General Affairs
PM Narendra Modi To Chair Combined Commanders Conference
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KOCHI: Kochi is all set to host the Combined Commanders Conference, an annual tri services event happening for the first time outside New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the Conference on December 15 at high seas off Kochi coast. It is being organised on board INS Vikramaditya.
The Combined Commanders Conference is a one day event in which three service chiefs and other senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force brief the Prime Minister about military issues and put up suggestions as necessary.
The Conference, also known as the Unified Commanders' Conference, is crucial as national defence policy, doctrine and operational challenges are discussed in detail.
Defence sources said that the conference is being organised outside the national capital after the Prime Minister's suggestion last year that they may be shifted from New Delhi to field areas of the three services.
KOCHI: Kochi is all set to host the Combined Commanders Conference, an annual tri services event happening for the first time outside New Delhi.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the Conference on December 15 at high seas off Kochi coast. It is being organised on board INS Vikramaditya.
The Combined Commanders Conference is a one day event in which three service chiefs and other senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force brief the Prime Minister about military issues and put up suggestions as necessary.
Defence sources said that the conference is being organised outside the national capital after the Prime Minister's suggestion last year that they may be shifted from New Delhi to field areas of the three services.
Jayalalithaa Urges PM Modi To Postpone Civil Service Examinations
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CHENNAI: Stating that students from the state taking up civil service examinations were affected by heavy rains and floods, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone the examinations by two months for "adequate preparations" for them.
"I understand that Union Public Services Commission proposes to conduct Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2015, from December 18 to 23. The devastation caused by the recent floods in Chennai has largely interrupted various services including the supply of electricity", she said.
"Students all over from Tamil Nadu appearing for civil services examinations use Chennai as the main centre for preparation", she said in her letter to Mr Modi.
"Their life has been completely disrupted in the last few weeks and they were unable to concentrate and study for the examination", she said.
The "hardship" faced by the students would place the candidates at a "distinct disadvantage" as compared to candidates from other parts of the country, she said.
"As this has been a calamity of severe magnitude affecting a large population, I request you to kindly take up the issue with the Union Public Service Commission and have the Civil Services (Main) examination, 2015, postponed by at least two months", she said.
It would enable the students from Tamil Nadu to appear in the examinations with "adequate preparation" and would place them on level playing field with their counterparts, she said.
She said life is returning to normalcy in many parts of the city and other flood-affected areas as there has been dry weather over the last few days.
Various school and University examinations were already postponed by the Government due to floods, she said.
CHENNAI: Stating that students from the state taking up civil service examinations were affected by heavy rains and floods, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone the examinations by two months for "adequate preparations" for them."I understand that Union Public Services Commission proposes to conduct Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2015, from December 18 to 23. The devastation caused by the recent floods in Chennai has largely interrupted various services including the supply of electricity", she said.
"Students all over from Tamil Nadu appearing for civil services examinations use Chennai as the main centre for preparation", she said in her letter to Mr Modi.
"Their life has been completely disrupted in the last few weeks and they were unable to concentrate and study for the examination", she said.
The "hardship" faced by the students would place the candidates at a "distinct disadvantage" as compared to candidates from other parts of the country, she said.
"As this has been a calamity of severe magnitude affecting a large population, I request you to kindly take up the issue with the Union Public Service Commission and have the Civil Services (Main) examination, 2015, postponed by at least two months", she said.
It would enable the students from Tamil Nadu to appear in the examinations with "adequate preparation" and would place them on level playing field with their counterparts, she said.
She said life is returning to normalcy in many parts of the city and other flood-affected areas as there has been dry weather over the last few days.
Various school and University examinations were already postponed by the Government due to floods, she said.
BJP Says Congress Using Pressure Tactics In National Herald Case
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BHUBANESWAR: Intensifying attack on Congress over National Herald issue, BJP today accused it of using "pressure tactics" by "obstructing" the Parliament to prevent further investigation in the matter.
"Congress leaders are trying to obstruct Parliament for their own interest. They are creating hurdles in the country's progress and jeopardising people's interests," BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said in Bhubaneswar.
Asking Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi to go to the court instead of holding Parliament hostage, Mr Singh said "Congress leaders are simply using pressure tactics in a bid to prevent further investigation in the matter as they fear more damage if detailed probe is conducted."
Hitting out at Congress for making allegations like "vendetta politics", the BJP leader said that Mr Rahul Gandhi had earlier threatened to file defamation suit and wondered as to why the Congress vice president did not take any such step.
"Congress is simply trying to mislead people by making wild and baseless allegations and creating noise. But they should realise that people will never forgive them," he said.
While in power, Congress lost its credibility due to misrule, corruption and price rise and now in the opposition, the party has failed to play a constructive role for the development of the country and interest of people, Mr Singh said adding people would teach Congress a lesson for playing negative politics.
Congress should realise that its leaders are not above the country's courts and judiciary, he said.
BHUBANESWAR: Intensifying attack on Congress over National Herald issue, BJP today accused it of using "pressure tactics" by "obstructing" the Parliament to prevent further investigation in the matter."Congress leaders are trying to obstruct Parliament for their own interest. They are creating hurdles in the country's progress and jeopardising people's interests," BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said in Bhubaneswar.
