proposed corridor has also seeded
a new point of conflict between Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and one of his
ministers, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been effusively pushing the project since his visit to
Pakistan in September for cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's swearing in as the
country's prime minister.
Here are top 10 points about the Kartarpur corridor project:
1. The Kartarpur corridor involves a road link for Sikh pilgrims to visit the famous Kartarpur
Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan, which is around three-four km from the International Border.

2. The 16th century Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi is
important for Sikhs as Guru Nanak Dev, their main guru, spent 18 years here. The
gurudwara was established by the first Sikh Guru in 1522.

3. For decades, Sikh devotees have been demanding that India and Pakistan collaborate to build
a corridor linking it with the Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.
4. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had first suggested the corridor when he took the
bus trip to Lahore in 1999.

5. At a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 22, the
corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to the Pakistan border was approved. "Visa arrangements
will be made. The corridor will be 3 to 4 kilometers long," said union finance minister Arun
Jaitley, announcing the decision.
6. Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Amarinder Singh attended the ground-breaking
ceremony in Gurdaspur's Mann village near the border. On Wednesday, Pakistan will launch
its part of the project. Two union ministers will travel to Pakistan for the event after Foreign
Minister Sushma Swaraj declined the invite.

7. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has also declined to visit Pakistan, saying he would
not visit the country unless it ended violence against India.
8. His minister Navjot Sidhu has asked the centre for permission to visit Pakistan. He landed in
trouble in September when he was seen on camera embracing Pakistan Army Chief Qamar
Bajwa.
9. Mr Sidhu said the embrace was a spontaneous reaction to the Pak army chief saying
Islamabad was ready to proceed on the Kartarpur corridor on Guru Nanak's 550th birth
anniversary. His boss Amarinder Singh, however, was far less friendly towards the Pak army
chief yesterday as he said "Which army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the
other side? Which army teaches to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is
cowardice."

10. In another controversy hours before the ceremony in Gurdaspur, a Congress minister pasted
black-tape on his name and that of Amarinder Singh from a plaque, objecting to the names of
Akali Dal leaders on it.

Chronology of Kartarpur corridor

The Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is established at the place where the first Guru of
Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev, is said to have died.
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Press Trust of India
New Delhi
November 28, 2018
UPDATED: November 29, 2018 01:29 IST

The gurdwara at Kartarpur in Pakistan. (Photo: ANI file)

The following is the chronology of events leading up to the foundation laying for the corridor
linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's
Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims:
1522: The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was established by the first Sikh Guru
where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died.
February 1999: The Kartarpur Sahib corridor was proposed by the then Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee when he took a bus ride to Lahore during a peace initiative with Pakistan.
2000: Pakistan agrees to allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the shrine visa-free (and without
passport) by constructing a bridge from the India side of the border to the shrine.
August 2018: Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu attends Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's
swearing-in ceremony.
August 2018: Upon his return from Islamabad, Sidhu says that Pakistan Army chief General
Qamar Javed Bajwa informed him that the Pakistan government would open the Dera Baba
Nanak (Kartarpur) corridor on Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary.
November 22: Indian Cabinet approves the Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to the
Pakistan border.
November 26: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu lays the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak
- Kartarpur Sahib Corridor (up to the International Border) at an event at Mann village of
Gurdaspur district of Punjab.
November 28: Prime Minister Imran Khan lays the foundation stone of the 4-km corridor which
is expected to be completed by next year.

A political row over the Kartarpur corridor has erupted after Navjot Singh Sidhu, a
minister in the Congress-led Punjab government, claimed he was told by Pakistan
Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa that Islamabad would grant access to the
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, in 2019.
Sidhu had crossed the border to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Imran Khan last
month, during which he was seen speaking with Bajwa before the two embraced.
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Speaking to the media after the event, Sidhu said he attended the event as a friend,
not a politician. “I was not expecting it, but Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar
Javed Bajwa told me they had been considering to open Kartarpur corridor on the
occasion of 550th birthday anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. I was surprised by his
words and hugged him for that.”
“Gen Bajwa Sahab hugged me and said ‘We want peace’. So, let’s swim in a blue
ocean and shun red ocean. It’s my dream,” he added.
What is the Kartarpur corridor?
There has been a long-standing demand to open a corridor from India to Pakistan
to allow pilgrims to enter Pakistan and visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at
Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal district. The gurdwara is built at the resting place
of Guru Nanak. He spent his last two decades here. Indians are not allowed the
visit this shrine. The corridor would allow devotees to walk to the shrine and return
in one day without a passport or visa.
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The issue remains complex as the shrine is three kilometres from the India-
Pakistan border.
Express Explained | What is the Sikh pilgrim corridor to Pakistan?

What was the Centre’s reaction?

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 00:48
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Sidhu met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday, in a bid to initiate
talks between India and Pakistan regarding the Kartarpur corridor. After the
meeting, Union Minister and Akali leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal claimed Sidhu was
“reprimanded” for “messing up” the issue. Badal said Swaraj accused Sidhu of
“misusing” the clearance he was granted to visit the neighbouring country.
“External Affairs Minister (Swaraj) reprimanded Sidhu for messing up Kartarpur
Sahib corridor dialogue and misusing political clearance granted for private visit
by hugging military chief responsible for killing our soldiers,” Badal claimed.
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Sidhu, on the other hand, had said the meeting was “amicable”. He said, “My
meeting with the Union Minister went on for 15 minutes during which I handed
her a letter requesting her to send a formal request from the MEA to Government
of Pakistan, requesting for an early agreement and opening of the corridor
immediately after the current monsoon session.” He further claimed that the MEA
was preparing to write a formal letter to Pakistan on the issue.
Meanwhile, addressing the press, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said,
“Sidhu has a lot of admirers… somebody of that stature going there and then
hugging the chief of the army, an army about which in India we have very clear
feelings, it certainly has an impact on soldiers… it demoralises the people. I wish
Sidhu would have avoided it (hug).”
Also read | Sidhu says meeting with Swaraj fruitful, BJP says reprimanded for
behaviour
Has Pakistan reacted to the Kartarpur controversy?
Amid a row in India, the Pakistan foreign office Wednesday clarified that there has
been no formal communication between India and Pakistan. Spokesperson
Muhammad Faisal, however, added that Pakistan is open to talks on the issue.
A week earlier, he said in an earlier press conference that the country was waiting
for confirmation from India to move forward on the issue. “We are ready for talks
with India. We have also conveyed our position to the international community. It
remains for India to respond,” Faisal was quoted as saying by PTI.
Also read | Honour for us to host Sikh pilgrims, says Pakistan envoy
Sidhu an ‘anti-national’
Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan riled non-Congress parties. Punjab BJP president Shwait Malik
had said the party strongly objects as his visit was at at time when the nation was
paying tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “He even hugged
Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the function. It is anti-
national,” he added.
The spokesperson of Shiromani Akali Dal Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, meanwhile,
said Sidhu’s conduct was unbecoming of a minister. “His public gestures have not
only hurt martyrs’ families but also countrymen in general. Sidhu went ahead with
the visit and violated all known protocols of not attending any celebratory function
during official periods of mourning.”
The Punjab Congress, meanwhile, defended Sidhu saying one should acknowledge
the sportsman spirit exhibited by him. “India has nothing to lose in Sidhu’s
diplomatic act. Those who are creating a shindig at Sidhu attending the ceremony
should realise that it was a sportsman inviting another. Sidhu has risen to the
occasion, showed a large heart by accepting the invite. Now, the ball is in the court
of Khan. It is to be seen whether Khan turns to be a true statesman or just ends up
being a puppet in the hands of Pakistani Army,” PPCC president Sunil Kumar
Jakhar said.

55. Employment opportunities in India

One of the clear signs of India’s emerging status as a knowledge economy is the fact that
today the country has better employment avenues that can prevent an exodus of
intellectual capital. Gone are the days, particularly before globalisation, when IIT and IIM
graduates sent job applications largely to organisations in the developed West and the country
was contending with the problem of brain drain.

“Now with improved monetary prospects and scope for cutting edge work, Indian
organisations are a big draw for bright and promising minds,” says Shekhar Sanyal, country
head, IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology), India. He elaborates, “A decade back
engineering firms in India largely (if not wholly) engaged in testing work for global
engineering projects. But today Indian engineering firms provide opportunities for
sophisticated R&D, innovation and high-end design.”

Substantiating Sanyal’s observation, Anand Pattani, associate vice president, Black &
Veatch, says, “For more than 40 years Black & Veatch has been working in India,
undertaking projects like power generation and water and sanitation that enhance quality of
life and support economic development. During this period we have seen notable changes.
Previously, Indian engineers may have had to seek work overseas to gain experience of
things which are at the top of the value chain. However, now we are able to support their
career development within our India offices, with the opportunity to work on global projects.
In recent years, we have recruited significant numbers of highly skilled Indian engineers and
designers to work in our Mumbai and Pune offices. The figure has grown from 245 in 2007 to
the current figure of nearly 400. In addition to supporting Black & Veatch’s work for clients
across the world, they are supporting critical human infrastructure projects in India.”

There’s a similar story in the domain of management. “In the fast-mushrooming venture
capital and private equity funded organisations there is an increasing need for top talent,
particularly at the middle and higher echelons of management,” says Himanshu Aggarwal,
CEO and director, Aspiring Minds, a Noida-based employability measurement firm. A
pronounced emphasis on professionalism, lucrative remuneration and, most importantly, the
opportunity to do work at par with the work in developed countries is making India Inc a
preferred choice for management graduates from leading Indian b-schools.

While on one hand the relatively newfound emphasis on retaining talent is translating to a
slew of training and development initiatives, on the other hand the concept of drawing career
roadmaps for highperforming employees in a consultative manner is gaining ground. This is
contributing to compound the appeal of India Inc. “This appeal is not just restricted to
Indians. There are numerous instances of expats coming to India for internships which speaks
volumes about our growing standards both in terms of work and corporate culture,” shares
Aggarwal.

And it is not just the employment prospects that are attractive for management graduates.
Entrepreneurship is another turf that is brimming with potential. “While there is a dearth of
infrastructure — supply chains for instance — one cannot discount the fact that it is a lot
easier to establish proof of concept (meaning demonstrated worth of the idea) in India as
compared to many other countries simply because the fiscal requirement for setting up
enterprises is significantly lesser,” observes Aggarwal. “The existing disadvantages can in
themselves translate to individual entrepreneurial opportunities. And people are realising this,
which explains the upsurge of start-ups specialising in e-supply chains that are engineered to
provide innovative, cost-effective and real time solutions to various business challenges,” he
adds.

The Employability Factor

This story of ‘India Inc shining’ is one part of the assurance that the country is marching
towards a knowledge economy. The other side of the assurance lies in the employability
quotient of our overall pool of engineers and managers. And here the facts are far from
heartening.

“Less than 25% of our engineers are not employable,” informs Shekhar Sanyal, country head,
IET (Institution of Engineering and Technology), India. In fact, according to a recently
published report by Aspiring Minds, (basis AMCAT, which is one of India’s largest
employability tests) more than 25% engineers do not even possess the English
comprehension skills required to understand engineering school curriculum and only 57%
engineers can write grammatically correct sentences in English. And yes, there is an intrinsic
connection between engineers and managers as a considerable number of managers have
engineering degrees. So what is ailing our education system and how can the problem be
rectified so that we have a qualified workforce?
“The curriculum of an IIT or any other engineering school is pretty much the same. The
problem lies in the selection criteria. Many engineering colleges of our country have no
commitment to quality when it comes to screening potential students. All that they are
interested in is filling their intake capacity,” says Sanyal. He goes on to say that engineering
schools have to look beyond textbooks and involve the students in more rigorous practical
assignments.

Adding to this, Aggarwal says, “Part of the problem lies in the fact that many engineering
colleges are just keen to achieve 100% placement records. In that bid, students do not feel the
need to study really hard and develop a knowledge base. Passing exams and securing a job
becomes the obvious thing to do. Organisations can step in here and reverse this complacent
mindset. For one they can incentivise performance in certain hardcore technical domains that
in turn will encourage academic rigour in colleges.”

Young Indians prefer overseas employment even without a pay hike for better suited jobs,
according to the latest findings of Ma Foi Randstad.

About 60 percent of employees with higher education are willing to move abroad for a better
suited job even if the salary remains the same, Ma Foi Randstad's Workmonitor Survey 2011 -
Wave4, a quarterly review of 'mental mobility status' of employees says.

It finds that about 39 percent of employees with low level of education would move abroad just
for a better suited job that doesn't accompany a good pay.

In gender, the study says that a significantly higher proportion of men (79 percent) expect to go
abroad for work that promises higher pay as compared to women (65 percent).

Commenting on the findings of the survey, Ma Foi Randstad Managing Director and CEO E
Balaji says, "Attracting and retaining right talent would be the biggest challenge for any
organisation in the coming years. With technology advancements, many traditional systems like
eight hour work day and control approach are fast disappearing and impacting the work styles and
approach to work."

The growing opportunities have created a major change in the mindsets of the young employees,
for whom money is an important driver but they are also driven by work place flexibility, right
culture, challenging roles, career growth and bosses with inspirational approach towards work.
"Companies should re-orient their work culture to address employee needs, to succeed in the
emerging war for talent, which will become the key to retain their place in the marketplace," he
adds.

The survey further finds that India continued to remain the highest mobility index of 144 amongst
all the countries.

This is in line with the findings that emerged in all the previous eight quarterly surveys conducted
since first quarter of 2010.

The mobility index is least in Luxembourg with Germany and Italy following suit indicating least
employee churn.

About 45 percent of the workforce believes in focus on promotion and 34 percent believe in
doing something different, the survey notes.

This trend is consistent amongst all workgroups based on income, location, gender, type of
employment and such others.
The preference for moving into a higher position based on existing experience is higher than to
venture into a role that is different from their existing role, it says.

It also points out that about 81 percent of men expect to work beyond their retirement age and a
nearly equally high proportion of women (74 percent), expect to work beyond their retirement
age.
(Agencies)
56. The big fat Indian wedding

The big fat Indian weddings are just getting bigger and fatter. While many
Bollywood movies still struggle to make an entry into the 100 crore club,
there are many big and affluent celebrities and personalities who join that
easily by throwing the most lavish weddings.

Here are a few of the most lavish Indian weddings that crossed the 100 crore
mark.

1. Rohan Mehta and Roshni Khemlani wedding

Cost: 140 crore

In the year 2016, one of the most lavish Indian weddings took place in Italy.
Dubai-based Indian millionaire owning a pharmaceutical company, Yogesh
Mehta spent Rs 140 crore on his son, Rohan Mehta's three-day-long
extravagant wedding with Roshni, a London-based owner of a fashion
company. The wedding took place in Florence, Italy, from November 25
onwards.
 ADVERTISEMENT

Attended by more than 500 people, it was a lavish affair with many luxury
hotels being booked for the guests. It also included breathtaking fireworks,
crystal chandeliers, and luxurious feasts for the guests. Mr Mehta made sure
that his son’s wedding was magical. It even got covered by the media of
Florence.

Check out the Unheard Love Story Of Rajiv Gandhi And Sonia Gandhi

#2. Sanjay Hinduja and Anu Mahtani wedding

Cost: 125 crores approx.
ADVERTISEMENT

2015 witnessed the wedding of a UK-based billionaire, Sanjay Hinduja, who

married the designer, Anu Mahtani, in Jagmandir Island Palace, Udaipur, in a
'big fat Indian' style. The couple had a star-studded pre-wedding party in
Mumbai on February 6, 2015. And, the lavish wedding celebrations in
Udaipur went on from February 10 to 12.
The sangeet ceremony saw performances of celebrities like Ranveer Singh,
Arjun Kapoor and Nicole Scherzinger. And, that was not all! The wedding
day saw the American singing sensation, Jennifer Lopez's performance as
well. It is believed that the singer was put up at the Kohinoor Suite, The
Oberoi Uday Vilas, which is one of the most expensive suites of the country
and costs around Rs. 3 lakhs per night!

#3. Shrishti Mittal and Gulraj Behl wedding

 ADVERTISEMENT

Cost: 505 crores approx.

