General Affairs
ISRO's 48-Hour Countdown For 20-Satellite Launch Begins
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BENGALURU: Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday said it has cleared the 48-hour countdown, starting today morning, for the launch of record 20 satellites in a single mission on June 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 will be used to carry the satellites, including India's earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the second launch pad of the space centre at 9.26 am on June 22.
"Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board have cleared the 48-hour countdown starting at 09.26 hr IST on Monday, June 20, 2016 and the launch of PSLV-C34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission for Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 09.26hr IST," a senior ISRO official told Press Trust of India.
The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.
PSLV-C34 will launch 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
ISRO said the total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on board PSLV-C34 is about 1,288 kg.
The co-passengers include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as two satellites from Indian Universities.
The mission would carry LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among the micro satellites, ISRO sources had earlier said.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 will be used to carry the satellites, including India's earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the second launch pad of the space centre at 9.26 am on June 22.
The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.
PSLV-C34 will launch 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
ISRO said the total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on board PSLV-C34 is about 1,288 kg.
The co-passengers include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as two satellites from Indian Universities.
The mission would carry LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among the micro satellites, ISRO sources had earlier said.
Congress Losing Power As It Did Not Listen To Gandhi: Rajnath Singh
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PORBANDAR: Taking a dig at Congress for losing powers in many states, senior BJP leader and Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said it did not listen to the advice of Mahatma Gandhi to work for the development of villages and poor.
Addressing a 'Vikas Parv' rally held to celebrate the completion of NDA government's two years in office, Mr Singh said Gandhiji had given a call for 'gram swaraj' for the development of rural areas and the underprivileged sections.
"Congress was in power for 54 years and that is not a very short period of time to develop the country. But the Congress did not listen to the advice of Gandhiji which resulted it losing power gradually in most parts of the country," he said.
On the other hand, Mr Singh said, the NDA government had dedicated itself to the welfare of rural areas and the poor, following Gandhi's principle.
Mr Singh said the influence of Congress is now limited to only some hilly states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram besides Karnataka.
Highlighting various development initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government, the home minister said due to its farmer-friendly policies, farm income will double by 2022.
He said Foreign Direct Investment has reached an all-time high of more than $50 billion and India has now become the fastest growing economy in the world.
Alleging that the previous UPA governments were steeped in corruption, Mr Singh said malady has gone away from the high places and governance has become transparent now.
The home minister said the central government is going to get Rs. 2,00,000 crore revenue from the auction of coal mines through a very clean and transparent policy.
Addressing a 'Vikas Parv' rally held to celebrate the completion of NDA government's two years in office, Mr Singh said Gandhiji had given a call for 'gram swaraj' for the development of rural areas and the underprivileged sections.
"Congress was in power for 54 years and that is not a very short period of time to develop the country. But the Congress did not listen to the advice of Gandhiji which resulted it losing power gradually in most parts of the country," he said.
On the other hand, Mr Singh said, the NDA government had dedicated itself to the welfare of rural areas and the poor, following Gandhi's principle.
Mr Singh said the influence of Congress is now limited to only some hilly states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram besides Karnataka.
Highlighting various development initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government, the home minister said due to its farmer-friendly policies, farm income will double by 2022.
He said Foreign Direct Investment has reached an all-time high of more than $50 billion and India has now become the fastest growing economy in the world.
Alleging that the previous UPA governments were steeped in corruption, Mr Singh said malady has gone away from the high places and governance has become transparent now.
The home minister said the central government is going to get Rs. 2,00,000 crore revenue from the auction of coal mines through a very clean and transparent policy.
Terrorists Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In Jammu And Kashmir
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SRINAGAR: An unidentified terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Awantipora area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir this evening, police said.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoo area of Awantipora, 30 kms from Srinagar, following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
As the security forces were closing in on the terrorists, they opened fire which was returned by the troops, the official said.
In the exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed, the official said, adding his identity and group affiliation was yet to be ascertained.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Ladoo area of Awantipora, 30 kms from Srinagar, following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.
As the security forces were closing in on the terrorists, they opened fire which was returned by the troops, the official said.
In the exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed, the official said, adding his identity and group affiliation was yet to be ascertained.
12 Indian Sailors Jailed In Italy Freed, Says Sushma Swaraj
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NEW DELHI: Twelve Indian sailors, who were in jail in Italy since June 2014 on allegations of possessing drugs, have been freed, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today.
"I appreciate Indian Embassy in Rome for the release of 12 Indian sailors on board MV 'Aberdeen' who were in jail in Italy since June 2014," Ms Swaraj said.