Asking Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi to go to the court instead of holding Parliament hostage, Mr Singh said "Congress leaders are simply using pressure tactics in a bid to prevent further investigation in the matter as they fear more damage if detailed probe is conducted."
"Congress is simply trying to mislead people by making wild and baseless allegations and creating noise. But they should realise that people will never forgive them," he said.
While in power, Congress lost its credibility due to misrule, corruption and price rise and now in the opposition, the party has failed to play a constructive role for the development of the country and interest of people, Mr Singh said adding people would teach Congress a lesson for playing negative politics.
Congress should realise that its leaders are not above the country's courts and judiciary, he said.
India Lived Up To Expectations At Paris Climate Summit, Says Piyush Goyal
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NEW DELHI: India was the cynosure of all eyes at the Conference of Parties (COP21) climate summit in Paris and ultimately lived up to the expectations, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal today said.
"India provided leadership not just to protect interests of developing and less developed countries, but to balance the deep concerns of future generations with climate justice, equity and fairness for all," the Ministry of Power said in a statement, quoting Mr Goyal.
Mr Goyal was speaking at the World Leadership Dialogue in Pune.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the landmark climate change deal reached in Paris as the victory of "climate justice" and said there are no winners or losers in the outcome.
The world, Mr Goyal said, saw "true leadership" after 196 countries tackled the most difficult problem facing our planet - climate change and global warming - and converge with a historic agreement, and path forward for humanity.
"1,600 points of dissent reduced to 0 in 10 days," he said, in an apparent reference to different ideas and viewpoints that floated around.
In a tweet, the minister said: "Congratulations to PM @narendramodi on the historic #ParisAgreement to fight climate change, which fully safeguards India's interests."
The historic agreement was reached after tough deliberations among participating countries.
NEW DELHI: India was the cynosure of all eyes at the Conference of Parties (COP21) climate summit in Paris and ultimately lived up to the expectations, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal today said."India provided leadership not just to protect interests of developing and less developed countries, but to balance the deep concerns of future generations with climate justice, equity and fairness for all," the Ministry of Power said in a statement, quoting Mr Goyal.
Mr Goyal was speaking at the World Leadership Dialogue in Pune.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the landmark climate change deal reached in Paris as the victory of "climate justice" and said there are no winners or losers in the outcome.
The world, Mr Goyal said, saw "true leadership" after 196 countries tackled the most difficult problem facing our planet - climate change and global warming - and converge with a historic agreement, and path forward for humanity.
"1,600 points of dissent reduced to 0 in 10 days," he said, in an apparent reference to different ideas and viewpoints that floated around.
In a tweet, the minister said: "Congratulations to PM @narendramodi on the historic #ParisAgreement to fight climate change, which fully safeguards India's interests."
The historic agreement was reached after tough deliberations among participating countries.
At Least 2 Women Win Seats In Historic Saudi Vote
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RIYADH: At least two women won municipal council seats in Saudi Arabia's first ever election open to female voters and candidates, officials said today, in a milestone for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.
Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to a council in the holy city of Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported, citing election commission president Osama al-Bar.
She ran against seven men and two women in Saturday's ballot, he added.
A second woman, Hanouf bint Mufrih bin Ayid al-Hazmi, was elected in the northwestern region of Jawf, SPA said, as fresh results were being released on Sunday afternoon.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, including a ban on driving.
It was the last country to allow only men to vote, and polling stations were segregated during the ballot.
Among the 6,440 candidates running for seats on 284 councils figured more than 900 women, who had to overcame a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll.
Female candidates could not meet face-to-face with male voters during campaigning, while neither men nor women could publish their pictures.
Women voters said that registration was hindered by factors including bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transportation.
As a result, women accounted for less than 10 percent of registered voters and few female candidates were expected to be elected.
According to election commission data, nearly 1.5 million people aged 18 and over were registered for the polls.
This included about 119,000 women, out of a total native Saudi population of almost 21 million.
At least one part of the country reported a female turnout exceeding 80 percent, according to official data.
In the mountainous Baha region, in the kingdom's southwest, 946 women voted, according to the local election commission cited by SPA.
With 1,146 women registered, that translated into an 82.5 percent turnout.
Baha's overall turnout for men and women combined was 51.5 percent, SPA said, without providing figures for other regions.
Proud, Happy
Female candidates expressed pride in running, even if they didn't think they would win, while women voters, some of them tearful, said they were happy at finally being able to do something they had only seen on television or in movies.
Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in the eastern city of Qatif, said it didn't matter whether women voted for their own sex.
"The important thing is that you need to support a good person," and to exercise the right to vote, she said.
Sadah, who herself voted for a man, was disqualified for unknown reasons on the eve of the campaign. She has taken authorities to court over her exclusion.
Sadah said that the voting process itself took place relatively smoothly, unlike the registration.
Many female candidates used social media to help their cause, but a handful of others, including women's rights activists, were disqualified from campaigning.
Oil-rich Saudi Arabia boasts modern infrastructure of highways, skyscrapers and ever-more shopping malls.
But women still require permission from male family members to travel, work or marry.
Ruled by the Al-Saud family of King Salman, Saudi Arabia has no elected legislature and faces intense Western scrutiny of its rights record.