Pramod Mittal, Lakshmi Mittal’s younger brother, organised the biggest of

all Indian weddings in December 2013. He got his daughter Shrishti Mittal
married to Gulraj Behl in a 505 crore (and still counting) celebration. The
three-day wedding ceremony took place in Barcelona, Spain, and is said to
have brought the city to a standstill. Helicopters hovered over the venue
clicking aerial pictures of the ceremonies.
The wedding featured a stunning display of water jets and lights that danced
to the tunes of Chariots of Fire. Michelin star chef, Sergi Arola took care of
the kitchen and more than two hundred chefs were flown in from India,
Thailand and Spain to prepare the wedding spread. The cake was a six-tiered
60 kg beauty. Fireworks concluded the ceremony with dazzle and glitter.
Five hundred invitees were made to sign confidentiality agreements to limit
the possibility of images from the events getting out.

Take a look at Ridiculously Grand Indian Weddings That Crossed The

200 Crore Mark

#4. Sahara chief’s sons, Seemanto and Sushanto’s

wedding
Cost: 552 crores approx.

Sahara chief, Subroto Roy spent a whopping Rs. 552 crores for his sons’
wedding in 2004. Both his sons, Seemanto and Sushanto got married on the
same day in the Sahara Village in Lucknow. The entire venue was decked up
like a royal bride and lit up with traditional torch lights, hundreds of lamps
and prism glasses. The glitzy and glamorous wedding saw a bevvy of celebs
such as Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Anil Ambani, Late Shri Baal
Thackeray and Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The invite to this lavish wedding had a special chip embedded in it for the
easy identification of guests and to make sure that no gatecrashers could
enter. The food comprised of 101 unique cuisines from all over the world.
Shiamak Davar’s dance troupe entertained the guests on the occasion.
Subroto Roy also got 101 underprivileged girls married on the occasion of
his sons’ wedding. And, he even distributed food to over one and a half lakh
beggars.

#5. Lalit Singh Tanwar and Yogita Jaunapuria

wedding
Cost: 250 crores approx.

Congress MP Kanwar Singh Tanwar spent over 250 crores on his son Lalit
Singh Tanwar’s wedding with Yogita Jaunapuria in Delhi, in 2011. The
bride’s parents gifted a Bell 429 five-seater helicopter to the groom. The
guest list of this wedding included about 15,000 people. Each guest received
11,000 rupees as shagun. Those who attended the lagan function got a 30
gms silver biscuit, a safari suit and Rs 2100 cash each. A whopping 21 crore
was spent only on the tika ceremony for the groom's family.
The bride was adorned in diamonds and the groom looked dapper in a
designer black velvet sherwani. The food comprised of over a hundred
delicacies including thirty types of kulfis. Be it the glittering wedding venue,
the host of VVIP guests or entertainment, this wedding was an epitome of
glamour and opulence.

Must Read: This Super-Fun Lip Dubbed Wedding Video Got Shot In
One Go And It's Hard To Believe!

#6. Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia wedding

Cost: 220 crores approx.

Lakshmi Mittal, the steel magnate, spent over Rs. 220 crores for his daughter
Vanisha’s wedding in 2004. Looking beautiful in a red and gold Sandeep
Khosla and Abu Jani lehenga, she married Amit Bhatia, a banker. The
engagement was held in the Palace of Versailles and the wedding took place
in the Chateau Vaux le Victome in France. The engagement dinner was
organised at the Jardin des Tuileries and the best Indian chefs were flown in
for the preparations.
Image Courtesy: The Bridal Box

For the reception, fireworks were arranged on the Eiffel tower. It was also
reported that celebrities like Kylie Minogue and Shah Rukh Khan were paid
a whopping £300,000 for their appearance. Apart from them, other B-town
stars like Aishwarya Rai, Akshay Kumar and many others performed at the
wedding. It was also reported that Javed Akhtar wrote a special play based on
the couple's love story, which was performed by Mittal family. Guests from
India were flown down in 12 private jets. The wedding celebrations lasted for
six long days.

#7. Mallika Reddy and Siddharth Indukuri

wedding
Image Courtesy: Dainik Bhaskar

Cost: 100 crores approx.

Mallika Reddy, daughter of the Hyderabad-based industrialist G.V. Krishna

Reddy, married Siddharth Indukuri, the young scion of the Indu Group in
2011. It was the grandest wedding of Hyderabad city, with the who’s who of
Bollywood, business, fashion and politics present. The reception, held in
New Delhi, was graced by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The
wedding mandap, designed by celebrity designers Abu Jani and Sandeep
Khosla, was adorned with red velvet and zardozi work.
It was said that special guests received solitaire rings and sarees designed by
ace fashion designers with the wedding invite. At the venue, chandeliers
were decorated with hundreds of real jasmine swags! The food was purely
vegetarian, but the variety was enormous. Entertainment comprised of Indian
classical dances, which retained the traditional theme of the wedding. The
celebrations were billed to be over 100 crores.

Also Read: 'Baahubali' Actress Tamannaah Bhatia's Brother Had A

Traditional Wedding In Isckon Temple
#8. Vikram Chatwal and Priya Sachdev wedding

Image Courtesy: Pinterest

Cost: 100 crores approx.

New York-based hotelier Vikram Chatwal married his sweetheart, model

Priya Sachdev, in a grand 100 crore wedding that had celebrations spread
over three splendid cities of the country– Mumbai, Delhi and Udaipur, for
over a week. More than a thousand guests from all over the world were
invited. No wonder they were dazzled by the stupendous glamour,
decorations and hospitality at the wedding. Private jets were arranged to
bring in these guests from over 26 countries!
More than 50,000 tonnes of flowers were brought in from all over the world,
to be used for the decorations. Around 3000 candles were used to spread a
soft romantic glow at the wedding venue. The mouth-watering food was
served till the wee hours of the morning. The bride and the groom looked like
royalty in their elaborate designer wedding outfits.

#9. Brahmani Janardhana Reddy and Rajiv

Reddy wedding
Image Courtesy: IB Times

Cost: 500 crore

Gali Janardhana Reddy’s daughter’s wedding made headlines, all thanks to

its grandeur. This Reddy wedding’s budget was a whopping 500 crore! The
former politician and current mining baron spent lavishly to make his
daughter’s special day a unique one, in terms of jewellery, outfits, decoration
and food. The bride wore a Kanjeevaram saree worth Rs. 17 crore for her big
day along with all diamond jewellery, worth Rs. 70 crore. The wedding took
place during the time of demonetisation, when the entire nation was facing
major cash crunch!
The grand wedding took place in Bangalore Palace which was made to look
like a replica of the ruins of Hampi. Many buildings were made to resemble
Lotus Mahal, King Krishnadevaraya’s castle and the Vijaya Vittala temple. It
was the most magnificent wedding that ever took place in India!

57. Youth and politics

Youth and Politics

January 20 Adam Fletcher Issues

Around the world there is a growing interest in youth and politics. Some political groups are
changing to respond to the growing number of young people who want to affect the political
system. Political ideologies appealing to youth that were once considered “fringe” beliefs are
becoming mainstreamed, and more young people are associating themselves with non-
popular political parties. More young people than ever before are actually becoming engaged
in local community campaigns and other political activities. Youth can change the world
through politics by becoming actively, meaningfully and substantially involved throughout
political parties and beyond.

Ways Youth can Change the World through Politics

Youth Mainstreaming — Advocating for youth mainstreaming can allow young people to
change the world by creating new awareness, opportunities, policies, systems and cultures
that foster youth engagement. In political parties, youth mainstreaming could allow for
children and youth to affect democratic representation even in parties that would deny them
the right to vote or otherwise become engaged.

Running for Office — Whatever age they are, young people can run for office anywhere in
the world as an act of protest; to make a stand; or to draw attention. Building momentum for
single candidates requires they remain committed to the causes that get them elected; pushing
a political party or platform requires staunch champions for youth in politics.

Youth as Voters — Fighting for youth suffrage and demanding youth rights is a platform for
youth voters. Another avenue for youth as voters is a protest vote. Going to a voting place
and casting a blank ballot can show youth dissatisfaction with the current political system.
Youth as voters can also vote for a youth candidate who may be foreign to the political
system, but young and capable of sharing youth voice.

Things Youth Need to Change the World through Politics

Education — In order to become engaged in politics in the most effective ways, young
people can learn about political systems, political actions, political issues and other realities
within and around the political system. They can also conduct action learning oriented
activities that allow them to gain credit for their involvement.

Training — Training young people to change the world through politics means teaching
them the skills they need to become involved. These include communication, problem-
solving, change management and conflict resolution skills. It also means participating in
knowledge-sharing activities designed to build their capacity for powerful action.

Inspiration — After 12, 14, 17 or 21 years of being told their voices don’t matter in politics,
young people may need inspiration to become engaged. Never in history have children and
youth been seen or treated as serious political actors; given the opportunity, they will be.
Inspiration from stories, parables, biographies and other sources can help prepare and sustain
youth in politics.

ackground :-

 Youth have always been in politics especially at the time of reform movements. Most of
these young people are in informal politics rather than formal politics. Ex – Social
movements, Pressure groups etc.
 There are some formal student wings in political parties dedicated to the young peoples’
participation in politics. Ex – Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Indian Youth
Congress etc.

Importance of youth in Politics :-

 Fresh and innovative ideas.
 Comparatively young people have less responsibilities and more zeal towards the
betterment of society.
 Youth are tend to more enthusiastic, energetic and flexible.
 India is one of the youngest democracies having 65% of its population below the 35
years. But the percentage of the young MPs is just 13% in the parliament, which is a
drawback to the representativeness of the democracy.
 Policies effecting youth can be framed by young people themselves rather than old
politicians, who most probably cannot feel the contemporary problems young people are
facing.
 By making politics accessible to youth, the negative perceptions on politics can be slowly
erased in minds of young people.
 The involvement of young people in politics ensures inclusiveness.
 Older politicians has to prove their loyalty to their political parties by supporting their
authoritarian practices because of the long term commitment to their parties. Young
people are at advantage in this case, because for them, ideals and ideas dominate their
commitment to the political parties.

Negative side :-

 Young people tend to have idealistic and unrealistic visions for society, which may not be
successful in implementation.
 They lack experience. Experience teaches tolerance and the ability to have realistic
visions.
 Young people can easily be manipulated and can be used as mere puppets in the hands of
older politicians. This can be clearly seen in the violence and destruction of public
properties by a few student groups.

Also Read : New India 2022 - Will it be a reality?

Hindrances :-

 At present, Politics are not accessible to the common young people.

 Most of the young politicians of the present generation are from political families.
 Politics is not a career option in the present days and there is a strong negative feeling in
the minds of people on politics that it is only for the corrupt. So, parents don’t encourage
their children to settle in it.
 Economic constraints. Being active in politics doesn’t ensure a regular pay check.
 Even if one choose politics as a career, she/he has to wait for a really long time to get
public support.
 Lack of political institutions.
 No incentives for political participation.
 Threat to life, if they are sincere.

What needs to be done :-

 Reservation for youth should be created in the political parties and in the parliament as
well. The children and relatives of the politicians should be excluded from this
reservation benefits.
 Political participation of youth should be beyond mere casting of vote. Young people
must be involved in the process of elections as election observers, poll station workers
etc.
 Youth should be given opportunity to do internship in the parliament.
 Political awareness should be given to the students of schools and universities and they
should be encouraged to participate in the politics.
 Student wings of the political parties need to be given more strength and priority.
 Skills training has to be provided to the young politicians by the experienced politicians.
 Political awareness campaigns must ensure that young people are turning out in the
elections to cast their vote.
 Student wings of the political parties have to be to transparent.
 Young people led community development programs and volunteering organizations
must be supported by the government.
 There is a need to form local level youth councils.
 Youth groups should be allowed to visit the national parliaments.
 Youth movements should be dealt in a respectable way and their voices need to be heard
in the parliament.

Also Read : Can Trade help the poor?

What other countries are doing :-

 In Uganda, five seats are reserved for youth representatives in the parliament.
 ‘National Youth Parliament’ in Srilanka influences National youth policies.
 Youth enrollment campaign in Australia educates young voters with fun activities.

Conclusion :-

There is a dearth of young talent in the present politics. Youth should be given the
opportunity to prove themselves by making politics accessible to the them. The right balance
of young talent and experienced politicians can lead to the cleaning of politics and can restore
the public faith in the political system.

Afterwords :- Do you support the participation of young people in politics? And what are
your thoughts about this topic? Feel free to express your opinion in the comment section.

58. What is minimum support price

What is Minimum Support Price?

tojo jose
July 11, 2015
Minimum Support Price is the price at which government
purchases crops from the farmers, whatever may be the price for
the crops. Minimum Support Price is an important part of
India’s agricultural price policy.

The MSP helps to incentivize the framers and thus ensures

adequate food grains production in the country. I gives sufficient
remuneration to the farmers, provides food grains supply to
buffer stocks and supports the food security programme through
PDS and other programmes.

Procurement Price

Sometimes, the government procures at a higher price than the

MSP. Here, the price will be referred as procurement price. The
procurement price will be announced soon after the harvest.
Normally, the procurement price will be higher than the MSP,
but lower than the market price. The price at which the procured
and buffer stocke food grains are provided through the PDS is
called as issue price.

When the MSP is announced?

The minimum support prices are announced by the Government

of India at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops
on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission for
Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Support prices generally
affect farmers’ decisions indirectly, regarding land allocation to
crops, quantity of the crops to be produced etc. It is in this angle
that the MSP beceomes a big incentive for the farmers to
produce more quanity.

What are the Objectives of MSP?

Government’s agricultural policy has three important

components- the MSP, Buffer Stocks and issue of food grains
through the PDS. The interconnectivity between the three is very
clear. MSP helps to procure adequate food grains through FCI,
state agencies and cooperatives. The PDS network through the
policy of issue price delivers it to the weaker sections.

MSP is price fixed by Government of India to protect the farmers

against excessive fall in price during bumper production years.
The minimum support prices are a guarantee price for their
produce from the Government.

The objective of the MSP is thus to ensure remunerative prices

to the growers for by encouraging higher investment and
production. It also aims to bring a balanced realization of
sufficient food production and consumption needs at the same
ensuring adequate and affordable food grains to all the people.

Thus the minimum support price is aimed to:

(i) Assure remunerative and relatively stable price

environment for the farmers by inducing them to increase
production and thereby augment the availability of food grains.

(ii) Improve economic access of food to people.

(iii) Evolve a production pattern which is in line with

overall needs of the economy.

History and trend

 The MSP was declared used first time in 1965 as a tool for
agricultural price policy to meet the various objectives. Since
then, the MSP performs an important function in realizing the
various objectives related to agricultural price policy.

Who declares and who prepares it?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA),

Government of India, determines the Minimum Support Prices
(MSP) of various agricultural commodities in India based on the
recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Cost and
Prices (CACP).

What is open ended MSP?

Government considers that some types of crops are vital for

food security. To ensure and encourage the production of such
crops the government follows a much liberal procurement policy
known as open ended MSP.

In this case, there is no procurement target. The government

allows the procurement agencies like the FCI to buy whatever i s
offered by the farmers for sale at MSP. The major staple food
items – rice and wheat are the two principal commodities where
government’s role is pronounced.

How MSP is calculated for each crop?

The MSP is calculated and recommended by the CACP. For t he

calculation of the MSP, the CACP takes into account a
comprehensive view of the entire structure of the economy of a
particular commodity or group of commodities. Other Factors
include cost of production, changes in input prices, input-output
price parity, trends in market prices, demand and supply, inter-
crop price parity, effect on industrial cost structure, effect on
cost of living, effect on general price level, international price
situation, parity between prices paid and prices received by the
farmers and effect on issue prices and implications for subsidy.

Commission makes use of both micro-level data and aggregates

at the level of district, state and the country.

There are various supply related information that are needed to

estimate the MSP. These are – area, yield and production,
imports, exports and domestic availability and stocks with the
Government/public agencies or industry, cost of processing of
agricultural products, cost of marketing – storage,
transportation, processing, marketing services, taxes/fees and
margins retained by market functionaries; etc. are also
considered.