The Indian sailors had been arrested from aboard a ship seized by Italian police in June, 2014, and were accused of possessing a huge quantity of drugs.
"I appreciate Indian Embassy in Rome for the release of 12 Indian sailors on board MV 'Aberdeen' who were in jail in Italy since June 2014," Ms Swaraj said.
The Indian sailors had been arrested from aboard a ship seized by Italian police in June, 2014, and were accused of possessing a huge quantity of drugs.
Former Top Cop Vanzara Garlands Sardar Patel's Statue With Pen, Toy Gun
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AHMEDABAD: Retired Gujarat police officer DG Vanzara - an accused in several encounter cases -- triggered a controversy in Surat today, when he had some unusual items to offer at the statue of Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel.
Invited at a programme organised by his supporters, Mr Vanzara was expected to garland the statue of Sardar Patel.
But apart from a floral garland, the former police officer offered another garland containing a pen and a toy gun, to the amazement of many.
Later, while speaking to the media, Mr Vanzara said the offering was symbolic. A true nationalist, Sardar Patel had brought in several kingdoms under India, thus unifying it, he said.
His offering, he said, was "a symbolic way of showing how astra (weapons) and shastra (scriptures) were used for positive nation building''.
Mr Vanzara -- an accused in fake encounter cases of Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabudin Sheikh, is currently out on bail.
Invited at a programme organised by his supporters, Mr Vanzara was expected to garland the statue of Sardar Patel.
But apart from a floral garland, the former police officer offered another garland containing a pen and a toy gun, to the amazement of many.
Mr Vanzara -- an accused in fake encounter cases of Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabudin Sheikh, is currently out on bail.
Business Affairs
RBI will survive any Governor, says outgoing Raghuram Rajan
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Reserve Bank will survive any Governor and it is important not to "personalise this office", the outgoing Raghuram Rajan said days before his surprise announcement that he was not interested in a second term.
Rajan, a former IMF Chief Economist who is credited to have predicted the 2008 global financial crisis, has been often hailed as the 'rockstar central banker' ever since becoming RBI Governor in September 2013 and for containing rupee volatility amid global market uncertainties.
Besides, he has also been often praised for containing inflation to a large extent and for forcing the banks to do a "deep surgery" to clean up their books of bad loans. At the same time, he has also been criticised by some quarters for his hawkish monetary policy stance and refusing to heed to demands for lowering interest rates to boost the economy.
"What is important is to not personalise this office. It will survive any Governor, it is bigger than any Governor," the Economist magazine quoted Rajan as saying in its latest edition.
The comments are believed to have been made amid intense speculation on whether he would get an extension or not as RBI Governor in the run-up to his own disclosure in a publicly- disseminated "Message to RBI staff" that he would return to academia after the end of his current three-year tenure.
"Though a relative newcomer to the cut and thrust of Indian policymaking, Rajan knows better than to offer any comment on his reappointment," the magazine wrote.
It said Rajan "need not even leave his office atop the Reserve Bank of India's tower in Mumbai to gauge two factors central to India's prosperity".
The Economist further quoted him as saying while looking down, the ships sailing to nearby docks provide clues as to the buoyancy of foreign trade "The imposition of steel tariffs earlier this year, a knock-on effect from China's slowdown, all but stopped traffic for a time".
It further said Rajan "favours incremental reforms over wholesale ones. He has made it easier to move money in and out of India, but not abolished capital controls in the way you might have expected from a former IMF chief economist".
According to the magazine, Rajan's three-year term is the shortest of any G20 country and the recent governors have been given second terms as much as seven months in advance.
In a separate article in its web edition after Rajan announced his decision against a second term, the Economist called it "one of India's favourite parlour games" coming to an end, while adding that a clean-up of the banking system that he initiated upset "India's powerful and indebted industrialists".
Reserve Bank will survive any Governor and it is important not to "personalise this office", the outgoing Raghuram Rajan said days before his surprise announcement that he was not interested in a second term.
Rajan, a former IMF Chief Economist who is credited to have predicted the 2008 global financial crisis, has been often hailed as the 'rockstar central banker' ever since becoming RBI Governor in September 2013 and for containing rupee volatility amid global market uncertainties.
Besides, he has also been often praised for containing inflation to a large extent and for forcing the banks to do a "deep surgery" to clean up their books of bad loans. At the same time, he has also been criticised by some quarters for his hawkish monetary policy stance and refusing to heed to demands for lowering interest rates to boost the economy.