A slow expansion of women's rights began under Salman's predecessor Abdullah who announced four years ago that women would take part in the 2015 municipal elections.
Men have voted since 2005 in elections for municipal councils, a third of whose seats are appointed.
RIYADH: At least two women won municipal council seats in Saudi Arabia's first ever election open to female voters and candidates, officials said today, in a milestone for the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom.Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to a council in the holy city of Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported, citing election commission president Osama al-Bar.
She ran against seven men and two women in Saturday's ballot, he added.
Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy with some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, including a ban on driving.
It was the last country to allow only men to vote, and polling stations were segregated during the ballot.
Among the 6,440 candidates running for seats on 284 councils figured more than 900 women, who had to overcame a number of obstacles to participate in the landmark poll.
Female candidates could not meet face-to-face with male voters during campaigning, while neither men nor women could publish their pictures.
Women voters said that registration was hindered by factors including bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of transportation.
As a result, women accounted for less than 10 percent of registered voters and few female candidates were expected to be elected.
According to election commission data, nearly 1.5 million people aged 18 and over were registered for the polls.
This included about 119,000 women, out of a total native Saudi population of almost 21 million.
At least one part of the country reported a female turnout exceeding 80 percent, according to official data.
In the mountainous Baha region, in the kingdom's southwest, 946 women voted, according to the local election commission cited by SPA.
With 1,146 women registered, that translated into an 82.5 percent turnout.
Baha's overall turnout for men and women combined was 51.5 percent, SPA said, without providing figures for other regions.
Proud, Happy
Female candidates expressed pride in running, even if they didn't think they would win, while women voters, some of them tearful, said they were happy at finally being able to do something they had only seen on television or in movies.
Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in the eastern city of Qatif, said it didn't matter whether women voted for their own sex.
"The important thing is that you need to support a good person," and to exercise the right to vote, she said.
Sadah, who herself voted for a man, was disqualified for unknown reasons on the eve of the campaign. She has taken authorities to court over her exclusion.
Sadah said that the voting process itself took place relatively smoothly, unlike the registration.
Many female candidates used social media to help their cause, but a handful of others, including women's rights activists, were disqualified from campaigning.
Oil-rich Saudi Arabia boasts modern infrastructure of highways, skyscrapers and ever-more shopping malls.
But women still require permission from male family members to travel, work or marry.
Ruled by the Al-Saud family of King Salman, Saudi Arabia has no elected legislature and faces intense Western scrutiny of its rights record.
A slow expansion of women's rights began under Salman's predecessor Abdullah who announced four years ago that women would take part in the 2015 municipal elections.
Men have voted since 2005 in elections for municipal councils, a third of whose seats are appointed.
Business Affairs
India and Japan ink pacts on bullet train, N-energy
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India and Japan on Friday inked a number of bilateral agreements in key areas of defence and nuclear energy and building of first bullet train network between Mumbai- Ahmedabad at a cost of about Rs 98,000 crore.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is on a three-day official visit to India, said: "We have taken our relationship to a new level."
Praising Modi's reforms programme, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "Prime Minister Modi's speed of implementing policies and reforms is like Shinkansen (bullet train) and his reform agenda is as safe as Shinkansen."
Abe also said that India has become a very attractive investment destination for Japan.
PM Narendra Modi said recent economic indicators in both India and Japan were extremely encouraging, especially in the light of the global economic slowdown.
Here are the key developments of his visit:
1. PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe inked a pact to build first bullet train network in India. Japan gave a highly concessional loan with repayment period of 50 years and 15 year moratorium. It has an interest rate of 0.1 per cent. The high speed rail will be built using Japan's Shinkansen technology.
2. The two countries also inked two deals on security operations to deepen defence relations and for defence manufacturing. The two agreements were - concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology and related to Security Measures for Protection of Classified Military Information.
Terming defence pacts as "decisive steps in our security cooperation", PM Modi said they will deepen the defence relations and promote defence manufacturing in India.
3. PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe also inked an MoU with Japan on civil nuclear energy and announced that the deal was not just about commerce and clean energy but also a sign of mutual confidence and partnership for a secure world.
The two leaders also issued a joint statement on 'India and Japan Vision 2025: Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World'.
4. PM Modi also announced visa on arrival for Japanese nationals from March 1, 2016. Modi said that the Visa on Arrival is beyond the Electronic Tourist Visa (ETV) that the country has extended to visitors from 113 countries.
5. The two leaders also met a group of top business leaders from both countries at the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum, in New Delhi.
6. The two leaders are scheduled to leave for Varanasi, PM Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, where they will attend Ganga aarti at the famous Dasaswamedh Ghat.
India and Japan on Friday inked a number of bilateral agreements in key areas of defence and nuclear energy and building of first bullet train network between Mumbai- Ahmedabad at a cost of about Rs 98,000 crore.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is on a three-day official visit to India, said: "We have taken our relationship to a new level."
Praising Modi's reforms programme, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "Prime Minister Modi's speed of implementing policies and reforms is like Shinkansen (bullet train) and his reform agenda is as safe as Shinkansen."
Abe also said that India has become a very attractive investment destination for Japan.