Different Ministries and Departments help the Commission to

arrive at the MSP. The estimates of Cost of Cultivation/Cost of
Production, an important input for forming the recommendation
of MSP, are made available to the Commission through the
Comprehensive Scheme for Studying the Cost of Cultivation of
Principal Crops, operated by the Directorate of Economics and
Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry
of Agriculture, Government of India.

These estimates take into account real factors of production and

include all actual expenses in cash and kind incurred by the
farmer in production, rent paid for leased in land, imputed value
of family labour, interest value of owned capital assets
(excluding land), rental value of owned land( net of land
revenue), depreciation of farm implements and buildings and
other miscellaneous expenses.

How many commodities are covered under the MSP?

 At present, the MSP covers 24 crops that includes seven cereals
(paddy, wheat, barley, jowar, bajra, maize and ragi); five pulses
(gram, arhar/tur, moong, urad and lentil); eight oilseeds
(groundnut, rapeseed/mustard, toria, soyabean, sunflower seed,
sesamum, safflower seed and nigerseed); copra, raw cotton, raw
jute and virginia flu cured (VFC) tobacco.

Procurement of agricultural crops is made by the FCI, state

agencies and cooperatives.

A counterpart of the MSP is the Market Intervention Scheme

(MIS), under which the state government procures perishable
commodities like vegetable items.
Why did MSP gain such importance in agricultural policies?

The major objectives of MSP are to support farmers from distress sales at
severely low prices and to procure foodgrains for public distribution.

Ideally, the market price will always remain higher than the MSP fixed by
the government. With government guarantee, the farmer can always sell
at the MSP if he/she cannot procure a better price elsewhere.

Thus, MSP becomes a very important benchmark for the producer

because it helps him estimate the revenue, aiding the financial planning
and also influencing borrowing decisions if any.

Therefore, the demand to raise MSP has been one of the major points in
most farmer protests given that it directly dictates the farmer’s income.

While there are many other non-price factors which have an long-
term impact on agricultural development such as technology, irrigation,
development of infrastructure, market reforms, better procurement, and
storage facilities and institutions, MSP has always remained contentious
as it is directly linked with the farmer’s pocket and is tangible.

Current Status of MSP: Pros, Cons & what can be done better?
The MSP just saw a 50% hike much to the relief of many farmers. The
trouble with MSP is that while it is touted as an all-important factor for
farmers promising an instant rise in their income and stability, it also has
many drawbacks in implementation.

Pros of MSP:

It is a one-price policy guarenteeing assured pay, which directly

influences farmer’s pockets. (Prices for all crops from 2009 to 2018.)

It considers various factors when fixing the price and does not leave the
farmer at the mercy of the market.

Procurement for public distribution system and buffer stock for food
security come from this policy.

It has a heavy influence on market prices and also helps the farmer grow
production and match up with other sectors in terms of income.

Cons of MSP & what can be done better:

Hiking the MSP without investing in infrastructure is just a short-term

play. While it does deliver immediate results, long-term developments
to back-it up are also important.

MSP covers numerous costs such as the cost of sowing (A2) and
labour (FL). These considerations are controversial with suggestions that it
should be based on comprehensive costs (C2), which also include land
rent costs.

Too much of a hike on MSP either paves way for inflationary effects on
the economy, with a rise in prices of foodgrains and vegetables, or loss to
government treasury if it decides to sell at a lower price as compared to
the higher MSP it bought at.

MSP is a nationwide single price policy. However, the actual costing for
production varies from place to place, more severely so in areas lacking
irrigation facilities and infrastructure. Thus, not all farmers have equal
 benefits.

Market prices should ideally never be below MSP. If they fall below the
MSP, in concept, the farmer can always sell it to the government, which
will then resell it or store as buffer. However, practically this does not
always happen. The market value in many cases does fall below MSP due
to lack of infrastructure and procurement apparatus on the
government’s end.

MSP is notified for 23 crops, but effectively ensured only for two-three
crops.

Thus, MSP while still being significant, is not the only go-to solution for
solving all farmer woes.

The author, Sujay Ojha, is an Advisor to Weather Risk Management

Services Pvt. Ltd. for agricultural production and technology related
stories.

Why is it provided?
 The idea behind MSP is to give guaranteed prices and assured market to the farmers and save
them from the price fluctuations.
 It shields farmers from the unwarranted fluctuation in prices caused by the variation in supply
(largely influenced by the monsoon, drought), lack of market integration, information asymmetry
and other elements of market imperfection afflicting the agricultural markets.
 The guaranteed price and assured market are expected to encourage higher investment and in
adoption of modern technologies in agricultural activities.
 Further, with globalization resulting in freer trade in agricultural commodities, it is very
important to protect farmers from the unwarranted fluctuation in prices, manipulated by the
international level price variations.
Recent happenings
 For the 2018-19 crop season, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs recently announced an
increase in minimum support prices to 50% above the cost of production. The Committee
approved the MSP of 14 Kharif (summer grown) crops.
 The Modi government termed it as the “historic increase.”
 The announced MSPs also include a ₹200 per quintal increase in the MSP for paddy, which is
likely to inflate the food subsidy bill.
 In a press briefing Rajnath Singh, the Home Minister of India, said the hike would boost farmers’
income and purchasing capacity, and have a positive impact on the wider economy, and played
down fears of rising inflation due to higher food prices.
Criticism
 This decision, taken by the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came just an
year before the next general election. So, more than a beneficiary measure it is being considered
as a step to garner the votes of farmers.
 There is a significant variance between what the government considers as the cost of production
and what the farmer incurs.
 According to the Government of India, Production Cost = Actual Expenses on seeds, fertilizers,
irrigation etc. (A2) + Unpaid Family labor (FL)
 Actual Production Cost (C2) = Actual Expenses on seeds, fertilizers, irrigation etc. (A2) +
Unpaid Family labor (FL) + Rentals or interest on Land
 The announcement of increase is being considered as the betrayal of the BJP’s 2014 poll
promise. According to the Bharatiya Kisan Union leader, “What has been announced by the
Centre is an eyewash.” He mentions “If MSP had been announced on C2 basis, then paddy price
would have risen by at least Rs. 700 per quintal, but the government has only increased it by Rs.
200 per quintal.”

59. What is Modicare?

Modicare will provide a shot in the arm for the healthcare
sector, increasing the insurance cover per family by over
1500% from Rs.30,000 under the extant Rashtriya Swasthya
Bima Yojana (RSBY), to Rs.5 lakh.
The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on
February 1, saw the unveiling of a mega healthcare project that is being
touted as the world’s largest such scheme, in both extent, and expense. The
National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS), which has been dubbed
‘Modicare’ by Mr. Jaitley, has the objective of extending
healthcare insurance to 100 million families, and raises the insurance
ceiling to Rs.5 lakh per family.
The scheme will target up to 500 million individuals from financially
vulnerable households, a demographic that accounts for 41.3% of the
population, according to Census data. Under the NHPS, four in ten Indians
can avail of secondary and tertiary care in government and private
hospitals, within the insurance cap earmarked per family.
Secondary healthcare services include those provided by skilled medical
practitioners, for outpatient treatment, or a brief stay at a hospital for
serious illness. Tertiary care is for patients who are admitted to hospitals
for longer bouts of illness, and require the attention of specialist doctors.
Tertiary care is extended to patients who are suffering from acute pain, or
terminal illness.
A national health agency will be instituted under the scheme to oversee its
implementation at the state-level. The identification of beneficiaries is to
be done by consulting the 2011 round of the socio-economic caste census.
According to media reports, calculations that factor in the current level of
healthcare spending, reckon that the NHPS will require an expenditure
outlay of over Rs.1 lakh crore ($1,000 billion). Critics have also
questioned the feasibility of the NHPS given that a similar scheme from
the 2016 Union budget, which was meant to cover health expenses up to
Rs.1 lakh per family, is yet to be implemented.
The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), which is the existing
affordable-healthcare scheme, provides an insurance cover of Rs.30,000
for a family comprising of at most five members. Out of the corpus
earmarked for the scheme in the budget, the Central government pays 75%
of the expense, while the rest is borne by the States. The RSBY, which is
the precursor to Modicare, is targeted at Below Poverty Line (BPL)
families, and has been implemented in 15 States.
Modicare, which shares its blueprint with the Affordable Care Act that
was championed by Barack Obama in the United States, will provide a
shot in the arm for the healthcare sector, increasing the insurance cover per
family by over 1500% from Rs.30,000 under the extant RSBY, to Rs.5
lakh. The number of beneficiaries will also increase, as more states enrol
for the scheme. However, the share of the States’ to the NHPS has not
been detailed in the budget document.
The NHPS, which is modelled along the lines of Obamacare, indicates the
government’s intent to further the beneficiary pool for healthcare sops.
"India cannot realize its demographic dividend without its citizens being
healthy," said Mr. Jaitley in his budget speech.
Ancillary to the NHPS, the government plans to set up 1.5 lakh Health and
Wellness Centres centres under the Ayushman Bharat program. These
centres will provide treatment for non-communicable diseases, and
disburse primary care to young mothers and children. Free supply of
essential medication and diagnostics is also on the anvil.
In order to meet the demand for greater accessibility to healthcare, more
Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals are planned to be instituted
towards the goal of having at least one medical college for every three
parliamentary constituencies. At present, there are 479 medical colleges
affiliated to the Medical Council of India (MCI) as opposed to 543
parliamentary constituencies. However, their spatial distribution is uneven,
with more colleges being clustered around urban centres.
The number of doctors per lakh population is also below par. A World
Health Organization (WHO) report titled The Health Workforce in
India states that on an average, there are 79.7 doctors per one lakh people
in the country. Chandigarh has the most doctors per capita with 279.9
doctors per lakh of the population. Meghalaya has only 27.5 doctors per
lakh of the population. All the north-eastern states lag behind the national
average in the number of healthcare professionals. Arunachal Pradesh and
Nagaland have 32.5 and 35.6 doctors per lakh citizens respectively.
Another unflattering statistic which Modicare would seek to remedy is
India’s low per capita expenditure at constant Purchasing Power Parity
(PPP). Purchasing power parity is the net expenditure on a particular
commodity after normalising the cost by accounting for the exchange rate.
This metric is often used to compare income levels or the price of a basket
of goods in different countries.
According to data compiled by the World Bank, India’s health expenditure
per capita amounted to $267 in 2014, far below the world average of
$1,271. The per capita spending on healthcare in India is less than other
developing countries like Indonesia, and African countries like Djibouti
and Gabon, where the average citizen spends $338 and $599 respectively
on healthcare.
Developed countries that invest in the health of their citizens, view the
expenditure as a means to further the end of a more economically
equitable society. The Heritage Index of Economic Freedom 2018, which
ranks the pecuniary freedom of citizens, found that the top ten nations in
the list all had universal healthcare schemes. Hong Kong, Singapore,
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Switzerland, and Denmark are among
the countries that make the top ten. The United States, which is ranked 12,
is upstaged on this front by Estonia and Chile, both of which have
universal health coverage. India ranked 130 out of 180 countries in the
study.
The Modi government's launch of National Protection Health Scheme in
the Budget 2018 has drawn immediate comparisons of the program with
the former US President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable
Care - also known as Obamacare - which promised affordable health
coverage to all Americans. But how similar are these two healthcare
missions of the two of the world's biggest democracies? It's perhaps a bit
too early to say. Clarity needs to emerge on the architecture of Ayushman
Bharat before a comprehensive comparison can be made between the two
schemes. But, some obvious similarities and differences can't be missed:
Cost
The total cost under 'Modicare' to cover 10 crore households has been
estimated at Rs 4,000 crore. Centre has confirmed allocation of Rs 2,000
crore for the scheme. According to people familiar with the matter, Centre
will look at states to pitch in with the remaining Rs 2,000 crore. The
expenditure on the scheme, however, could see a significant rise if the
government turns the program into a universal healthcare scheme with
benefits for all citizens in the country.
"Eventually, the government plans to make this universal healthcare
covering all 24.49 crore households in India within 3 years. This will cost
an additional Rs 1070 crore," a source told Business Today.
Meanwhile, in 2010, former President Obama said that it would cost $940
billion in next 10 years. However, two years later, the Congressional Budget
Office came out with an estimated cost of $1.76 trillion.
Benfeiciaries
'Modicare' is specifically targeted at India's poor while Obamacare was for
the poor but also benefited middle class Americans. Obamacare made it
mandatory for every citizen to buy insurance cover and offered government
subsidy on the premiums. However, there have been criticisms over recent
increase in premiums and continuous debate over whether it should be
scrapped, including President Trump's efforts to repeal the Act.
In respect to the number of people the two schemes cover, Modicare will
provide cover to a much larger population as compared to Obamacare. For
Modicare, 10 crore families have been identified on the basis of the lowest
earning 10 crore poor, BPL and APL families as per the Socio-Economic &
Caste Census of 2011. Arun Jaitley in his budget speech said 50 crore
people would benefit from the scheme.
Obamacare till 2016 brought around 2 crore 40 lakh citizens under the
insurance protection scheme.
Premium
Under the Modi care, government will invite bids from insurance
companies to cover these 10 crore families. These insurance companies will
tie up with healthcare chains where the insured will be treated. It's highly
unlikely the poor will have to pay premiums since it's a promise to provide
a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary care
hospitalisation.
Under the Obamacare Act, the United States government pays subsidy in
the premium to those whose income fall between 100-400 per cent of the
Federal Poverty Line. In comparison to Modicare's Rs 5 lakh limit, in
Obamacare there is no such limit or cap for essential health benefits. The
US Affordable Care Act also ensures that in case of chronic illness,
policyholders get health cover even if they have run out of coverage.
India's total health spending
Currently, India's public health budget is 1.15 per cent of GDP and it
expects to raise it to 2.5 per cent of the GDP by 2025. However, the United
States spends around 18 per cent of its GDP on healthcare.
60. Boosting the tourism industry in India
Improve infrastructure to attract more tourists

The Visit India Year, launched by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in China,
is a welcome initiative that indicates the Modi Government's commitment to
developing the tourism sector to its full potential. However, to realise these plans, it
administration has to look beyond a glitzy advertisement campaign. The Incredible
India campaign, though ground-breaking and very successful in its own right, is now
more than a decade old and past its expiry date. A new idea idea is needed but,
more importantly, the focus has to be on improving the infrastructure of the tourism
industry — from making it easier for foreign tourists to avail Indian visas, to
presenting all that the country has to offer in a palatable and indeed profitable
manner, to improving the overall law and situation.

The Government has already made a good start in this regard by easing visa
processes: In November 2014, the visa on arrival facility, available to only 12
countries, was extended to 43 more and the results are already showing. In
December 2013 alone, tourist arrivals jumped by 421.6 per cent, compared to the
same period in 2013, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The Government must
also focus on making India more accessible to the world — this, of course, means
more number of flights to Delhi and Mumbai, but also additional flights to cities like
Kolkata and Chennai, as well as better rail and road connectivity within the country.
As of now, only a few States (usually the ones like Rajasthan and Kerala that derive
a large chunk of their revenue from tourism) have good transport facilities. Most
others are plagued by potholed highways and trains that run several hours behind
schedule.

This is also true for hotels, tourist lodges and youth hostels; the entire sector needs a
capacity augmentation. Another aspect that requires immediate attention is law and
order. Popular tourist destinations are often also cesspools of unscrupulous agents
looking to make a quick buck at the cost of the unsuspecting tourist. This, of course,
is not just an Indian problem but it can surely be handled better. We need an
enabling state that will keep a close watch on the sector without destroying
entrepreneurial spirit with over-regulation. Sanitation is also a major put off,
especially where tourists from the luxury segment are concerned. Hope the Clean
India campaign will make a difference in this regard.
The Government also needs to think out-of-the-box to make the most of India's
tourism potential. For example, there is a lot that can be done to make religious
tourism more attractive. Different circuits — such as the Buddhist circuit — need to
be developed and marketed aggressively. Also, given India's huge coast line,
tourism on cruise ship can be promoted. There's also a lot of scope for adventure
tourism (think river rafting and mountain climbing). Medical tourism is also a gro wing
sector and is expected to grow at 30 per cent this year alone.

India is planning to cut taxes on travel and tourism in next month’s federal
budget and give more incentives to the $210 billion sector, government
sources said, hoping to boost economic growth and create more jobs.