"What is important is to not personalise this office. It will survive any Governor, it is bigger than any Governor," the Economist magazine quoted Rajan as saying in its latest edition.
The comments are believed to have been made amid intense speculation on whether he would get an extension or not as RBI Governor in the run-up to his own disclosure in a publicly- disseminated "Message to RBI staff" that he would return to academia after the end of his current three-year tenure.
"Though a relative newcomer to the cut and thrust of Indian policymaking, Rajan knows better than to offer any comment on his reappointment," the magazine wrote.
It said Rajan "need not even leave his office atop the Reserve Bank of India's tower in Mumbai to gauge two factors central to India's prosperity".
The Economist further quoted him as saying while looking down, the ships sailing to nearby docks provide clues as to the buoyancy of foreign trade "The imposition of steel tariffs earlier this year, a knock-on effect from China's slowdown, all but stopped traffic for a time".
It further said Rajan "favours incremental reforms over wholesale ones. He has made it easier to move money in and out of India, but not abolished capital controls in the way you might have expected from a former IMF chief economist".
According to the magazine, Rajan's three-year term is the shortest of any G20 country and the recent governors have been given second terms as much as seven months in advance.
In a separate article in its web edition after Rajan announced his decision against a second term, the Economist called it "one of India's favourite parlour games" coming to an end, while adding that a clean-up of the banking system that he initiated upset "India's powerful and indebted industrialists".
SpiceJet to soon offer taxi to airport option with ticket
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No-frills airline SpiceJet will soon offer passengers the option of booking a taxi to reach the airport at the time of ticket purchase.
In this regard, the carrier has joined hands with cab aggregator 'mytaxiindia' (MTI).
SpiceJet, which connects 35 destinations in different parts of the country, expects the move to help it attract more passengers from Tier II and III cities as well as result in overall increase in revenues in due course.
Under the plan, the carrier would provide travellers the option to book a taxi to reach the airport. The facility would be available at the time of booking the ticket and if required, the passenger can also book cab for travel after reaching the destination.
MTI, the taxi aggregator that started operations in late 2013, has more than 454 cab operators on board and its services are available in 119 cities.
The start-up has received investments, including from Japan's taxi rental company Nihon Kotsu.
SpiceJet Vice President (Business Development) Amit Srivastava said the initiative would help the carrier in attracting more middle class people from Tier II and III cities.
"The partnership with 'mytaxiindia' will encourage us to explore more routes where the demand could be higher.
"SpiceJet expects the initiative to also help in raking in more revenues with more number of travellers also complement the government's overall efforts to boost regional air connectivity," he noted.
MIT's CEO and Co-Founder Anshuman Mihir said the tie-up with SpiceJet would help the company to strengthen its network in Tier II and III cities as well as expand business.
SpiceJet operates more than 300 daily flights to 41 destinations, including six international ones.
No-frills airline SpiceJet will soon offer passengers the option of booking a taxi to reach the airport at the time of ticket purchase.
In this regard, the carrier has joined hands with cab aggregator 'mytaxiindia' (MTI).
SpiceJet, which connects 35 destinations in different parts of the country, expects the move to help it attract more passengers from Tier II and III cities as well as result in overall increase in revenues in due course.
Under the plan, the carrier would provide travellers the option to book a taxi to reach the airport. The facility would be available at the time of booking the ticket and if required, the passenger can also book cab for travel after reaching the destination.
MTI, the taxi aggregator that started operations in late 2013, has more than 454 cab operators on board and its services are available in 119 cities.
The start-up has received investments, including from Japan's taxi rental company Nihon Kotsu.
SpiceJet Vice President (Business Development) Amit Srivastava said the initiative would help the carrier in attracting more middle class people from Tier II and III cities.
"The partnership with 'mytaxiindia' will encourage us to explore more routes where the demand could be higher.
"SpiceJet expects the initiative to also help in raking in more revenues with more number of travellers also complement the government's overall efforts to boost regional air connectivity," he noted.
MIT's CEO and Co-Founder Anshuman Mihir said the tie-up with SpiceJet would help the company to strengthen its network in Tier II and III cities as well as expand business.
SpiceJet operates more than 300 daily flights to 41 destinations, including six international ones.
Rupee depreciates 60 paise to 66.84 against US dollar
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As expected, the rupee on Monday depreciated a whopping 60 paise to 67.68 against US dollar after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan on Saturday announced that he would not serve a second term in the office.
The domestic currency on Friday recouped 13 paise to close at 67.08 per dollar on fresh dollar selling by banks and exporters.
Rajan's abrupt decision came as a negative surprise for investors across globe.