PM Narendra Modi said recent economic indicators in both India and Japan were extremely encouraging, especially in the light of the global economic slowdown.
Here are the key developments of his visit:
1. PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe inked a pact to build first bullet train network in India. Japan gave a highly concessional loan with repayment period of 50 years and 15 year moratorium. It has an interest rate of 0.1 per cent. The high speed rail will be built using Japan's Shinkansen technology.
2. The two countries also inked two deals on security operations to deepen defence relations and for defence manufacturing. The two agreements were - concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology and related to Security Measures for Protection of Classified Military Information.
Terming defence pacts as "decisive steps in our security cooperation", PM Modi said they will deepen the defence relations and promote defence manufacturing in India.
3. PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe also inked an MoU with Japan on civil nuclear energy and announced that the deal was not just about commerce and clean energy but also a sign of mutual confidence and partnership for a secure world.
The two leaders also issued a joint statement on 'India and Japan Vision 2025: Special Strategic and Global Partnership Working Together for Peace and Prosperity of the Indo-Pacific Region and the World'.
4. PM Modi also announced visa on arrival for Japanese nationals from March 1, 2016. Modi said that the Visa on Arrival is beyond the Electronic Tourist Visa (ETV) that the country has extended to visitors from 113 countries.
5. The two leaders also met a group of top business leaders from both countries at the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum, in New Delhi.
6. The two leaders are scheduled to leave for Varanasi, PM Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, where they will attend Ganga aarti at the famous Dasaswamedh Ghat.
'Make in India' has become a movement in Japan, says PM Narendra Modi
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the 'Make in India' initiative has become a movement in Japan and the island nation has created a fund of about $12 billion for it.
"Today, there is a 'Make In India' movement in Japan. I have been told that $11-12 billion fund has been earmarked for it. This clearly indicates how both the countries can move forward," he said while addressing the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum in New Delhi.
'Make in India' is proceeding in mission mode, not just in India, but also in Japan, he added.
Modi also said that for the first time Japan will import cars from India.
"Maruti (Suzuki) will manufacture here... Japanese company will manufacture here and export it to Japan," he said, adding that both India and Japan should move ahead together, not just in the sphere of high-speed trains, but also for "high-speed growth."
Recalling his last visit to the country, Modi said Japan committed an investment of $35 billion.
"The figure had surprised many at that time, but today, within a short time-span, unimaginable progress had been made, and the contours of this investment were beginning to get visible on the ground," he said.
Highlighting the improvement in economic indicators in both India and Japan, he said these were extremely encouraging, especially in the light of the global economic slowdown.
"It is clear that India is a land of possibilities," he added.
Praising Modi's reforms programme, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "Prime Minister Modi's speed of implementing policies and reforms is like Shinkansen (bullet train) and his reform agenda is as safe as Shinkansen."
Abe also said that India has become a very attractive investment destination for Japan.
On economic front, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the two countries would like to work closely as it will benefit both.
"Strong Japan is good for India and strong India is good for Japan... I hope economic ties between our two countries will be ever closer," Abe said.
Further, Modi said "Japan Plus" initiative that began last year in India as a policy experiment, is also doing well.
India wants not only high speed train, but also high speed growth, Modi said, adding that Indo-Japan business forum has discussed various opportunities between the countries.
Recommendations given by the forum will be actively considered by the Indian government, he said.
Economies of both the countries are showing signs of improvement amidst global slowdown, he said, adding, "Japan economic analysis which came yesterday was very encouraging.
Even India's manufacturing number was 10.6 per cent and 9.8 per cent IIP indicates growth."
Modi said there is a need to move forward, taking advantage of the strength of human resources and technological base.
He added that the strategy adopted to improve India's position in the Ease of Doing Business rankings, policy decisions and their effective implementation are now showing results.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $15.51 billion in 2014-15 as against $16.29 billion in 2013-14.
India received $19.16 billion FDI from Japan during April 2000 and September 2015.
Speaking after the meeting, Maruti Suzuki chairman R C Bhargava said the company will export 'Baleno' at the moment.
When asked about the target, Bhargava said "we expect to export 20,000 to 30,000 in a year."
However, he added that exporting automobiles to Japan is not an easy task.
Apollo Tyres chairman Onkar S Kanwar said Japanese companies have committed investment in infrastructure sectors including power.
Highlighting the technological prowess of Japan, CII past president Ajay Sriram said there is a lot to learn and there is a high mutual access between both the countries which will be beneficial for investment in India.
Other business leaders who attended the meeting included Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, ICICI Bank MD Chanda Kochhar, Essar Group chairman Shashi Ruia, CII president Sumit Mazumder, Ficci president Jyotsana Suri and Assocham president Sunil Kanoria.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the 'Make in India' initiative has become a movement in Japan and the island nation has created a fund of about $12 billion for it.
"Today, there is a 'Make In India' movement in Japan. I have been told that $11-12 billion fund has been earmarked for it. This clearly indicates how both the countries can move forward," he said while addressing the India-Japan Business Leaders Forum in New Delhi.
'Make in India' is proceeding in mission mode, not just in India, but also in Japan, he added.
Modi also said that for the first time Japan will import cars from India.