The move could add to a domestic tourism boom in the world’s second
most populous nation, where low inflation and rising incomes are changing
lifestyles and consumption patterns of an estimated 250 million middle-
class Indians. With scores of destinations introduced on airline routes last
year, air travel is also surging.

India’s tourism sector grew over 10% in the six months ending September,
compared to near 8% in the year-ago period. According to an industry
report, tourism employs 40 million people in India and could add 10
million jobs in a decade.

“We’ll announce measures in the budget to promote investment in the

tourism sector,” a top finance ministry official told Reuters, adding that
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley favours lowering a 28% tax on hotel tariffs,
and offering incentives to attract private investments.

If the moves come about, companies expected to benefit include airlines

like IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, and Jet Airways and hotel
operators such as Indian Hotels, that owns the Taj Mahal chain and EIH
Ltd that operates the Oberoi hotels in India.

Tour operators including Cox & Kings and Thomas Cook are also likely to
gain.

In India tourists, on average, pay 30% tax on hotel rooms and travel
compared with less than 10% in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, said
Pronab Sarkar, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators
(IATO).

Another government official said the budget was likely to “significantly”

raise allocations for tourism infrastructure and raise income tax
exemptions on investments in new hotels.
A third official, who is aware of the finance ministry’s pre-budget
consultations with industry groups, said Jaitley was expected to lower
income tax on corporate profit, offer tax incentives on hotel construction,
allocate more funds for new tourist trains and building roads to tourist
destinations.

The government will offer incentives to more regional airlines this year to
cover new, under-served airports, the official added.

All three officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to

provide numbers or share further details.

CHEAPER FLIGHTS
India needs about 200,000 new hotel rooms, Tourism Minister K.J.
Alphons told parliament this week.

“We have reached a plateau point and need more resources to create new
infrastructure and develop tourist packages,” Alphons later told Reuters,
adding there was huge potential in developing areas that were not the usual
tourist destinations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said developing tourism, particularly in

India’s remote north-eastern states, is one of his top priorities.

Hotel occupancy levels in India are at their highest levels since 2008, even
though many hotel chains have raised prices.

The need for rooms has been spotted by foreign investors with Japan’s
SoftBank Group backing start-ups like OYO Rooms, which has emerged as
the largest aggregator of budget accommodation across the country with
hotels in over 200 destinations.

One major driver of the domestic tourism boom has been the launch in
2017 of five regional budget airlines on over 100 routes, which are given
incentives by the government to offer cut-price flights to uncovered and
remote areas, encouraging thousands of families to explore flying for the
first time.

Domestic airlines carried 10.6 million passengers in the first eleven months
of 2017, up 17% from the year-ago period - encouraging some established
players like Spicejet, Jet Airways and Vistara, a joint venture between the
Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, to start flights to new locations.

ONLINE PLAYERS
Tour operators said double-digit hikes in urban wages, coupled with an
over 25% rise in the benchmark Sensex index last year, have contributed to
the domestic tourism boom.

At the same time over 9 million foreigners visited India in the first 11
months of 2017, up 15.6% from a year ago.

Domestic tourists, who account for 88% of the sector, are increasingly using
online portals for hotel and travel bookings.

Travel portal MakeMyTrip reported a 186% jump in hotel bookings during

the September quarter and its holiday package segment that includes hotel
and flight bookings, saw a 71% increase in revenues over the same period.

Online operators say tourism could emerge as the new engine of growth
after the IT sector but that it needs government support.

“The government must lower the tax burden, ease rules and build
infrastructure if it wants to ensure 15-20% annual growth in tourism in
coming years,” said Sarkar of IATO. Reuters
The Union Tourism Ministry aims to double the number of foreign tourist
arrivals in three years, said K.J. Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism.
“India has done well on the tourism front in 2017,” Mr. Alphons said at
the OMT Mumbai 2018 travel show here on Thursday.
“We crossed the mark of over 10 million foreign tourists and it is time to
celebrate that. Along with the international tourist arrivals, including
NRIs, we have crossed over 17 million tourists within the last year,” he
said.
“These are very encouraging numbers and the government is working
towards doubling both foreign tourist arrivals and foreign exchange
earnings in the next three years,” he added.
“To make this possible, we are working with the State governments and
with the industry since they have a big role to play. So we are all working
together andto make this possible,” he added.
The Minister said in dollar terms, foreign exchange earnings from tourism
sector increased 22.2% which was very high as compared with the global
growth rate of less than 5%.
 “We have contributed greatly to the economy in India through tourism
which is 6.4% of the total GDP. The travel and tourism industry also
employs over 12.6% of the total population in the country. With the
biggest multiplier effect, it creates jobs for all segments of the society and
thus, the Government of India is keen on promoting it,” he added.
The Minister said the government would come up with a tourism policy
within two to three months for holistic development of the sector and
ensure that more foreign tourists visit India.

61. We observe traffic rules by breaking them

We tend to think of breaking rules and laws as applications of
creativity, or even necessary for success. But there is never
good enough justification to flout them.
Glance at the headlines in your morning newspaper — ah well, at your
daily shot of web pages — and make a quick calculation. How many of the
news snippets are about someone crazily trying to defy the law, rule, norm,
moral code? So many, that if you’re pushed into thinking all the woes of
life are caused by our contempt of common law, you’ve been pushed right.
We defile monuments by carving on the walls our undying love for
someone. We overstay, wander off in national parks, pluck leaves and
flowers and break branches. We drive without putting on a seatbelt, use
the cellphone while driving. We disrespect all limits — speed, drinking,
decibel level of horns, number of passengers on vehicles.
Inclusive
Rule-ignoring is inclusive. Everyone does it — class, caste, education,
marital status, fitness no bar. All of us litter in public places, buy tickets in
the black market, ignore stop-signs, negotiate with cops when caught,
jump queues, park/drive on footpaths, or overtake on the wrong side. We
smoke in the open, let our pets poop in the street and dump construction
debris where people walk. We occupy public space with ramps outside
homes. Is there an end to this list? Rule-breaking is a great leveller: no one
gets punished. If you’re caught red-handed by a misguided watchman or
an idealistic cop, you know how to wriggle out.
“I am baffled to notice that people often don’t follow my rules even when
stated clearly. These, by the way, are in place because they are the best
way to do things!” wrote an anguished blogger. “I’m trying love and
compassion instead of throwing people off the balcony, but I am aware
that the latter is more efficient.”
While flying, Indians pay little attention to evacuation instruction, says
author Aakar Patel, writing in his blog Aakarvani. This cavalier attitude is
why desis “make a grab for the overhead bins despite being told expressly
to wait for the seat-belt sign to go off. A laptop bag once crashed down on
my seated wife’s skull, as someone casually yanked stuff from the
overhead bin. Heaven knows what sort of damage we do to each other
every day in this Hobbesian fashion.” He points out how vehicles back up
in our parts and even drive up the wrong side of highways. This utter
disregard for rules of safety is a culture that is hard to break, he says.
Free expression?
Poor civic sense? A chalta hai attitude? Experts, sadly, do not agree on the
“why”. Some argue rule-following is taught at home. The child is trained
to follow ground rules — on cleanliness, politeness, right and wrong.
Others say young people increasingly defy the law because the parental
control is too strict for comfort. “What they can’t/couldn’t do at home
finds free expression once they are outside and with friends.”
For the question “Why do we break primary traffic enforcement laws
(seatbelt, cellphone use, parking, stopping behind lines)?” on a website,
readers voted this as the best answer: We are careless or inattentive, we
like to defy authority (who is he to tell me?), we feel we are young and
therefore indestructible, we find it convenient (why waste driving time?).
People think they rule the road when they are behind the wheel. And um,
some genuinely don’t know traffic rules.
It’s a paradox, really. Most of us think we are honest, play by the rules —
even when we litter, text while driving, mend the silencer in our vehicle,
enjoy pirated movies/music, blow past speed limits, or lie to give our kids
an advantage. When confronted, we offer a string of arguments in our
defence. 1. I don’t always break rules, only when I can’t help it! 2. You
 talk as if I’ve stolen money! 3. It’s okay to break rules for others. 4. When
so many get away with littering the beach, why should I look for a garbage
bin? 5. Is that the rule? It’s not clear! And this clinching logic: When the
big/powerful fish go scot-free why is the small fry caught?
Psychologists have found that rule-breaking makes people feel powerful,
smart, innovative. You break rules, you feel macho — “See, I gamed the
system!” Also, one who puts his feet on the seat in front at the theatre,
smokes in public, parks on the speed-breaker and shouts at workers is
thought of as a guy who “gets people to listen.” Breaking one rule, say,
jumping a queue, gives you a sense of freedom from all rules. One
offender said, “It’s healthy to let off steam once in a while, you know.”
When a minor crashed the family BMW into a median, the parent claimed,
“He can’t help it, it’s his hormones.” A study by Josephson Institute found
that when asked if lying and cheating were necessary to succeed in life,
more than 50% of young people are likely to say “Yes!”
We know the bottomline: breaking rules cannot be justified. No excuse is
good enough. No violation of the law is legitimate. You follow rules
because it is the honourable thing to do. Being law-abiding reduces chaos
and ensures safety. Oh, yes, authorities everywhere try to ensure people
follow rules. But the ultimate responsibility for following rules rests with
every one of us. We should know right from wrong. We must see
ourselves as honest people, in a positive light. Respect for rules is a
necessary aspect of modern life.

62. Honesty should be taught in school

TEACHING HONESTY IN THE CLASSROOM
NOVEMBER 6, 2017

Have you ever had a student tell a lie to get out of trouble? Or tell a
story to impress their friends? I think lying is something ALL children
try out a time or two. Most of our students will have heard an adult
say “be honest!” or “tell the truth.” Unfortunately though, most
children have never had someone discuss the importance of being
trustworthy…or the effects of being dishonest.
I am a firm believer that our students must understand the W HY
behind whatever we are asking them…especially when it comes to
their character and behavior. Ideally we will teach students about
kindness and honesty in such a way that it sticks with them for many
years. Not because they are afraid of getting in trouble, but because
they understand WHY it’s so important.

I wanted to share a few simple ideas for discussing the importance of

honesty and what it means to be trustworthy.

1. Peas and Candy

To prepare, buy a bag of frozen peas and place them in a ziploc bag
(allow them to thaw). Then buy a bag of candy (ideally green but it
can be anything.) Tell students you have some candy for them and
pass it out. Allow students to eat their candy. Ideally someone will
realize it’s not candy. Tell them you’re sorry…you were just teasing
them. THEN pass out the candy. You should have one or two
students that say they don’t believe you. Explain that because you
lied to them once, it’s hard for them to trust you again. That’s just
like in real life! W hen we lie (even to be funny) it’s hard for others to
trust us again.

2. Real Life Examples

Another way to engage students in discussions about honesty is to

have them think of times they were honest (or dishonest) at home, at
school, and in the community. Anytime we can tie learning to their
personal experiences, we’re helping them make deeper connections.

3. Discuss W hat Needs To Be Said

Anytime we discuss honesty, it’s important to discuss thinking about

our words. W e don’t want students to think “being honest” means
they can walk around being rude to their friends. Some things need
to be said and some don’t. Sorting different things we might say
allows students to practice thinking before they speak.

4. Read-Alouds
Here are a list of my favorite read-alouds about honesty. You can
find the links below.

Punishment and anger aren’t always efficient when trying to stop children from
lying. As parents, we must teach them the importance and value of honesty from
an early age.

If we correct children’s behavior through punishment, then they’ll prefer to

lie in order to avoid punishment.

One of our obligations as parents is to teach our children the value of being honest.
After all, their future could depend on it.

This topic isn’t as simple as it seems. Teaching our children to be honest isn’t
the same as teaching them to tie their shoes. There are many factors that can
affect how a child learns about values.

Teaching children about virtues is an important duty that requires a great deal of
patience. There are many useful tips that parents can use to teach their children the
value of honesty.

Why do children lie?

It’s important for parents to understand that children don’t lie for the same
reasons that adults do. Specialists in child psychology have listed the reasons
why children lie.

Lying in order to receive objects or attention are two key reasons. Another reason
why children lie is to avoid punishment – parent should be careful with this one.
Being too strict can result in children who lie more often.

Children often lie because they confuse reality with fantasy and also out of
imitation. If a child’s role-model starts lying, the child will undoubtedly start lying
as well.
When should we start teaching them the difference
between lies and the truth?
It’s important to keep in mind that you can’t start teaching children about
values before the age of 3. Children under the age of 3 don’t have the capacity to
understand the importance of values.
As soon as they turn 3 however, it’s important for parents to be observant. It
isn’t enough for parents to teach; we must also observe our child’s behavior.
This will allow us to find out what makes the child lie. We can only deal with
this problem if we analyze it objectively.

It’s more important to reward honesty than to

punish lying
Rewarding children can prove to be a great stimulus for their learning.If we
reward them, they’ll start to associate honesty as something positive. This will help
create a trustful environment within the household.

We should also reprimand their lies with moderate and well oriented punishments.
Calling a child a liar can be very negative. After all, isn’t our objective to have our
children trust us?

The whole topic about the truth and lies has to do with more than just discipline or
morality. It’s about building confidence and mutual support to face hardships
together.

Teaching children the value of honesty

As our children grow up it’s important for them to understand the value of telling
the truth. First of all, it’s important for them to realize that telling lies prevents us
from helping them in the most appropriate way.

Trust is also key. If we express the pride felt when trust is shared and if we reward
them for being honest, they’ll understand the message.

If we’re honest, they’ll also be honest. This starts at home; we shouldn’t let our
children hear us lying. Parents are the models that their children follow, therefore
a lot will depend to a large extent on a parent’s behavior.
Nobody said it would be easy to teach children the value of honesty. Tolerance,
patience, analysis and trust are the best tools we have to achieve honesty at
home.

Honesty is the first chapter of the book of wisdom,” wrote Thomas Jefferson.
When it comes to small children and honesty, it’s not usually hard to find. With
older children and teens, the truth sometimes becomes more elusive. Here are a
few ideas to help guide your children on the correct honesty path:

1. Reward The Truth

As parents we are often quick to scold. Sometimes we aren’t always so quick to
praise. Reward honesty with loads of praise and hugs. It will build self-confidence
and reinforce the positive behavior. Plus a child can never get too much love.

2. The Art of “Spin”

The brutal truth should not always be spoken. Such as the hurtful comment
towards Aunt Becky mentioned in the opening. We have all heard the saying, “If
you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” One needs not lie
and say Aunt Becky is skinny. Just don’t say anything. Or find something else
about Aunt Becky that is positive. “That sure is a colorful shirt.” Spin. People
make a lot of money doing it. Spin works two ways, but when done for good, it’s a
wonderful tool to learn.

3. The Hard Truth

Correct morals and purity of spirit always trump protecting the feelings of
someone who is doing wrong. Wrong is always wrong. For instance, your son’s
best friend is cheating on tests and your son is fully aware. He has a duty to go to
his friend and advise him to quit. He’s hurting himself and cheating the others who
have honestly studied. If he refuses, then your son would have to tell the teacher
about what is going on. That is called the hard truth. Nobody wants to be put in
that position. Yet, life constantly puts us in these types of situations. As adults, we
are faced with all kinds of scams, rampant adultery, and general dishonesty. Teach
your children to stand strong on the side of righteousness.

4. The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree

As is always the case, you are the role model. You do not want your child to hear
you telling a lie. To see you perform a dishonest act. Yes, you could enter the
national park for free since there is no attendant. But the sign says $5 dollars. Put
your money in the slot and move along. Yes, it would make your life easier if
Grandma didn’t know you were in town this time. But your child is listening to
you on the phone telling her you don’t know when you’ll be there again. Are these
the traits you want to teach your children? Clean up your act. Those little eyes and
ears are always open.

5. Do Not Lead The Witness

Though it’s tempting to test them, try to avoid asking questions that give your child
a chance to not be honest. You saw your daughter spill red juice on the couch. No
need to ask, “Did you just spill your juice on the couch?” This leads her to believe
she might have a way out and could possibly pass blame elsewhere. Just tell her to
clean it up. She’ll have enough opportunities to tell the truth.