Global brokerage Credit Suisse expects the rupee to depreciate to 67.70 in three months and 71.0 in 12 months.
The outgoing RBI governor had taken charge at a time when the rupee was ruling at its all-time low against the dollar. A slew of immediate measures that he employed helped the currency gain grounds against the greenback.
As expected, the rupee on Monday depreciated a whopping 60 paise to 67.68 against US dollar after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan on Saturday announced that he would not serve a second term in the office.
The domestic currency on Friday recouped 13 paise to close at 67.08 per dollar on fresh dollar selling by banks and exporters.
Rajan's abrupt decision came as a negative surprise for investors across globe.
Global brokerage Credit Suisse expects the rupee to depreciate to 67.70 in three months and 71.0 in 12 months.
The outgoing RBI governor had taken charge at a time when the rupee was ruling at its all-time low against the dollar. A slew of immediate measures that he employed helped the currency gain grounds against the greenback.
Auto component sector to grow 10-12% in FY17: ACMA
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Indian auto component industry is expected to grow in the range of 10-12 per cent in the current fiscal on hopes of above-normal monsoon and recovery in the domestic automobile market, according to industry body ACMA.
In the last fiscal, the auto component industry's turnover grew by 8.8 per cent to Rs 2.55 lakh crore as against Rs 2.34 lakh crore in 2014-15.
"In the first two months of this fiscal trends have been positive. With prospects of a good monsoon, we expect the growth during this fiscal to be better then the previous one.
"Last year, we grew by 8-9 per cent and we expect to grow in the range of 10-12 per cent this fiscal," Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) President Arvind Balaji told reporters here.
The global markets continue to be slow but the domestic industry is showing signs of recovery, he added.
Commenting on the last fiscal, Balaji said: "Despite a challenging year, the auto component industry has registered a satisfactory growth of 8.8 per cent. Further, while overall exports from India witnessed a decline of 9.58 per cent, the Indian auto component exports grew by 3.5 per cent."
Exports grew to Rs 70,900 crore last fiscal from Rs 68,500 crore in 2014-15. Europe accounted for 36 per cent of the total exports followed by Asia and North America, 25 per cent each. Shipments to Central America and North America increased by 30 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively, over the 2014-15 fiscal.
The key export items included engine parts, transmission parts, brake system, body parts, exhaust systems and turbochargers.
On imports, Balaji said China continued to be major country from where components are imported to India.
"Yes, it is a challenge. There (in China), the government supports exports and we are also talking to our government to provide us a level playing field in terms of trade policy," he added.
Last fiscal, the component industry invested in the range of Rs 2,700-Rs 4,000 crore compared with Rs 2,000-Rs 2,800 crore in 2014-15.
"The enhancement in investment can be attributed to better business prospects owing to improving market sentiments," ACMA Director General Vinnie Mehta said.
Indian auto component industry is expected to grow in the range of 10-12 per cent in the current fiscal on hopes of above-normal monsoon and recovery in the domestic automobile market, according to industry body ACMA.
In the last fiscal, the auto component industry's turnover grew by 8.8 per cent to Rs 2.55 lakh crore as against Rs 2.34 lakh crore in 2014-15.
"In the first two months of this fiscal trends have been positive. With prospects of a good monsoon, we expect the growth during this fiscal to be better then the previous one.
"Last year, we grew by 8-9 per cent and we expect to grow in the range of 10-12 per cent this fiscal," Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) President Arvind Balaji told reporters here.
The global markets continue to be slow but the domestic industry is showing signs of recovery, he added.
Commenting on the last fiscal, Balaji said: "Despite a challenging year, the auto component industry has registered a satisfactory growth of 8.8 per cent. Further, while overall exports from India witnessed a decline of 9.58 per cent, the Indian auto component exports grew by 3.5 per cent."
Exports grew to Rs 70,900 crore last fiscal from Rs 68,500 crore in 2014-15. Europe accounted for 36 per cent of the total exports followed by Asia and North America, 25 per cent each. Shipments to Central America and North America increased by 30 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively, over the 2014-15 fiscal.
The key export items included engine parts, transmission parts, brake system, body parts, exhaust systems and turbochargers.
On imports, Balaji said China continued to be major country from where components are imported to India.
"Yes, it is a challenge. There (in China), the government supports exports and we are also talking to our government to provide us a level playing field in terms of trade policy," he added.
Last fiscal, the component industry invested in the range of Rs 2,700-Rs 4,000 crore compared with Rs 2,000-Rs 2,800 crore in 2014-15.