"Maruti (Suzuki) will manufacture here... Japanese company will manufacture here and export it to Japan," he said, adding that both India and Japan should move ahead together, not just in the sphere of high-speed trains, but also for "high-speed growth."
Recalling his last visit to the country, Modi said Japan committed an investment of $35 billion.
"The figure had surprised many at that time, but today, within a short time-span, unimaginable progress had been made, and the contours of this investment were beginning to get visible on the ground," he said.
Highlighting the improvement in economic indicators in both India and Japan, he said these were extremely encouraging, especially in the light of the global economic slowdown.
"It is clear that India is a land of possibilities," he added.
Praising Modi's reforms programme, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "Prime Minister Modi's speed of implementing policies and reforms is like Shinkansen (bullet train) and his reform agenda is as safe as Shinkansen."
Abe also said that India has become a very attractive investment destination for Japan.
On economic front, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the two countries would like to work closely as it will benefit both.
"Strong Japan is good for India and strong India is good for Japan... I hope economic ties between our two countries will be ever closer," Abe said.
Further, Modi said "Japan Plus" initiative that began last year in India as a policy experiment, is also doing well.
India wants not only high speed train, but also high speed growth, Modi said, adding that Indo-Japan business forum has discussed various opportunities between the countries.
Recommendations given by the forum will be actively considered by the Indian government, he said.
Economies of both the countries are showing signs of improvement amidst global slowdown, he said, adding, "Japan economic analysis which came yesterday was very encouraging.
Even India's manufacturing number was 10.6 per cent and 9.8 per cent IIP indicates growth."
Modi said there is a need to move forward, taking advantage of the strength of human resources and technological base.
He added that the strategy adopted to improve India's position in the Ease of Doing Business rankings, policy decisions and their effective implementation are now showing results.
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $15.51 billion in 2014-15 as against $16.29 billion in 2013-14.
India received $19.16 billion FDI from Japan during April 2000 and September 2015.
Speaking after the meeting, Maruti Suzuki chairman R C Bhargava said the company will export 'Baleno' at the moment.
When asked about the target, Bhargava said "we expect to export 20,000 to 30,000 in a year."
However, he added that exporting automobiles to Japan is not an easy task.
Apollo Tyres chairman Onkar S Kanwar said Japanese companies have committed investment in infrastructure sectors including power.
Highlighting the technological prowess of Japan, CII past president Ajay Sriram said there is a lot to learn and there is a high mutual access between both the countries which will be beneficial for investment in India.
Other business leaders who attended the meeting included Bharti Enterprises chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, ICICI Bank MD Chanda Kochhar, Essar Group chairman Shashi Ruia, CII president Sumit Mazumder, Ficci president Jyotsana Suri and Assocham president Sunil Kanoria.
Green court bans diesel vehicles in Delhi
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If you have been planning to buy a diesel car, don't. Stepping up the fight against pollution, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday ordered that diesel-run vehicles will not be registered in Delhi anymore, with immediate effect.
The central and state governments have also been asked to take a 'conscientious decision' of not buying any diesel vehicles now. Also, under interim measures to arrest Delhi's alarming pollution levels, no renewal of registrations will be granted to diesel vehicles that are over 10 years of age.
Over 23 per cent of the cars on Delhi roads run on diesel. In absolute numbers, these amount to 5.71 lakh compared to 19.54 lakh petrol cars. A sizeable, though unestimated, chunk of the 5.71 lakh includes the official Ambassador cars that belong to various government departments.
In April 2015, the NGT had held that diesel vehicles, aged above 10 years, would not be permitted to ply in Delhi-NCR. The-then commissioner of Delhi Transport Department, Gyanesh Bharti, had stated that at least 29 lakh vehicles that were over 15 years of age ply in Delhi and that the authorities have no place to impound and stock them at one time.
Importantly, the NGT bench headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also cast doubts on the AAP government's 'odd-even car' scheme to reign in nose-diving air quality levels that is supposed to come into effect from January 1. "We do appreciate that it's a good step," said Justice Kumar. "(But) taken in isolation, will it serve the end which you are trying to achieve and what others steps are you going to take?" he asked.
Environmental think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), meanwhile, welcomed the move to ban new diesel vehicles in the city. Researcher-scientist Polash Mukerjee said, "Diesel was never meant for private cars. It's a fuel only suited for long-distance transport of goods such as fruits, grains etc and for generator sets. It was basically meant for the industry. The whole convention of bringing in diesel cars was highly faulty and dangerous."
He underlined, "The European Union also experimented with diesel in the 90s, but they soon realised that there is a trade-off between carbon dioxide (Co2) and nitrogen oxides (Nox) in diesel usage. While diesel produces lesser Co2, which has global warming effects and impacts human health indirectly, it produces much higher Nox that is straight up cancerous."
New scheme
"The odd-even scheme, which you are proposing to implement, what consequences is it going to have on traffic and pollution? It may even encourage people to buy new cars, we have to prevent that. There are reports that you are going to make exemptions. We don't know what the exact status is. We would like you to give us a definite proposal on the odd-even formula," said the NGT bench.