6. Truth Or Consequences

We all sin. Even children do. They will eventually lie to you and you will
eventually catch them. It’s important that there be consequences for their actions.
Appropriate discipline should be carried out and followed through. Make it so not
worth it to lie.

7. Correct Mistakes

Catching your child being dishonest is a good time to break out your teacher hat.
Help him correct the mistake. Talk about how he could have responded or reacted
differently. An example would be that your son came home with an Evan Longoria
rookie card. He obtained it by trading his friend two Pat Burrell cards. Obviously,
his friend knows nothing about baseball or really likes Pat Burrell. Either way, he
got swindled. Explain to your son that trades should include fair value on both
sides. Preying on the unaware is not a desirable character trait. Return the card and
work out a fair deal.

8. Your Word Is Gold

The most important character trait a person can possess keeping and following
through on promises made. This one thing alone will take a person very far in life.
To be trusted and deemed honorable is a crown even a king would envy. Teach
your children to be people who consider their word gold. When they give it, they
don’t break it. It is much harder than it sounds. Fool’s gold is easily found. The
real thing takes a lot of digging. Gold is highly sought after and is extremely
valuable. Just the kind of person you want your child to be.

9. What’s Yours Is Yours

Possessions can create all sorts of problems. The best policy is to teach a child
early on that what they have belongs to them. What other people have belongs to
that person. It is not OK to borrow a game and never return it. It’s awesome to
share, but the item must always be returned. We all have that neighbor who
borrows our trimmer and never brings it back. You don’t want your son to be that
guy. It might sound harmless, but honesty does not take days off. Value your own
possessions and keep your hands off your neighbors’.
10. Look for honest friends

Show me your friends and I will show you your future. If your child’s friends lie
and cheat, so will they. But if your child’s friends are upstanding and honest clean
through, your son or daughter will be that much better off. Keep an ear out for any
of your children’s friends who lie. They’re a terrible example for your children.

63. Effect of the fluctuating rupee

Fluctuations in India’s Rupee Rate and

its Economic Impact



December 5, 2011Posted byIndia BriefingReading Time:3 minutesReading Mode

Dec. 5 – After depreciating to a record low of 52.73 against the U.S. dollar on
November 22, the Indian rupee (INR) rose in value to 51.206 per dollar on Friday to
complete the currency’s first weekly advance since October.

The Indian rupee is under great stress as overseas investors are paring their
exposure to Asia’s third-largest economy amid international uncertainty and
mounting worries over the domestic economy.

On November 21 alone, overseas funds sold more than US$500 million worth of
Indian-listed shares over the five trading sessions, reducing net inflows for 2011 to
under US$300 million – a tiny sum compared with the record investments of more
than US$29 billion experienced in 2010. The rupee has lost more than 10 percent of
its value this year, making it one of the worst performing currencies in Asia.

The rupee’s modest 2.1 percent advance against the dollar last week occurred as six
monetary authorities, led by the U.S. Federal Reserve, agreed to lower the interest
rate on dollar-liquidity swap lines.

The premium banks pay to borrow dollars overnight from central banks will fall by
half a percentage point to 50 basis points, the Fed said. It coordinated the move with
the European Central Bank and monetary authorities in Canada, Switzerland, Japan
and the U.K.

“Sentiment has improved slightly after the central banks’ actions,” Vikas Babu, a
Mumbai-based currency trader at state-owned Andhra Bank, told Bloomberg News.
“This is unlikely to last long as only the symptoms of the crisis are being tackled, and
I expect dollar-buying to resume soon.”

The exchange rate of the Indian rupee is dependent upon the market conditions.
Though, in order to sustain effective exchange rates, the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) actively trades in the US$/INR currency market. The RBI also intervenes in the
currency markets to maintain low volatility in exchange rates and remove excess
liquidity from the economy. The rupee is pegged by the Bhutanese ngultrum at par
and with the Nepali rupee at INR1 to NPR1.6.

India has a managed floating exchange rate system. This means that the Indian
government intervenes only if the exchange rate gets out of hand by increasing or
reducing the money supply as the circumstances demand.

Impact on economy
Rupee appreciation makes imports cheaper and exports more expensive. According
to intelligence reports by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
India, sectors like petroleum and petroleum products, drugs and pharmaceuticals
and engineering goods – which have import inputs of as much as 77 percent, 19
percent and 21 percent, respectively – will gain if the rupee appreciates. They would
have to pay less for the imported raw materials which would increase their profit
margins.
Likewise, a depreciating rupee makes exports cheaper and imports expensive. So, it
is good news for industries such as IT, textiles, hotels and tourism which generate
income mainly from exporting their products or services. Rupee depreciation makes
Indian goods and services cheaper for overseas buyers, thus leading to increases in
demand and higher revenue generation. The foreign tourists would find it cost
effective to come to India, therefore increasing the business of hotel, tours and travel
companies.

India’s IT sector is dependent on foreign clients, especially the United States, for
more than 70 percent of its revenue. When an IT company gets a project from a
client, it pre-decides on the length of the contract and the cost of the project. The
contracts with U.S. clients are usually quoted in U.S. dollar terms. So, the fluctuation
in the exchange rate can bring about a considerable difference in the performance of
a company.

Some companies undertake a range of measures like hedging exchange risks using
forwards and futures contracts. This helps in mitigating some of the losses due to
exchange rate fluctuations, but none-the-less the impact is substantial.

The exchange rate is a significant tool that can be used to examine many key
industries; with fluctuations potentially having a serious impact on the economy,
industries, companies, and foreign investors. Rupee appreciation is generally helpful
for industries which rely closely on imported inputs while depreciation of the rupee is
welcome news for industries which are exporting a majority of their products.

64. Should petrol be brought under GST?

The time is not propitious
Ever since the rollout of GST on July 1, 2017, there have been talks
about bringing petroleum products under the new tax net. With oil
prices spiralling globally in the past few months, the talks have
turned more serious with a few people who matter indicating that
petroleum would also be a part of GST.
There is a view that GST would reduce the prices of petroleum
products in the country and can act as an effective hedging tool to
the price shenanigans of OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum
Exporting Countries). The CGST Act already has a provision in
place; Section 9(2) of the Act states that “the central tax on the
supply of petroleum crude, high speed diesel, motor spirit
(commonly known as petrol), natural gas and aviation turbine fuel
shall be levied with effect from such date as may be notified by the
Government on the recommendations of the Council.”
Will prices drop?
The best answer to the question whether GST would really reduce
the prices of petrol and diesel is: “It depends”. It would depend on a
number of factors, such as: the rate of GST; whether the Centre is
prepared for a further slippage in fiscal deficit; whether State
governments would levy a local tax over and above GST; and
whether the GST Council would recommend a cess over and above
the peak GST rate of 28 per cent.
In the present structure, Central excise duty and VAT constitute a
significant amount to the final price of petroleum products — in
States such a Karnataka, the VAT on petroleum products is 30 per
cent. State governments would demand compensation for loss of
revenue on introduction of GST.
Compensation to States has been a highly disputed topic due to the
lack of authentic data — the disputes would only get further
complicated if GST subsumes VAT on petroleum products. Though
GST revenues appear to be stabilising, they are still far from what
could have been. In such a situation and with general elections next
year, the government may opt to play it safe and leave GST
untouched.
The GST Council also appears to be taking it a bit easy now — the
earlier buzz around their monthly meetings has slowly faded.
Levying a petroleum cess just to bring parity between the current
rates and those under GST would also not serve any purpose —
prices are not going to reduce since tax rates are almost the same
and input tax credit cannot be claimed.
Permitting State governments to levy a local tax over and above
GST is also a no-brainer — it would only create a further disparity
in prices of petroleum products between States. In the present
structure of taxation, a person driving from Bengaluru to Chennai
will prefer to tank up petrol in Karnataka as it is cheaper by
almost ₹3 to a litre. The very fact that such a differential exists
vitiates the equity canon of taxation postulated by Adam Smith.
GST followers report that the tax may first be introduced on natural
gas and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) — products that are not as
sensitive to prices as diesel. Even before thinking of doing this, the
Finance Ministry should have data on the impact the introduction of
GST (without any cess) would have on the fiscal deficit and
compensation outflow.
If the benefit to the consumers is minimal, the Council should
seriously reconsider its decision of bringing petroleum products
under GST. It has many other useful things to do, such as
streamlining some of the existing onerous provisions. The timing is
just not right for a “ Petroleum GST”.
Well, don't hold your breath for that. Agreed that this government has done
it before-in October 2017, when fuel prices were nearly Rs 2 lower per litre
than today-and yes, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently said that the
Central government favours bringing petrol products under the GST
umbrella. But, in reality, a short-term intervention by the government is
pretty unlikely as it may disturb the fiscal deficit situation.
According to a GST Council source, who spoke to India Today on condition
of anonymity, subsuming fuels in the new tax regime is not as easy as it is
politically being made out to be. The problem is that the effective sales tax
on fuel varies wildly from state to state. For instance, Maharashtra charges
40% on petrol while Andaman and Nicobar charges just 6% ad valorem.
The effective sales tax on diesel ranges from 6% to 29%. This means that
each hike in crude oil price brings more revenue to the states. The Centre
charges a fixed amount of Rs 19.48 on per litre of petrol and Rs 15.33 on
diesel across the country.
The total levies put together are nearly 60% said the source, adding that, "If
the central levy and dealers commission is added, the amount goes up to
nearly 100% over the real cost of fuel. Now, if petroleum is included in GST,
then the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) could be as high as 100%".
Such a high GST on fuel will not be acceptable pan India. Because once
subsumed in GST, fuel will cost the same across the country. The corollary
is that all the states with lower sales tax at present will see a sharp rise in
prices, which will be political suicide for the ruling parties. States are also
unlikely to agree to reduce their state levies on fuel since most of them are
battling revenue deficit since the launch of the new tax regime.
The Centre, meanwhile, is unlikely agree to foot the bill. Having already
reduced the Basic Excise Duty on Petrol and diesel by Rs 2 a litre last year,
the government has precious little manoeuvring room left. Any further cut
will hurt collections and disturb its plans to maintain fiscal deficit at 3.2%.
The bottomline is that there is no relief in the offing for the common man.
Petrol prices are up 3% since the beginning of the month while diesel is up
6%. The government is aware that spiralling diesel prices will lead to a
further spike in inflation as high transport cost for vegetables and essential
commodities will push their prices up. But as sources in the Finance
Ministry put it, "the government doesn't have enough to step in and
announce cuts in levies to soften the prices of fuels".
Ironically, while the Congress is publicly attacking the government for not
including petroleum in GST, the UPA, too, had not included petroleum in
the GST constitutional amendment when it was in power. The Modi
government included petroleum in the Act but any implementation was
kept in abeyance till a revenue neutral situation could be arrived at post-
GST scenario. As seen above, we are nowhere close yet.
The only other option left, of state-owned petroleum companies taking a hit
to cushion the consumer, is also being ruled out at this moment. After all,
the administered price mechanism on fuels was dismantled largely to let oil
companies, mostly state owned, ensure that rising crude prices don't upset
their economics and expansion.
But if you are thinking that things can't possibly get any worse, think again.
The price of Brent crude, which serves as the Asian benchmark, today hit a
new peak--$71 a barrel-for the first time since 2014. It has gone up 3% in
just three days-prices stood at $68.89 a barrel on Monday- as the dollar
continued to weaken and crude inventories in the United States fell for a
10th straight week amid ongoing supply cutbacks by OPEC and top
producer Russia. To remind you, a group of oil producers including OPEC
and Russia, the world's biggest crude producer, started to withhold
production in January last year to prop up prices. And recently Saudi
Arabia confirmed that major oil producers have agreed to continue
cooperating on production after their deal on supply cuts expires at the end
of 2018. No wonder Gary Ross, founder of PIRA Energy and head of global
oil analytics for S&P Global Platts, is claiming that oil at $80 per barrel is
possible in the near term. He was among the first to predict prices
breaching $70 per barrel so we'd best start praying.
65. India's statue of Unity

All you need to know about Sardar Patel

Statue of Unity
The Statue of Unity is built in dedication to Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,
who served as the first home minister of independent India. At 182 metre, the
statue is 23 metre taller than China's Spring Temple Buddha statue and almost
double the height of the Statue of Liberty (93 metre tall) in US.
ADVERTISEMENT

IndiaToday.in
New Delhi
October 31, 2018
UPDATED: October 31, 2018 09:40 IST
 Drone shot of Statue of Unity on Sadhu Bet island on the Narmada river. (Photo: Chandradeep
Kumar)

HIGHLIGHTS
 Statue of Unity will be able to withstand wind velocity up to 60 m/s, vibration and earthquakes

 It was built within three-and-a-half years by an army of over 3,000 workers

 The statue was built by Padma Bhushan recipient sculptor Ram V Sutar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Statue of Unity in Surat, Gujarat today at
around 11:30 am.
The Statue of Unity is built in dedication to Iron Man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as
the first home minister of independent India. Sardar Patel is credited with uniting all 562 princely
states in pre-independent India to build the Republic of India -- hence the name of the statue. The
date for the inauguration of the statue (October 31, 2018) also marks the 143rd birth anniversary
of Sardar Patel.
The Statue of Unity will be open to the public from November 3. Tickets can be booked online
at www.soutickets.in.
Located on the Sadhu Bet island, near Rajpipla on the Narmada river, the Statue of Unity is
located between the Satpura and the Vindhya mountain ranges. A 3.5 km highway will be used to
connect the statue to Gujarat's Kevadia town.

Statue of Unity is built to symbolise India's unity and integrity. (Image: Twitter/souindia)
Here are 10 interesting facts that distinguish the Statue of Unity from other statues in the
world:
1. The Statue of Unity is the tallest statue in the world. At 182 metres, it is 23 metres taller than
China's Spring Temple Buddha statue and almost double the height of the Statue of Liberty (93
metres tall) in US.
Graphic by Tanmoy Chakraborty.
2. The statue will be able to withstand wind velocity up to 60 m/s, vibration and earthquakes.
3. It was built within three-and-a-half years by an army of over 3,000 workers, including 300
engineers from infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
4. As Gujarat chief minister, Modi had announced the project in 2010 ahead of civic elections in
Ahmedabad. The project, which cost Rs 3,050 crore, was fully funded by the Gujarat
government.
5. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET), a special purpose vehicle set up
by Modi in 2011, arranged some 129 tonnes of iron implements from nearly 100 million farmers
in 169,000 villages across all states to construct the base of the statue in the 'Loha' campaign.
Drone image of the statue’s feet and surrounding area. (Photo: Chandradeep Kumar)
6. The Statue of Unity was built by Padma Bhushan recipient sculptor Ram V Sutar and intricate
bronze cladding work was done by a Chinese foundry, the Jiangxi Toqine Company (JTQ).
A crane lifts a piece of the bronze cladding to the head. (Photo: Chandradeep Kumar)

The 8 mm thick bronze plate. (Photo: Chandradeep Kumar)

7. The viewing gallery for the statue, at 153 metres, can accommodate 200 people at a time and
offer an expansive view of the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
8. The Statue of Unity will comprise two semi-joined, composite concrete cylindrical cores,
surrounded by a structural steel space frame to support the exterior cladding. 5700 Mton of
structural steel and reinforcement bars of 18500Mton were used to build the statue.
22500 mton (22500000 kg) of cement has been used to build the Statue of Unity.(Image:
statueofunity.in)
9. The statue is a three-layered structure. The innermost layer is made of reinforced cement
concrete (RCC), comprising two towers 127 metres high that rise till the statue's chest. The
second layer is a steel structure and the third an 8 mm bronze cladding on the surface.
10. The RCC towers, which at the bottom form Patel's dhoti-clad legs, have two lifts each. Each
lift can carry 26 people to the top in just above half a minute.
While some foreign media are reporting the Statue of Unity as a mark of India's growing
prosperity, the project has faced stiff opposition from tribals.
They said that their lands were taken away for the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project, near which is
the statue site, as well as for the statue and all other tourism activities which have been planned.
Gujarat tribal organisations said that as many as 75,000 tribals, adversely affected by the Statue
of Unity, will observe a bandh today. The bandh will not only be limited to schools, offices or
commercial establishments, but households will also be silent (no cooking).
However, officials claim that nearly 15,000 direct jobs will be generated for the tribal people
every year from the project.
The Modi government has also drawn flak for spending a staggering amount on the project, while
the farmers in the country continue to perish and tribals protest. Many have called the project
mere political symbolism that does not add much to the historically rich culture of India.
Fun Facts | Statue of Unity: In Numbers

66. Government takeover of IL and FS

he potential for systemic disruption and an incipient financial sector
meltdown has forced the government to seize control of Infrastructure
Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) and its units by superseding
the current board.
The move sends multiple signals. One, with the government now in control,
it is a clear reassurance to lenders that their outstanding loans to
IL&FS will be repaid. Two, it will go some way in quelling rumours
that debt mutual funds had started facing redemption
pressures from jittery investors. Three, it effectively stops the spread of
systemic instability in an inter-connected financial system, especially as
panic had started spreading across the financial, money and capital
markets. Finally, there is clarity on the way forward: finalization of a
restructuring plan, identification and valuation of assets, sale of the
assets and repayment of outstanding loans.
The government’s drastic step, the second time in 10 years (the last time
was Satyam Computer Services in 2009), was prompted by rumours and an
edgy financial system. A shaky financial system in an election year is a
recipe for disaster.