"The enhancement in investment can be attributed to better business prospects owing to improving market sentiments," ACMA Director General Vinnie Mehta said.
NTPC makes Rs 446-crore saving in energy bill in April
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Public sector power generator NTPC has made a saving of Rs 446 crore in energy bill in April this year, despite recent increase in Clean Energy Cess on coal.
"In spite of recent increase in Clean Energy Cess on coal, a saving of Rs 446 crore has been made in monthly billing of equivalent quantity of energy supplied in the month of April 2016 as compared to that of last year," NTPC said in a statement.
Moreover, NTPC is making all possible efforts to bring down the energy charges under Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna (UDAY) for revival of debt-ridden discoms, it said.
The company's efforts such as rationalisation of coal linkages, reduction in imported coal consumption, enforcement of third party sampling of coal and other measures have led to reduction in energy charges of coal stations.
NTPC said it will endeavour to bring down the energy charges further to help the Discoms.
The company had reduced the imported coal consumption by 42.19 per cent during 2015-16 to 9.47 million tonnes from 16.38 million tonnes in the previous fiscal. NTPC's current installed capacity is 47,178 MW.
Public sector power generator NTPC has made a saving of Rs 446 crore in energy bill in April this year, despite recent increase in Clean Energy Cess on coal.
"In spite of recent increase in Clean Energy Cess on coal, a saving of Rs 446 crore has been made in monthly billing of equivalent quantity of energy supplied in the month of April 2016 as compared to that of last year," NTPC said in a statement.
Moreover, NTPC is making all possible efforts to bring down the energy charges under Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojna (UDAY) for revival of debt-ridden discoms, it said.
The company's efforts such as rationalisation of coal linkages, reduction in imported coal consumption, enforcement of third party sampling of coal and other measures have led to reduction in energy charges of coal stations.
NTPC said it will endeavour to bring down the energy charges further to help the Discoms.
The company had reduced the imported coal consumption by 42.19 per cent during 2015-16 to 9.47 million tonnes from 16.38 million tonnes in the previous fiscal. NTPC's current installed capacity is 47,178 MW.
General Awareness
First batch of three female fighter pilots commissioned in the Indian Air Force
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Creating the significant success stone for the first time in the Indian Air Force by injecting three female Pilots into combat roles
First batch of three female pilots:
i. Avani Chaturvedi
- Hailed from Satna in Madhya Pradesh
- Inspired by her Brother who is working in the Indian Army
- Joined the Flying Club while studying in College
ii. Bhawana Kanth
- Brought up from Darbhanga in Bihar
- Daughter of an officer in the Indian Oil Corporation
- Chosen for the fighter stream after her Stage I Training in Air Force
iii. Mohana Singh
- From Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan
- Inspired by Grandfather who was a Flight Gunner in the Aviation Research Centre andfather who is working in Indian Air Force as Warrant Officer
Three female fighters will be inducted to fly fighter Jets like the Sukhoi and Tejas after the completion of the Stage III training at Bidar in 2017
Ways to success Milestone:
- In 2015, the Union Government decided to induct the Women into the Fighter stream on pilot basis for 5 years
- Due to Operational Concerns and logical constraints the Army and the Navy still limited to Men.
- The three will begin expert training on advanced jet trainer Hawks
- They will be inducted into the cockpit of a supersonic fighter after 145 hours successful training on the Jet Trainer Hawks
- Creating the significant success stone for the first time in the Indian Air Force by injecting three female Pilots into combat rolesFirst batch of three female pilots:i. Avani Chaturvedi
- Hailed from Satna in Madhya Pradesh
- Inspired by her Brother who is working in the Indian Army
- Joined the Flying Club while studying in College
ii. Bhawana Kanth- Brought up from Darbhanga in Bihar
- Daughter of an officer in the Indian Oil Corporation
- Chosen for the fighter stream after her Stage I Training in Air Force
iii. Mohana Singh- From Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan
- Inspired by Grandfather who was a Flight Gunner in the Aviation Research Centre andfather who is working in Indian Air Force as Warrant Officer
Three female fighters will be inducted to fly fighter Jets like the Sukhoi and Tejas after the completion of the Stage III training at Bidar in 2017Ways to success Milestone:- In 2015, the Union Government decided to induct the Women into the Fighter stream on pilot basis for 5 years
- Due to Operational Concerns and logical constraints the Army and the Navy still limited to Men.
- The three will begin expert training on advanced jet trainer Hawks
- They will be inducted into the cockpit of a supersonic fighter after 145 hours successful training on the Jet Trainer Hawks
- Hailed from Satna in Madhya Pradesh
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