On NGT's aspersions over the proposed 'odd-even car' scheme, Mukherjee said, "In February this year, we had submitted a 12-point 'Delhi Clean Air Action Plan' to CM Arvind Kejriwal. Unfortunately, they have picked up only one recommendation from the plan, the 'odd-even car' formula'. Continued from page 1 However, we still applaud it as we know that it requires tremendous political will power. "
The bench also observed, "It is undisputed that there are three prime sources of pollution in Delhi-NCR - burning of municipal solid waste and other waste, dust generated by construction and allied activities and vehicular pollution. The directions already issued (by NGT), if implemented, simultaneously with the odd-even scheme, would make it more effective and result-oriented. " On not registering, thereby, disallowing any new diesel cars in Delhi, the bench said, "This is an interim measure till next date of posting (January 6) subject to hearing of all concerned parties."
The Delhi government told NGT that around 1,300 to 1,400 vehicles are being registered at all Regional Transport Offices every day. These include heavy, light and two-wheelers. And just as many vehicles are also being registered at Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad and Noida, the NGT noted.
If you have been planning to buy a diesel car, don't. Stepping up the fight against pollution, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday ordered that diesel-run vehicles will not be registered in Delhi anymore, with immediate effect.
The central and state governments have also been asked to take a 'conscientious decision' of not buying any diesel vehicles now. Also, under interim measures to arrest Delhi's alarming pollution levels, no renewal of registrations will be granted to diesel vehicles that are over 10 years of age.
Over 23 per cent of the cars on Delhi roads run on diesel. In absolute numbers, these amount to 5.71 lakh compared to 19.54 lakh petrol cars. A sizeable, though unestimated, chunk of the 5.71 lakh includes the official Ambassador cars that belong to various government departments.
In April 2015, the NGT had held that diesel vehicles, aged above 10 years, would not be permitted to ply in Delhi-NCR. The-then commissioner of Delhi Transport Department, Gyanesh Bharti, had stated that at least 29 lakh vehicles that were over 15 years of age ply in Delhi and that the authorities have no place to impound and stock them at one time.
Importantly, the NGT bench headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also cast doubts on the AAP government's 'odd-even car' scheme to reign in nose-diving air quality levels that is supposed to come into effect from January 1. "We do appreciate that it's a good step," said Justice Kumar. "(But) taken in isolation, will it serve the end which you are trying to achieve and what others steps are you going to take?" he asked.
Environmental think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), meanwhile, welcomed the move to ban new diesel vehicles in the city. Researcher-scientist Polash Mukerjee said, "Diesel was never meant for private cars. It's a fuel only suited for long-distance transport of goods such as fruits, grains etc and for generator sets. It was basically meant for the industry. The whole convention of bringing in diesel cars was highly faulty and dangerous."
He underlined, "The European Union also experimented with diesel in the 90s, but they soon realised that there is a trade-off between carbon dioxide (Co2) and nitrogen oxides (Nox) in diesel usage. While diesel produces lesser Co2, which has global warming effects and impacts human health indirectly, it produces much higher Nox that is straight up cancerous."
New scheme
"The odd-even scheme, which you are proposing to implement, what consequences is it going to have on traffic and pollution? It may even encourage people to buy new cars, we have to prevent that. There are reports that you are going to make exemptions. We don't know what the exact status is. We would like you to give us a definite proposal on the odd-even formula," said the NGT bench.
On NGT's aspersions over the proposed 'odd-even car' scheme, Mukherjee said, "In February this year, we had submitted a 12-point 'Delhi Clean Air Action Plan' to CM Arvind Kejriwal. Unfortunately, they have picked up only one recommendation from the plan, the 'odd-even car' formula'. Continued from page 1 However, we still applaud it as we know that it requires tremendous political will power. "
The bench also observed, "It is undisputed that there are three prime sources of pollution in Delhi-NCR - burning of municipal solid waste and other waste, dust generated by construction and allied activities and vehicular pollution. The directions already issued (by NGT), if implemented, simultaneously with the odd-even scheme, would make it more effective and result-oriented. " On not registering, thereby, disallowing any new diesel cars in Delhi, the bench said, "This is an interim measure till next date of posting (January 6) subject to hearing of all concerned parties."
The Delhi government told NGT that around 1,300 to 1,400 vehicles are being registered at all Regional Transport Offices every day. These include heavy, light and two-wheelers. And just as many vehicles are also being registered at Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad and Noida, the NGT noted.
SBI's new debit cards to have EMV chip and pin security
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The State Bank of India (SBI) will issue EMV chip and pin based debit cards to its new customers to ensure enhanced secure transactions.
EMV chip and pin feature protects against skimming and card transaction frauds.
"All SBI customers opening accounts with the bank hence forth will receive this EMV chip and pin-based debit cards.
Existing customers can also request for upgrading their card by visiting their home branch against payment of nominal fee", the bank said in a statement.
With this, SBI said, it has become the first large bank to issue 100 per cent EMV cards compliant with RBI's directive on Security and Risk Mitigation Measures for Card Present and Electronic Payment Transactions.
The latest offering will allow consumers to transact securely at Point of Sale terminals and would contribute towards making the Indian payment ecosystem more secure, SBI said.
"Further, EMV cards will make card based transactions more secure which, in turn, will give a boost to electronification of payments in India," Manju Agarwal, Deputy Managing Director, Corporate Strategy and New Businesses said in the statement.