The government superseded the IL&FS board under section 241(2) of the
New Companies Act, 2013. This section enables supersession of a
company’s board to prevent it from further mismanagement in order to
protect public interest. The ministry of corporate affairs moved the Mumbai
bench of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Monday under the
same section for overhauling the board and replacing it with its nominees.

The tribunal, presided over by M.K. Shrawat and Ravi Kumar Duraisamy,
approved the names of six directors, including Uday Kotak, managing
director of Kotak Mahindra Bank; G.N. Bajpai, former chairman of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India; G.C. Chaturvedi, chairman of
ICICI Bank Ltd; former bureaucrats Vineet Nayyar (also a former vice
chairman of Tech Mahindra); Malini Shankar and Nand Kishore.

The government also committed to arrange adequate liquidity for

IL&FSto obviate future defaults and ensure smooth implementation of
infrastructure projects.
The government said in its release that the supersession of the IL&FS board
and its replacement by a new board are the necessary first steps towards
restoring the confidence of the financial market.
“The new six-member board will meet before 8 October to decide the
chairman of the board. Also, the newly constituted board must devise a
plan for the group and file its response to the NCLT by 15 October,” said the
tribunal, posting the matter for further hearing on 31 October.

“Fresh funds will be infused when the new board comes up with a revival
plan,” said Sanjay Shorey, joint legal director in the ministry of corporate
affairs, who was representing the government before the tribunal. “We have
identified a few people who have credibility.” The government further
argued that the new board should be empowered to change the boards of
IL&FS subsidiaries as well.

Shorey said any collapse of IL&FS would have a cascading impact on

mutual funds and other financial institutions. “About 1,500 small non-
banking financial companies could see their licences being cancelled due to
the capital shortage in the wake of the IL&FS crisis,” the counsel argued.

Shorey also informed the tribunal that the Serious Fraud Investigation
Office (SFIO) had initiated an investigation into the matter.

“Ravi Parthasarathy, along with CEOs and CFOs, was painting a rosy
picture of the company deliberately despite knowing the truth,” argued
Shorey. He added that the difficulties of the company could create issues
for the financial sector as a whole and that was why the government wanted
to change the board.

This is the second major firm where the government has taken control to
salvage the situation. In 2009, authorities took control of the affairs of
Satyam Computer Services.

“We will have to see how the board and government pull out a rabbit from
the hat,” said Krishnava Dutt, managing partner of law firm Argus Partners,
arguing that the problems of IL&FS were much larger than those of Satyam.
“Someone will have to take the heat while salvaging the situation, the
question is who will take and how much,” said Dutt.

odi government has reportedly moved the National Company Law Tribunal
(NCLT) in Mumbai, seeking to supersede its board with a new 10-member board
ed by veteran banker Uday Kotak. Acording to a moneycontrol report, the
government counsel told NCLT that directors of IL&FS had "failed to discharge
their duties", adding that the company has been showing a "rosy" picture of its
balance sheet. The counsel also expressed concerns over the cascading impact of
the IL&FS crisis on the overall economy.

The Government also warned that various mutual funds will be collapsed if IL&FS
will collapses.

The IL&FS debt problem seems to be rising out of the infrastructure financing side
and has nothing to do with the financials of other non-banking financial
companies, a top banker said.

“There is no evidence or data to suggest that there is deterioration in the portfolio

of NBFCs that are into housing loans or the retail sector. Even those focusing on
lending to micro and small medium enterprises have no liquidity issues,” P S
Jayakumar, chief executive officer and managing director of Bank of Baroda told
DNA.

BoB, which is in the midst of amalgamation with two smaller banks – Mumbai-
based Dena Bank and Bengaluru-based Vijaya Bank – is seeing a revival of credit
growth and strong recovery cycle. “Credit growth is getting stronger for banks and
the operating environment is improving. IL&FS is a one-off case which is being
tackled by the government and its shareholders, but for the broader market there
are no issues,” Jayakumar said.

But the cost of finance is going to rise and loans are going to get dearer as the
demand for credit goes up with the recovery in the economic growths, he said. “In
general, there is an upward bias in interest rates. Customers have to brace for a
higher interest rate regime. Home loans are variable priced in India. So they have
to accept the volatility in interest rates.”

67. Reality TV
So, you're home on the couch in front of your new plasma screen with a few
hours to kill. You start channel-surfing and come across a show with people
slurping a concoction of maggots and hissing beetles for a chance to win 50
grand. On channel after channel you see shows with truckers driving across
treacherously icy roads in Alaska, two people telling folks what not to wear,
and crab fisherman braving a mother of a storm. Now you're asking yourself,
when did Elaine, Jerry, George and Kramer get replaced by Lauren, Heidi,
Audrina and Brody? Who in the world are New York and Tila Tequila, and why
do they have their own shows? Just when did reality TV get to be so popular?
And, finally, how do people come up with this stuff -- and how real are these
shows anyway?

Reality TV has morphed from radio game show and amateur talent
competition to hidden camera stunt show to dating show to documentary-style
series. The genre now encompasses unscripted dramas, makeover sagas,
celebrity exposés, lifestyle-change shows, dating shows, talent extravaganzas
and just about any kind of competition you can think of (and a few that you
probably can't). In the fall 2007 season, there were more than a dozen reality
shows in prime-time slots on major networks and cable channels. On any
given night, you can watch "The Biggest Loser," "Dancing with the Stars,"
"The Real World," "I Love New York," "Beauty and the Geek," "America's Next
Top Model," "Ultimate Fighter," "The Bachelor," "Run's House" or "Project
Runway" -- to name just a few.

By definition, reality TV is essentially unscripted programming that doesn't

employ actors and focuses on footage of real events or situations. Reality
shows also often use a host to run the show or a narrator to tell the story or
set the stage of events that are about to unfold. Unlike scripted shows like
sitcoms, dramas and newscasts, reality TV does not rely on writers and
actors, and much of the show is run by producers and a team of editors.
Because of this, it can be a very affordable programming option from a
production standpoint -- and it's why networks are scrambling to add reality
content in the wake of the Writers Guild of America strike.

The defining aspect of reality TV is probably the manner in which it is shot.

Whether the show takes place in a real setting with real people (much like a
documentary), shoots in front of a live studio audience that participates in the
program, or uses hidden surveillance, reality TV relies on the camera
capturing everything as it happens. In this article, we'll learn about what
constitutes reality TV today, the types of reality programs, when they got to be
so popular -- and if they're all as "real" as they claim to be. But first, let's take
a look at how it all started.

68. Is reservation necessary?

Why Reservation Is Needed?

Nolife / 12 yrs ago /
55

We read and hear so much of information against reservation policies of the

government. But the government still wants reservations because of whatever
political reasons that they may have. From the public point of view, let us take a
quick snap shot of what is happening in the reservation arena.

Why was reservation made in the first place some fifty to sixty years back? whether it
was Gandhi or Nehru or Radhakrishnan every one wanted reservation and there are
eloquent speeches given by these people in the parliament and outside FOR
reservation. In it, they reitrate some basic problems.

1. Caste system has laid bare our education and social life. So much so that there is
really not much that has been happening in the last one thousand years in the
country! India went under foreign rule but even before that the slide has started.
Slide is more or less connected with the strong implementation of caste system.
Demarcated education; meaning none other than the brahmins and kshatriyas were
supposed to learn. This has brought down the civilization from the pedestal that it
was to a phenomenal low. With controlled education, nothing could be achieved. if
we have learnt anything from the last one thousand years, that is this caste system is
useless and unless we scrap it completely and fully, there is no way to redeem this
country. It is looking up because the caste system has taken a back seat. So Target
number one was the CASTE SYSTEM. Reservations were aimed at removing caste
system. Have we removed it today? think about it yourself and answer truthfully to
yourself.

2. Apart from this there are two types of backward people who can be identified.
One, socially backward. The other, economically backward. Let me present both
separately.

3. I know a 'builder'. He is no engineer. But he has built more than 100 houses in
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He is not educated. He has studied till 8th standard. He
learnt everything by practice. He talks like a ruffian. He cannot write. Now, his
daughter or son write for him, the quotations and whatever. He draws plans. Gets it
approved. Above all he makes almost three times what you and I make as software
engineers; in crores of rupees a year. Economically he is not backward. His son
knows to read and write that is all. He is not an engineer either. He failed three times
in 9th standard and joined his father; passed stones to the mason. Hold it! He knows
more about building a roof with out pillars spanning 40 feet than the engineers and
the diploma holders. Do you want to call him backward? You talk to him for five
minutes, you will run away from him. He speaks the worst language. He is socially
backward. Target 2: Social backwardness should be brought down. Have we brought
this down?
4. Economic backwardness doesn't need any introduction. There are economically
backward muslims, hindus, christians and people of all faith and caste. Target 3:
Economic backwardness should not be an excuse for pulling down a good student.
Have we achieved this?

5. What has reservation achieved to alleviate the sufferings and achieve the targets?
Really not much. It has done a very minor change and almost no impact in many of
the areas.

6. Reservation worked on all these factors. Remember they are all very much
interconnected. If you are economically backward, you cannot be socially too far
ahead. And the caste system is the one that puts its foot down and says that these
people should remain as they are. Reservation come in two shapes to cater to this
requirement. One, reservation in education. Two, reservation in work.

7. Ideally speaking only the best should be given opportunity at all spheres that they
should go into. Now, for a suppressed group, that never had seen the letters for over
one thousand years (imagine one thousand years of reservation, by force), to learn
something new is an uphill task. Even to get into the school, it would take pressure
for one or two generations or in other words, fifty to one hundred years before
children make it a habit to go to school. And if you want them to compete with people
who are already in the prime, it is like India playing Bermuda. You will have to wait
for these people to become a Bangla desh before they compete and defeat. There
are a few who do come up and shine.

But that is no reason to say that all of them are advanced and no reservations are
needed. this is all about social backwardness. It has nothing to do with economic
backwardness. Since social backwardness in this country is dependent on the caste,
the tribe that they are, they need to be offered reservations only on this basis.
Reservation in education should not be questioned at all. Only what needs to be
questioned would be how much. It was really wrong on the part of the Supreme
Court to pass an hasty judgement. Thinking that they are penalising the centre for
not having done their homework, they have penalised one generation of boys.
I hope you would have noticed in most families, if the father is a doctor then the
children more likely are doctors as well. If the father is from IITs or IIMs, don't be
surprised if the boy also studies at least from these institutes if not from Harvard or
Stanford. I know a family where the father and mother are IAS officers; all the
children are also IAS officers. (Three of them). It is easy for an IAS officer to breed
an IAS officer. It still works like the caste system that you want to fight against. It is
very difficult for any other person to get into the UPSC that easily, unless there is
some way by which this can be broken.

8. Talking of the work related reservations, these work towards setting right the
economic backwardness in addition to social. Today, after 50 years of reservations
in banks and insurance companies, do you know what is the percentage of non-
forward class people in the top management positions? Not even 5%. Take for
instance, the Indian Bank, there is not even a single backward class person in the
top three rungs of the ladder! Take any insurance company, there are branch
managers from the backward class. That is it, there is no way they could progress
beyond this. Do you mean to say that not even a single backward class person fits
into the so called insurance or bank requirements for a senior person? Do you know
what is the population ratio? Non-forward caste people are nearly 70% of the
population whereas there is less than 5% people in the top management of public as
well as private sector companies. Who is being discriminated against? Tell me what
percentage of the judiciary's top positions are occupied by backward classes.

It is a shame that gross discrimination is done against backward classes in this

country and the voice of these people are suppressed simply because they have no
say in the press and the majority of the media.

Mind you, if the reservations are removed, make no mistakes, we are going back by
1000 years.

Is Reservation An Evil Or A
Necessity?
Sidharth Shankar in Politics, Society
2 years ago
In this article, I will try to throw some light on how reservation isn’t as bad as it is shown by
the anti-reservation section in our society and how you can make your peace with it. I know
plenty of you must have already started hating me or thinking of cuss words for me but hear
(read) me out with an open mind and then you can say whatever you want.

First of all, let me start by stating that reservation is an ‘unfortunate’ system. I am using the
word ‘unfortunate’ to define it because of the existence of the caste system, which is the
reason for reservation. Caste is an unfortunate and ugly truth in Indian society.

I will try to make you understand how reservation is unfortunately a necessity and how it
does not affect you as badly as you think. I will start with the latter and I would expect you to
read this as objectively as possible.

People use the low cut-offs of reserved categories, especially SCs and STs, to show how
unfair it is for the general category students and how easy it is to enter into a good institution
or get a job for people who get the benefits of reservation. But they comfortably omit the fact
that the seats reserved for SCs and STs mostly remain unoccupiedand still the major
percentage of lower caste people are poor. If SCs/STs could get into IIM merely by leaving
their answer sheets empty (as it is claimed by anti-reservation groups), then why are there
still unoccupied reserved seats in these institutions?

Now, let’s talk about jobs. The majority of Central government jobs are occupied by people
belonging to upper castes. So, there are more chances of you getting a job if you belong to an
upper caste than people belonging to lower castes.

So, why do the upper castes feel cheated by this system? The answer is the lack of jobs. Our
government could not provide enough jobs for the huge and exponentially increasing
population of this country. And as a result, people vent their anger on reservation whereas
they should be asking for more jobs for everyone, but of course blaming reservation is easier
and perhaps more satisfactory.

Now, we come to the point of how reservation is still a necessity. I know most people will
hate me for saying this, but this is, unfortunately, true. Reservation is a necessity. Here again,
I would like to clarify that I agree that reservation is now used for political purposes and it is
also misused by people who do not deserve it and I am all against such misuse of reservation.

Having cleared that, I would like you to take note of an observation on Indian society.
Whether you like it or not, this is a fact that our society is divided into groups based on
castes. Reservation came into existence to end the dominance of certain groups and give the
neglected and oppressed groups a push so that they could become equal to the other groups.

Now I will be glad to imagine an India where castes don’t matter and people don’t show an
affinity towards their own castes, but that is sadly not the real world that we live in. That is
why it is necessary to give more chances to people from lower groups (castes) so that they
have some representation in the society which is otherwise dominated by upper groups
(castes) to maintain the balance and give oppressed a place in the society.

Also read: Do We Ever Question Privilege While Demanding The

Removal Of The Reservation System?
To make your peace with caste-based reservation, you need to have the compassion,
sensitivity and a sense of brotherhood with the lower caste people who are still discriminated
against and treated as inferiors in our country. And if you think that this isn’t true then I
would give you a piece of statistics to put things into perspective. In India, dozens of sewage
workers (almost all of them being Dalits), die while working because of the poisonous gases
and thousands of farmers commit suicide every year.

But you can see how these two tragedies are treated differently by our society and media.
While people mourn and care about the death of farmers (which is the right thing to do), no
one gives a damn about the dying sewage workers.

So you see, it’s not just a few well-to-do people from reserved category that get benefits from
reservations, as people tend to think. There are people who can leave this life of second-grade
citizens with the help of reservation.