As per an RBI data, State Bank debit card has a market share of around 38.41 per cent in terms of total outstanding debit cards as of August 2015.
The State Bank of India (SBI) will issue EMV chip and pin based debit cards to its new customers to ensure enhanced secure transactions.
EMV chip and pin feature protects against skimming and card transaction frauds.
"All SBI customers opening accounts with the bank hence forth will receive this EMV chip and pin-based debit cards.
Existing customers can also request for upgrading their card by visiting their home branch against payment of nominal fee", the bank said in a statement.
With this, SBI said, it has become the first large bank to issue 100 per cent EMV cards compliant with RBI's directive on Security and Risk Mitigation Measures for Card Present and Electronic Payment Transactions.
The latest offering will allow consumers to transact securely at Point of Sale terminals and would contribute towards making the Indian payment ecosystem more secure, SBI said.
"Further, EMV cards will make card based transactions more secure which, in turn, will give a boost to electronification of payments in India," Manju Agarwal, Deputy Managing Director, Corporate Strategy and New Businesses said in the statement.
As per an RBI data, State Bank debit card has a market share of around 38.41 per cent in terms of total outstanding debit cards as of August 2015.
RCP abuzz with action; Reliance Jio in final stage of tests
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The sprawling administrative hub of Reliance Industries at Ghansoli in Navi Mumbai-Reliance Corporate Park (RCP)-stocks up to become the nerve centre of the company's new digital services business, Reliance Jio.
The company is in the final phase of tests at RCP, co-coordinating the functions of the network operations center (NOC), data center and the development center, say executives.
The employees have started using the data service, through Reliance's own brand phones LYF. The commercial launch of Jio is expected before the end of this financial year.
"Jio's ecosystem is 99 per cent ready. But we are extremely careful to launch with the flawless service. Beta trials are continuing. We started with 10,000 testers, covering an average of 100 km everyday about a couple of months back. But it has been enhanced now," says an executive.
Mukesh Ambani comes to the campus in his chopper at least twice every week. Earlier, he was mostly working out of his Nariman Point office at Maker IV. Ambani's twin children Isha and Akash work as full-timers at RCP from the newly built swanky 11-storied head-quarter of operations, 'TC 22'.
The campus was added to Reliance's fold when it acquired ailing petrochemicals and plastics division of erstwhile rival National Organic Chemicals Industries (Nocil) about a decade back. Later, they constructed towers there to move the administrative departments of Reliance Industries.
Ambani's Man Friday Manoj Modi heads Jio's execution team at the campus. Ambani's wife Nita also comes to the campus frequently as she advises on the marketing plan and builds synergies between Reliance Foundation and RJio. Marketing and advertising experts like Piyush Pandey and Sohail Shet and senior management of Saatchi & Saatchi are also often seen in the Jio office, say insiders. RJio has over 20,000 employees on rolls.
Another attraction at RCP is the newly built data center in box-structure, which spans larger than a football ground. The four-story high building has a floor area of 0.5 million square feet (mn sq ft). It houses the servers of RJio and will facilitate the planned services like direct-to-home (DTH) television with a bouquet of almost 2,000 channels, video-on-demand, mailing and messaging services and voice over Internet telephony (VoIP). In addition to the data centre, the company also sets up its major network operations center at RCP. Learning and development center, Technology labs (for network and device testing) and Jio experience center are the other attractions.
The company aims to operationalise 0.65 million squire feet (mn sq ft) data center space across three locations before the launch-0.5 mn sq ft at RCP and 0.15 mn sq ft at Nagpur and NCR, together. The size will be enhanced to 1.5 mn sq ft in the next three years, when the RCP size will doubled. The plan is to build data centres across India-Jamnagar (Gujarat), Mauda (Nagpur), NCR (New Delhi), Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangaluru-for the information storage. The rival Vodafone has one data centre each in Pune and Bangalore. Airtel has outsourced the job to third party.
The company has opened an outlet for selling its own device, LYF, to the employees at RCP. The cost of it comes to Rs 15,000-25,000. But the employees get it at 25 per cent discount. Each sim card will have free data of 75 gigabyte for 90 days. The calls will be possible only with VoLTE (Voice over LTE). Jio applications are free with the device, says an employee.
RJio has also set up a new pan-India sales and distribution network for channeling the 4G handsets and devices to over 1.5 lakh electronic retailers in the country. They signed exclusive distribution deals with Lenovo, LG, Intex and Micromax for the sourcing exclusive VoLTE handset models.
In addition, the company has entered into agreements with five major vendors including Chinese multinational ZTE Corporation and Taiwanese major Foxconn Technology for sourcing devices for distributing LYF brand phones. It plans to sell the handsets through the Digital Xpress stores of Reliance Retail.
The sprawling administrative hub of Reliance Industries at Ghansoli in Navi Mumbai-Reliance Corporate Park (RCP)-stocks up to become the nerve centre of the company's new digital services business, Reliance Jio.
The company is in the final phase of tests at RCP, co-coordinating the functions of the network operations center (NOC), data center and the development center, say executives.
The employees have started using the data service, through Reliance's own brand phones LYF. The commercial launch of Jio is expected before the end of this financial year.
"Jio's ecosystem is 99 per cent ready. But we are extremely careful to launch with the flawless service. Beta trials are continuing. We started with 10,000 testers, covering an average of 100 km everyday about a couple of months back. But it has been enhanced now," says an executive.
Mukesh Ambani comes to the campus in his chopper at least twice every week. Earlier, he was mostly working out of his Nariman Point office at Maker IV. Ambani's twin children Isha and Akash work as full-timers at RCP from the newly built swanky 11-storied head-quarter of operations, 'TC 22'.
The campus was added to Reliance's fold when it acquired ailing petrochemicals and plastics division of erstwhile rival National Organic Chemicals Industries (Nocil) about a decade back. Later, they constructed towers there to move the administrative departments of Reliance Industries.
Ambani's Man Friday Manoj Modi heads Jio's execution team at the campus. Ambani's wife Nita also comes to the campus frequently as she advises on the marketing plan and builds synergies between Reliance Foundation and RJio. Marketing and advertising experts like Piyush Pandey and Sohail Shet and senior management of Saatchi & Saatchi are also often seen in the Jio office, say insiders. RJio has over 20,000 employees on rolls.
Another attraction at RCP is the newly built data center in box-structure, which spans larger than a football ground. The four-story high building has a floor area of 0.5 million square feet (mn sq ft). It houses the servers of RJio and will facilitate the planned services like direct-to-home (DTH) television with a bouquet of almost 2,000 channels, video-on-demand, mailing and messaging services and voice over Internet telephony (VoIP). In addition to the data centre, the company also sets up its major network operations center at RCP. Learning and development center, Technology labs (for network and device testing) and Jio experience center are the other attractions.
The company aims to operationalise 0.65 million squire feet (mn sq ft) data center space across three locations before the launch-0.5 mn sq ft at RCP and 0.15 mn sq ft at Nagpur and NCR, together. The size will be enhanced to 1.5 mn sq ft in the next three years, when the RCP size will doubled. The plan is to build data centres across India-Jamnagar (Gujarat), Mauda (Nagpur), NCR (New Delhi), Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangaluru-for the information storage. The rival Vodafone has one data centre each in Pune and Bangalore. Airtel has outsourced the job to third party.
The company has opened an outlet for selling its own device, LYF, to the employees at RCP. The cost of it comes to Rs 15,000-25,000. But the employees get it at 25 per cent discount. Each sim card will have free data of 75 gigabyte for 90 days. The calls will be possible only with VoLTE (Voice over LTE). Jio applications are free with the device, says an employee.
RJio has also set up a new pan-India sales and distribution network for channeling the 4G handsets and devices to over 1.5 lakh electronic retailers in the country. They signed exclusive distribution deals with Lenovo, LG, Intex and Micromax for the sourcing exclusive VoLTE handset models.
In addition, the company has entered into agreements with five major vendors including Chinese multinational ZTE Corporation and Taiwanese major Foxconn Technology for sourcing devices for distributing LYF brand phones. It plans to sell the handsets through the Digital Xpress stores of Reliance Retail.
General Awareness
Centre sets up “SETU” to support start-up businesses
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Government has set up a mechanism known as SETU to support all aspects of start-up businesses and other self- employment activities.
- SETU (Self—Employment and Talent Utilisation) has been established under NITI Aayog is a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start-up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas.
Other schemes to assist start-up businesses
India Aspiration Fund (IAF) – Government has also started IAF in August 2015 under theSmall Industries Development Bank of India with a capital of Rs. 2,000 crore to give a boost to start—up ecosystem in the country.
- The objective of the IAF is to catalyze equity investment into start ups and MSMEscreating employment to lakhs of persons mostly educated youth over the next four to five years.
TIDE – Department of Electronics and Information Technology is implementing a scheme dubbed “Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs” (TIDE) under which 147 start ups have been supported at 25 TIDE centres established in premier institutes likeIITs, NITs, IIMs etc.
National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurs – It envisaged fostering entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation by providing support in terms of fiscal incentives, creation of grass root technology innovation hubs, legal support and market linkages.
- Government has set up a mechanism known as SETU to support all aspects of start-up businesses and other self- employment activities.
- SETU (Self—Employment and Talent Utilisation) has been established under NITI Aayog is a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start-up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas.
India Aspiration Fund (IAF) – Government has also started IAF in August 2015 under theSmall Industries Development Bank of India with a capital of Rs. 2,000 crore to give a boost to start—up ecosystem in the country.- The objective of the IAF is to catalyze equity investment into start ups and MSMEscreating employment to lakhs of persons mostly educated youth over the next four to five years.
TIDE – Department of Electronics and Information Technology is implementing a scheme dubbed “Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs” (TIDE) under which 147 start ups have been supported at 25 TIDE centres established in premier institutes likeIITs, NITs, IIMs etc.National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurs – It envisaged fostering entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation by providing support in terms of fiscal incentives, creation of grass root technology innovation hubs, legal support and market linkages. - SETU (Self—Employment and Talent Utilisation) has been established under NITI Aayog is a Techno-Financial, Incubation and Facilitation Programme to support all aspects of start-up businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas.
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