So, if you could manage to have some sympathy and sense of belonging with the lower caste
people, for they are humans and your countrymen. India can never be a good country until
there are people who are ill-treated because of their castes. Just compare your sorrow with
theirs and I think you can find a way to make your peace with it.

69.What ails the farm sector?.

Home
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Indian Agriculture - what ails and fails

the farmer?
The impact of a good monsoon could be felt in the collective sigh of relief
heard, when IMD improved their long-range forecast for this year to 98%
and ruled out El Nino possibilities altogether.
Ram Mudholkar New Delhi Last Updated: March 13, 2018 | 14:22 IST
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Come June, the most anticipated news in India is the arrival of monsoons
and the promise it holds for the country's 119 million farmers and 144
million agricultural laborers directly involved with agriculture. The impact
of a good monsoon could be felt in the collective sigh of relief heard, when
IMD improved their long-range forecast for this year to 98% and ruled out
El Nino possibilities altogether.
With the monsoon going well, we may have a bumper production year in
2017-18, on the heels of a good 2016-17. In 2016, India produced its largest
ever cereal food grain estimated at 273 million tonnes. We also saw bumper
production in pulses, sugarcane and cotton. Agricultural budgets have gone
up from Rs 16,646 cr to Rs 41,855 crore in the last 3 years. And the
government has introduced many agro-centric initiatives like Pradhan
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil health cards, Pradhan Mantri Krishi
Sinchayee Yojana and National Agriculture Market (eNAM). Minimum
Support Price (MSP) for different crops have also been enhanced regularly.
Our Prime Minister also pledged to double farmers' incomes by 2022 and
this certainly makes for a rosy picture.
Understanding why Indian farmers don't reap what they sow:
Despite this positive outlook, we recently saw intensive agitations across
states. While farmers may have genuine reasons to protest and demand
government support, often these protests are perceived as lawlessness by
general public. We must remember though, that farming is indeed a tough
job with earnings that hardly measure up to the hard work and toil
involved. In fact, annual earnings of a 3-acre farmer are much lower than
an IT sector or corporate newbie. For Indian farmers, this boils down to
survival each season.
Today food production is not the trigger for an agricultural crisis. Global
and local market volatility is the current bane. Global explosion in food
grain production has changed the market dynamics leading to pressure
prices on our produce. While produce prices are constantly under pressure,
costs are rising everyday thereby impacting farmer's incomes, debt
repayment capacity and their overall wellbeing. Making matters worse,
farmers bear the entire risk in the farm to market cycle. Be it outbreak of
pests at production or losses in storage & transport or price uncertainty
while marketing, the risk is not distributed evenly amongst other
stakeholders like grain traders, aggregators or processors.
Being an agricultural nation, our farmers deserve considerably more. To
create a more enabling environment addressing the following priorities will
form the core of any transformative reform agenda for agriculture in India:
1) Minimizing the risk for farmers and distributing it equitably across the
agro-value chain.
2) Ensuring a fair share of the value that is generated at the end consumer
level reaches the farmer.
What ails the Indian farmer:
Indian farmers require long term sustainable solutions instead of short
term rhetorical promises and reactive concessions. This process involves
recognizing and acting on the macro challenges listed below:
1. Weak Producer - Consumer Linkages: there is a disconnect amongst
what the Indian farmer produces and what the consumer demands. The
farmer is not connected to aggregators, food processors and retail chains to
help shape the nature of his produce. As a result, produce remains the same
annually, largely dependent on farmers and is often driven by the
government's MSP program.
2. Weak Supplier Power: The farmer is barely empowered as a
supplier. He continues to be small & marginal, inadequately resourced, ill-
informed on markets and marketing, ill-equipped to manage risk, burdened
with credit & debts and is dependent on traders to reach the buyers.
3. Overdependence on Agriculture: 60% of the Indian population
depends on agriculture for livelihood while contribution to the national
GDP through agriculture is only 14-15%. Clearly this is a recipe for
unsustainable development.
4. Technology Starved: The farmer is not equipped with the latest
technology nor trained to adopt it fast. Lack of new technology solutions
keeps the farmer from gaining an equal footing globally. Also, they have
little control over driving development and change due to the involvement
of multiple pressure groups such as environmentalists.
5. Commercial Agriculture vs Subsistence Agriculture: Policy
frameworks across different crops remain the same and do not enable any
significant impact. Whether they are basic food grains, pulses and oilseeds
that meet staple dietary requirements and food security needs of the
country or commercial crops like cotton, sugarcane, chilies that feed into
industries that produce consumable goods or even vegetables and fruits for
domestic consumption or export crops - the same broad stroke policy
measures are used across each segment.
6. Low investment in Research & Development: Less than 1% of
the Agricultural GDP in India is spent on research. That is abysmal
considering this sector is critical to food security of the country and
provides livelihood to 60% of our population.

7. Lack of enabling infrastructure along the value chain: There is

a staggering lack of infrastructure across the entire agricultural value
chain. To make matters worse, a perspective on how this can be fixed also
does not exist.
Breaking the vicious cycle - Future Policy Imperatives:
A long term strategic vision which puts in place a holistic framework is the
need of the hour. Key areas that need to be addressed include 'Increasing
Supplier Power', the 'Producer - Consumer Linkages' and 'Customized
Approach to Different Crop Groups'. These areas enabled with quality
infrastructure, education, R&D, technology, marketing and risk mitigation
etc. will give us the agricultural empowerment we need.
Some solutions that could be considered as part of this framework are listed
below:
1. A 20 Year Vision & Implementation Road Map to enable
suppliers: Essential to this would be consolidation of farmers and their
land into large groups without them losing land title. This will help in
gaining collective scale and can be implemented in two ways
a) Large Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)While there are
some successful FPOs currently running, sustainability of operations in
FPOs is still a question. What can help is ensuring that FPOs are properly
networked and federated, regionally as well as centrally.
b) Encourage Land Banks wherever possible, especially hills and semi-
arid areas where farming is difficult. This may be more feasible in areas
where fruits are grown. Individual farmers can form large land banks by
depositing their land into a large pool and then cultivate as one body in a
professional manner on predetermined price and other terms. This could
be a partnership model between producer-supplier bodies on one hand and
aggregators, retail chains, food processors, another buyer on the other hand
making them a stakeholder in the bank.
2. A comprehensive vision document to promote and establish
direct linkages between growers and consumers: A policy
framework that promotes structured, direct linkages between professional
aggregators, food chain collaborators, food processors with large
FPOs/Land Banks will reduce uncertainties drastically. This will ensure a
fair share of the value created at the terminal end insuring the farmer from
concentrated risk.
3. Roadmap that establishes a distinctive and customized policy
approach for different crop groups. Each crop group comes with its
own set of distinct challenges. For instance, increasing export crop
production requires a different mindset and policy prerogatives compared
to basic food crops or other commercial crops. As a nation, we need to
move from an 'Export what is Grown' ideology to 'Grow per international
quality standards & Export'. Measures such as establishing Agro Export
Zones that have an independent APEDA equivalent as an enabler will be
key. A customized approach and policy framework is needed for each crop
segment such as food crops, commercial crops and vegetable growing
regions.
4. Advance technology adoption throughout the agro-value chain.
Rapid technology upgradation to global standards need to be viewed as a
top priority. Keeping current realities in mind, a complete overhaul of
education in Agri Universities and research in scientific institutions need to
be considered. R&D investments and capabilities in the sector must be
enhanced substantially while bringing in transparency and accountability.
5. State of the art infrastructure in areas like storage &
transportation, knowledge & information, credit & insurance etc. needs to
be established.
6. And lastly, a clear plan to reduce dependence on agriculture
from an untenable 60% to a more sustainable 30%. Agricultural
policies would do well to address the need to make agriculture more
efficient and less burdened. Also, enabling supporting professions for
people looking for alternate careers would go a long way.
A revolution of the Indian agricultural sector is what the country is calling
out for today. Not short-term fixes, but a long-term, strategic, sustainable
vision based on the realities of 2017. Agreed, it is easier said than done. But
if we can send space probes to Mars at first go, this should not be such a big
deal after all, right?

70.Kerala floods: A manmade disaster?

The Floods In Kerala Are A Man-

Made Disaster
Ranjeet Menon in News
5 months ago
It is looks like the wrath of the Gods is upon their own country. Kerala is in a deluge of
biblical proportions. The ongoing rains and the ensuing floods are being compared with the
Great Flood in the Bible. I am marooned in the city of Thrissur with no option to travel
anywhere. The highways towards the south of Kerala are all flooded. Towards the north,
where roads have been built through the Western Ghats, there are frequent mud slides in
addition to water accumulation. Roads are shut, railways lines are inundated with water and
airport runways are flooded. To me, this is not a natural but a man-made disaster.

Two of the most critical parameters of measuring and classifying ancient cities as ”developed
and advanced” are their irrigation and drainage systems. The question is how efficiently did
they bring water into the cities from water bodies and how did they manage to take the water
out from these cities. All great civilizations of the past were located in the vicinity of the
biggest rivers. If we take the same parameters and apply them to our cities then we would
realize how woeful the conditions of our cities and towns are.

None of India’s big cities are planned; rather most of the cities and towns in India are
unplanned ones. They got expanded based on the burgeoning population. Now, earth can be
divided into hard grounds and low lying areas. Low lying areas are preferred for cultivation
because of the ability of those lands to hold on to water. Hard grounds are preferred for
construction. As population grows, so does the need for land. We inadvertently started taking
up low lying lands for construction. Low lying lands have been getting inundated with water
for centuries or thousands of years. Hence, carrying out construction activities on them is
plain madness, even if mud is put on top of them and flattened out before doing the
construction work.

What is happening with the floods in Kerala is very simple. There are two reasons for the
flooding. If we look at the flood affected areas that are being broadcast on TV channels, it is
clear that water bodies, primarily rivers, have overflown. It looks like the river water is going
to continue this flow. But what this water encounters on its way are our towns and cities.
There is nowhere for water to go so it gets stuck. The bigger reason for the flooding are the
dams. News channels on Thursday were reporting that the Sholayar Dam in Tamil Nadu
became full so they opened its gates which in turn flooded the Mullaperiyar Dam, opening
which has caused the floods to worsen. This is clearly what environmental activists point at
when governments start proposals for construction of new dams. These dams store massive
quantities of water and hence when they flood, it’s majorly different from the case with
rivers.

A flooded
region in Kerala. Source: Kerala CMO Twitter
So where will all this water go? There are three ways. Flow out – which is not an option
anymore because it does not have anywhere to flow to. Otherwise, all the water has to be
evaporated by heat, which is not possible as it is the monsoons or all the water has to seep
into the earth, which is not possible as well as the base of these dams is tar and concrete,
which don’t easily absorb water. As a result, water will try to flow to the low lying areas as it
is used to doing so. But alas, we have occupied those places as well with construction,
making flooding inevitable. The same has been happening in Mumbai every year. The same
happened during the floods in Chennai. After having experienced three years of bleak
monsoons in Bangalore, in 2004, it rained one day and I was caught right in the middle of it.
The rain and wind were ferocious and in about two hours entire areas were flooded. There
was nowhere for the water to go. Add to it the incompetency of the corporation – drainage
system wasn’t cleaned and the rains had actually punctured holes on the roads. During the
flood in Chennai, my friend was telling me that water levels had risen to 7 ft and higher at
many places. Why is this happening? Simply because water has nowhere to go. The walls of
the Kochi airport have been brought down to drain out the water accumulated on the runway.
All of these are man-made constructions done without considering and caring about nature.

It would be ridiculous to blame the nature and the Gods for this disaster. I was taught in
school that Kerala and Cherapunji are the places which get the highest rainfall in India.
Monsoon seasons in Kerala have traditionally received moderate to extremely heavy rainfall
every year. The intensity has waxed and waned in the last decade or so. The process of water
evaporating and reaching the earth later as rain is one that plays the most critical role in
nurturing an ecosystem. It helps make our planet conducive for life forms to live and evolve.
No other living being goes against the rules of nature, especially disturbing and destroying
nature for its own needs. This is not nature’s wrath or God’s punishment, this is nature
following its rules and we are paying for coming in its way.

Nature has no empathy or compassion towards the inhabitants on this planet. The rule is
simple. Adhere to nature’s rules and ways, or you suffer. Nature has no sympathy for the
lives that are being lost in natural calamities. Animals and birds have their senses fine tuned
to nature so they know well in advance if a disaster is approaching. If floods are coming, they
instinctively move towards higher grounds. We are totally out of tune with nature. We are not
part of nature’s food chain, which is why our population has grown so much. In the name of
development, with zero planning and understanding of nature, we are on a collision course
with it.

Natural disasters for me are nature’s way of reminding us that though we have been able to
become the most dominant species on the planet, we can never become dominate nature. I
hope we realize it before it’s too late that when nature cannot handle anymore of the
destruction and imbalance we are causing it, it will go ahead and expunge us from its belly
just as we vomit out what our stomach cannot handle.

The recent havoc in Kerala that claimed more than 370 lives in the state and
damaged over thousand crores worth property, would have been averted if the
people had shown a little concern over the growing ecological imbalance in the
state.

Recorded as the worst flood of the century the intensity of the rains in the recent
monsoon in Kerala was more than the normal rainfall that the state receives every
year. The strong south-west monsoon which resulted in the torrential rains flooded
the lakes and rivers of the state.

But the destruction caused cannot be blamed entirely on the rains and the
submerged water bodies.

A Madhav Gadgil committee report had made recommendations to preserve the

Western Ghats which acts as a blanket to the southern state in August 2011. The
report had recommended 57 restrictions to safeguard the western ghats.

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who headed the Western Ghats Ecology Panel, had
suggested that several regions in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats
should be classified as ecologically sensitive areas.

Despite the recommendations, construction was allowed over the Western Ghats, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Western Ghats which act as Kerala's blanket could have prevented the strong
winds from flowing towards the state. Referring to the illegal construction on river
beds and the unauthorised stone quarrying, Gadgil also called the floods and
landslides in Kerala as a man-made disaster.

A media report quoted Gadgil as saying that the irresponsible environmental policy
is to be blamed for the recent floods and landslides in Kerala.

He also added that the rapid urbanisation which leads to encroachment over the
water bodies has impacted the natural penetration process of the land.

The Kochi airport which is constructed on the canal connecting the land and the
water body further obstructed the outflow of water. The land diverted to agriculture
in the state is also decreasing at an alarming rate. The paddy fields which would
once absorb water have now been converted into urban infrastructure.

A similar man-made flood had created a havoc in Chennai in 2015. Every year
during the monsoon season, most part of the country is submerged under water.
The inefficiency on the part of the government and the indifferent attitude of the
people have already done much harm to the country's ecological balance.

The situation has worsened to a level where we cannot restore the destruction done
to the society. All we can do is to just sit helplessly and pray that nature does not
inflict such intensity on us.

While we blame the nature's wrath behind such disasters, most such calamities are
caused due to the ever-growing human interference and ecological imbalance.

71. India's test match win in Australia

72. Social media and its impact on youth
Impact of Social Media on the youth
Social media refers to all applications and websites or blogs that enable people around the globe
to interconnect via the internet, chat, and share content, video call among many other
functionalities it offers to its users. For a person to be a member of any social media, he or she
has to first signup and then sign in to access content and be able to share and chat with other
users of that social media platform. Some of the common and widely used social media platforms
include Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat many among others.

Over the past two decades, social media have gained so much growth and fame worldwide to an
extent that many researchers are now interested in learning more about these social platforms
and their effects on the community. Despite the fact that almost everyone in the community is
connected to at least one social media platform, the youth and teenagers are the leading and most
fanatic of these social platforms to the point that they even social network while in class or even
church. It is to this light that researchers have found that these social sites impact the lives of our
youth in a society a great deal in terms of morals, behavior and even education-wise.

The use of social media has both negative and positive impacts on our youths today. In this
paper, I aim to bring to light the impacts of social media specifically to the youth of this
generation. These impacts are both positive and negative.

The positive impacts of social media on the youth today include making them up date on the
events happening around the globe and also enables them network and stay connected with their
fellow youths and friends without physical meetings. It bridges the gap between friends since a
person say in Africa can network and interact with his or her friend in the United States. This in
turn helps in strengthening relationships say amongst classmates in high school or college, who
after finishing school, moved to different locations around the world. Additionally, youths can
create pages and groups in the social media platforms based on their professions, faith among
other dimensions of their lives and this leads to more connections being built and more
opportunities being opened for their respective disciplines. This can even lead to more
employment opportunities being created for the unemployed youths. From the many interviews
carried daily, youths say that social media platforms make their lives enjoyable, efficient and
easier and has also become their lifestyle.

Even though social media sites seem to connect more people and make them stay up to date, it
leads to isolation socially according to a BBC News report. It reduces the number of face-to-face
interactions amongst the youths because they normally spend most of their time on these online
social platforms. An evaluation from a number of studies done by various scientists show that
social isolation can cause a number of effects such as physical, emotional, mental and
psychological issues in these youths. This can in turn lead to depression, anxiety and many other
problems. It also leads to misspelling of words and misuse of words and tenses through the use of
short forms and abbreviations. This has a high negative impact more so on students because it
affects their language capabilities directly and this lead to poor grades in languages.

Also, it exposes young teens say below eighteen years to online predators who get to woo them
into sexual acts such as lesbianism and other general sexual misconducts. It also exposes these
teens to pornographic content being spread in some the social groups online. This in turn leads to
early pregnancies amongst young girls causing them to drop out of school. It also can lead to
contraction of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and this can lead to early deaths of our
young generation. The morals of these teens is also tampered with as they now get access to
immoral literature and videos.

Spending long hours chatting in social media sites also decreases productivity amongst the
youths. This in turn causes the youths not to be self-dependent and instead depend on their
parents and families for upkeep. The long hours wasted online on social media can be channeled
to productive activities that can enable one earn a living or even acquire an education for instance
through online tutorials and make good use of online research materials.

Social media also provides a good platform where cyber theft and bullying is done and this
increases the chances and incidences of identity theft. This has a number of risks to the youths as
their personal information can get stolen since it is stored in some locations they do not know
about or whose security is in not known or is questionable.

Social platforms also encourage the spread of wrong information and news majorly aimed at
tainting other peoples’ names or other groups of interest such as political or religious groups.
This in turn leads to fights and enmity between the concerned parties and this can lead to
divisions amongst tribes or people from different ethnicities and tribes.

It can also lead one to join groups of cults and illuminati people, which in turn can also lead to
frequent killings of people in society especially loved ones as a sacrifice to these cults.

In conclusion, social networking has been proved to have both positive and negative effects on
our youths. Individuals should make a conclusion whether to go on using the sites or stop or even
moderate on their usage. Parents should guide and advise their children on current matters like
the usage of social media and warn them of its negative impacts to them when misused or
overused. The education curriculum also should be revised so that it can include social media
studies in its disciplines so as to alert students that they need to be careful in their social media
usage.

73. What is fake news?

What is fake news?
Lots of things you read online especially in your social media feeds may appear to be true, often is not.
Fake news is news, stories or hoaxes created to deliberately misinform or deceive readers. Usually,
these stories are created to either influence people’s views, push a political agenda or cause confusion and
can often be a profitable business for online publishers. Fake news stories can deceive people by looking
like trusted websites or using similar names and web addresses to reputable news organisations.
According to Martina Chapman (Media Literacy Expert), there are three
elements to fake news; ‘Mistrust, misinformation and manipulation’.
The Rise of Fake News
Fake news is not new however it has become a hot topic in 2017. Traditionally we got our news from
trusted sources, journalists and media outlets that are required to follow strict codes of practice. However,
the internet has enabled a whole new way to publish, share and consume information and news with very
little regulation or editorial standards.

Many people now get news from social media sites and networks and often it can be difficult to tell
whether stories are credible or not. Information overload and a general lack of understanding about how
the internet works by people has also contributed to an increase in fake news or hoax stories. Social media
sites can play a big part in increasing the reach of these type of stories.

The economics of social media favour gossip, novelty, speed and

“shareability”’ Simeon Yates
Types of Fake News
There are differing opinions when it comes to identifying types of fake news. However, when it comes to
evaluating content online there are various types of fake or misleading news we need to be aware of. These
include:

1. Clickbait
These are stories that are deliberately fabricated to gain more website visitors and increase advertising
revenue for websites. Clickbait stories use sensationalist headlines to grab attention and drive click-
throughs to the publisher website, normally at the expense of truth or accuracy.

2. Propaganda
Stories that are created to deliberately mislead audiences, promote a biased point of view or particular
political cause or agenda.
3. Satire/Parody
Lots of websites and social media accounts publish fake news stories for entertainment and parody. For
example; The Onion, Waterford Whispers, The Daily Mash, etc.

4. Sloppy Journalism
Sometimes reporters or journalists may publish a story with unreliable information or without checking all
of the facts which can mislead audiences. For example, during the U.S. elections, fashion retailer Urban
Outfitters published an Election Day Guide, the guide contained incorrect information telling voters that
they needed a ‘voter registration card’. This is not required by any state in the U.S. for voting.
5. Misleading Headings
Stories that are not completely false can be distorted using misleading or sensationalist headlines. These
types of news can spread quickly on social media sites where only headlines and small snippets of the full
article are displayed on audience newsfeeds.
6. Biased/Slanted News
Many people are drawn to news or stories that confirm their own beliefs or biases and fake news can prey
on these biases. Social media news feeds tend to display news and articles that they think we will like
based on our personalised searches.

The Fake News Business Model

The internet and social media have made it very easy for anyone to publish content on a website,
blog or social media profile and potentially reach large audiences. With so many people now getting
news from social media sites, many content creators/publishers have used this to their advantage.
Fake news can be a profitable business, generating large sums of advertising revenue for publishers who
create and publish stories that go viral. The more clicks a story gets, the more money online publishers
make through advertising revenue and for many publishers social media is an ideal platform to share
content and drive web traffic.
Fake News, Social Media, and the Filter Bubble
 In a recent article on media literacy, Hugh Linehan noted; “Media is no longer passively consumed – it’s
created, shared, liked, commented on, attacked and defended in all sorts of different ways by hundreds of
millions of people. And the algorithms used by the most powerful tech companies –
Google and Facebookin particular – are brilliantly designed to personalise and tailor these services to each
user’s profile.”
When we go online or login to a social network we are generally presented with news, articles and
content based on our own searches online. This type of content tends to reflect our own likes, views and
beliefs and therefore isolating us from differing views and opinions. This is often referred to as a filter
bubble.
What can we do about fake news?
Google and Facebook have announced new measures to tackle fake news with the introduction of
reporting and flagging tools. Media organisations like the BBC and Channel 4 have also established fact
checking sites While these are welcome developments, digital media literacy and developing skills to
critically evaluate information are essential skills for anyone navigating the internet and especially for
young people.
The vast amount of information available online and rise in fake news highlights the need for critical
thinking. Children need to develop critical thinking from an early age. This is a key skill for young people
to develop as they enter into third level education and prepare themselves for the workplace.

How to spot fake news?

There are a number of things to watch out for when evaluating content online.

1. Take a closer look

Check the source of the story, do you recognise the website? Is it a credible/reliable source? If
you are unfamiliar with the site, look in the about section or find out more information about the
author.
2. Look beyond the headline
Check the entire article, many fake news stories use sensationalist or shocking headlines to grab
attention. Often the headlines of fake new stories are in all caps and use exclamation points.
3. Check other sources
Are other reputable news/media outlets reporting on the story? Are there any sources in the
story? If so, check they are reliable or if they even exist!
4. Check the facts
Fake news stories often contain incorrect dates or altered timelines. It is also a good idea to
check when the article was published, is it current or an old news story?
5. Check your biases
Are your own views or beliefs affecting your judgement of a news feature or report?
6. Is it a joke?
Satirical sites are popular online and sometimes it is not always clear whether a story is just a
joke or parody… Check the website, is it known for satire or creating funny stories?

74. What is NPA?

Non-Performing Asset (NPA)
REVIEWED BY WILL KENTON

Updated May 30, 2018

What is Non-Performing Asset (NPA)
A nonperforming asset (NPA) refers to a classification for loans or advances
that are in default or are in arrears on scheduled payments of principal or
interest. In most cases, debt is classified as nonperforming when loan
payments have not been made for a period of 90 days. While 90 days of
nonpayment is the standard, the amount of elapsed time may be shorter or
longer depending on the terms and conditions of each loan.

BREAKING DOWN Non-Performing Asset (NPA)

Nonperforming assets are typically listed on the balance sheets of
banks. Banks usually categorize loans as nonperforming after 90 days of
nonpayment of interest or principal, which can occur during the term of the
loan or at maturity. For example, if a company with a $10 million loan with
interest-only payments of $50,000 per month fails to make a payment for three
consecutive months, the lender may be required to categorize the loan as
nonperforming to meet regulatory requirements. A loan can also be
categorized as nonperforming if a company makes all interest payments but
cannot repay the principal at maturity.

Types of Nonperforming Assets

Although the most common nonperforming assets are term loans, there are
six other ways loans and advances are NPAs:

 Overdraft and cash credit (OD/CC) accounts left out-of-order for more
than 90 days
 Agricultural advances whose interest or principal installment payments
remain overdue for two crop/harvest seasons for short duration crops or
overdue one crop season for long duration crops
 Bill overdue for more than 90 days for bills purchased and discounted
 Expected payment is overdue for more than 90 days in respect of other
accounts
 Non-submission of stock statements for 3 consecutive quarters in case
of cash-credit facility
 No activity in the cash credit, overdraft, EPC, or PCFC account for more
than 91 days

Banks are required to classify nonperforming assets in one of three categories

according to how long the asset has been non-performing: sub-standard
assets, doubtful assets, and loss assets. A sub-standard asset is an asset
classified as an NPA for less than 12 months. A doubtful asset is an asset
that has been non-performing for more than 12 months. Loss assets are
assets with losses identified by the bank, auditor, or inspector and have not
been fully written off.
The Effects of NPAs
Carrying nonperforming assets, also referred to as nonperforming loans, on
the balance sheet places three distinct burdens on lenders. The nonpayment
of interest or principal reduces cash flow for the lender, which can disrupt
budgets and decrease earnings. Loan loss provisions, which are set aside to
cover potential losses, reduce the capital available to provide subsequent
loans. Once the actual losses from defaulted loans are determined, they are
written off against earnings.

Recovering Losses
Lenders generally have four options to recoup some or all losses resulting
from nonperforming assets. When companies struggle to service debt, lenders
take proactive steps to restructure loans to maintain cash flow and avoid
classifying loans as nonperforming. When defaulted loans
are collateralized by borrowers' assets, lenders can take possession of the
collateral and sell it to cover losses.

Lenders can also convert bad loans into equity, which may appreciate to the
point of full recovery of principal lost in the defaulted loan. When bonds are
converted to new equity shares, the value of the original shares is usually
eliminated. As a last resort, banks can sell bad debts at steep discounts to
companies that specialize in loan collections. Lenders typically sell defaulted
loans that are unsecured or when methods of recovery are not cost-effective.

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75. The presidency of Donald Trump

Donald J. Trump is the 45th President of the United States. He believes the
United States has incredible potential and will go on to exceed even its
remarkable achievements of the past. His campaign slogan for President was,
“Make America Great Again,” and that is exactly what he is doing.

Donald J. Trump defines the American success story. Throughout his life he has
continually set the standards of business and entrepreneurial excellence, especially
in real estate, sports, and entertainment. Mr. Trump built on his success in private
life when he entered into politics and public service. He remarkably won the
Presidency in his first ever run for any political office.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance, Mr.
Trump followed in his father’s footsteps into the world of real estate development,
making his mark New York City. There, the Trump name soon became
synonymous with the most prestigious of addresses in Manhattan and,
subsequently, throughout the world.

Mr. Trump is also an accomplished author. He has written more than fourteen
bestsellers. His first book, The Art of the Deal, is considered a business classic.

Mr. Trump announced his candidacy for the Presidency on June 16, 2015. He then
accepted the Republican nomination for President of the United States in July of
2016, having defeated seventeen other contenders during the Republican primaries.

On November 8, 2016, Mr. Trump was elected President in the largest Electoral
College landslide for a Republican in 28 years. Mr. Trump won more than 2,600
counties nationwide, the most since President Ronald Reagan in 1984. And he
received the votes of more than 62 million Americans, the most ever for a
Republican candidate. These voters, in delivering a truly national victory and
historic moment, rallied behind Mr. Trump’s commitment to rebuilding our
country and disrupting the political status quo that had failed to deliver results.

Mr. Trump won, in part, because he campaigned in places Republicans have had
difficulty winning—Flint, Michigan, charter schools in inner-city Cleveland, and
Hispanic churches in Florida. He went there because he wanted to bring his
message of economic empowerment to all Americans. Millions of new
Republicans trusted Mr. Trump with their vote because of his commitment to
delivering prosperity through a reformed tax code, an improved regulatory
environment, and better trade deals. President Trump’s victory has brought
Americans of all backgrounds together, and he is committed to delivering results
for the Nation every day he serves in office.

President Trump has been married to his wife, Melania, for twelve years, and they
are parents to their son, Barron. Mr. Trump also has four adult children, Don Jr.,
Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany, as well as nine grandchildren

Presidency of Donald Trump: Statistics &

Facts
Donald J. Trump’s successful campaign to become the President of the United States was one
of the defining moments of 2016. His election to the position often referred to as ‘leader of
the free world’ signaled a significant shift in the political discourse both domestically and
around the world. The rise of a business man with no experience in holding elected office to
the highest office in the land solidified 2016’s claim as the year of the anti-establishment.

On June 16th, 2016 Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States
claiming he would be “the greatest jobs president God had ever created” in a speech that was
widely criticized for being discriminatory towards Mexicans. Initially, Trump was considered
a long shot to secure the Republican nomination. However, Trump’s mantra of “Make
America Great Again” struck a chord with Republican voters and by the end of the
Republican primary process Trump had secured the nomination by a significant margin.

Trump’s image as the defiant underdog continued into his election faceoff with Democratic
nominee Hillary Clinton. Polling numbers the day before the election showed the majority of
sources reporting that a Clinton victory was imminent. However, the unpredictable Trump
stood victorious at the end of election night by securing 290 Electoral College votes to
Clinton’s 232.

After frequently citing how good his relationship with Russian president Vladmir Putin
would be if he became the president, reports surfaced of possible Russian interference in the
Democratic campaign for the presidency. Then President-Elect Donald Trump came under
fire with the media and members of the public calling for an official probe into the
relationship with Russia. By early March, nearly two thirds of the public believed a special
prosecutor should be appointed to investigate the issue.

The media coverage of Trump’s inauguration became more concerned with the size of the
crowd than the inauguration itself, particularly after the newly elected President claimed the
media was engaging in false reporting. In regards to domestic television viewership, the event
was seen by slightly less people than Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.

As if to ensure the controversial fanfare of his inauguration, on January 27th, 2017, Trump
signed an executive order establishing travel bans for nationals of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,
Somalia, Yemen, Iran and Sudan. The ban conjured criticism from around the world with the
travel ban becoming informally referred to as “the Muslim ban” due to the predominantly
Muslim population bases of the banned countries. Domestically, the travel ban brought
disgust among liberals with a majority of those believing that the intention of the ban was to ban
Muslims from entering the United States. The executive order was eventually blocked by
rulings in a federal court. Although Trump attempted to push through a revised addition of
the order, it remained blocked with judges extending the review period on March 29th.

Marred by the controversy of his apparent backroom communications with Russian officials,
General Michael Flynn – Trump’s national security adviser – became the first political
casualty of the Trump administration. However, the removal of Flynn did not provide
reprieve for the remainder of Trump’s appointees. A March 2017 survey showed over one
third of the public strongly disapproved of a number of appointees including Education
Secretary Betsy DeVos.

In characteristic fashion, the Trump administration challenged the norms of D.C. further by
employing Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump in an official White House role. At the time, 41
percent of Americans strongly opposed her named an official employee of the White House. This
frustration was instigated by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and Ivanka’s
husband, being made senior advisor to the President.