General Affairs
Policeman Killed, 2 Injured In Terrorist Attack In Jammu And Kashmir's Shopian
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A cop was killed and two people were injured after terrorists attacked a police post in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian.
Terrorists have managed to escape after the attack.
Police post in south Kashmir's Shopian was set up for protection of minorities in the village.
For last over one month terrorists have attacked several police guard posts in south Kashmir and decamped with at least 20 rifles from police.
Terrorists have managed to escape after the attack.
Police post in south Kashmir's Shopian was set up for protection of minorities in the village.
For last over one month terrorists have attacked several police guard posts in south Kashmir and decamped with at least 20 rifles from police.
Akshay Kumar Urges People To Think About Army, Not Ban On Artistes
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MUMBAI: Actor Akshay Kumar on Thursday broke his silence on the ban on Pakistani artistes and said think about Indian Army and not the ban on artistes.
Mr Kumar posted a video on Facebook in which he revealed his point of view on the debate.
Mr Kumar posted: "Today I am not talking as a star or a celebrity, I am taking as a son of an army man. For the past few days, people have been debating and arguing and asking for proof about surgical strikes, few are demanding ban on artistes, while a few fear that there might be a war."
"Arey sharam karo (have shame)...these debates can happen later, first realise that people have already lost their lives at the border. 19 jawans died during the attack and a 24-year-old jawan Nitin Yadav died in Baramulla. Are their families, or the families of our thousands of jawans, worried whether a film will release or not? Whether an artiste will be banned? No. They are worried about their future," he said.
The actor went on to say we are because of them and India exists because of them.
"And our concern should be to ensure that their present and future is better. I am, because they are, you are, because they are and if they are not there, then India won't exist. Jai Hind," he added.
Mr Kumar posted a video on Facebook in which he revealed his point of view on the debate.
Mr Kumar posted: "Today I am not talking as a star or a celebrity, I am taking as a son of an army man. For the past few days, people have been debating and arguing and asking for proof about surgical strikes, few are demanding ban on artistes, while a few fear that there might be a war."
"Arey sharam karo (have shame)...these debates can happen later, first realise that people have already lost their lives at the border. 19 jawans died during the attack and a 24-year-old jawan Nitin Yadav died in Baramulla. Are their families, or the families of our thousands of jawans, worried whether a film will release or not? Whether an artiste will be banned? No. They are worried about their future," he said.
The actor went on to say we are because of them and India exists because of them.
"And our concern should be to ensure that their present and future is better. I am, because they are, you are, because they are and if they are not there, then India won't exist. Jai Hind," he added.
Triple Talaq Has No Place In A Secular Country: Centre To Supreme Court
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NEW DELHI: The centre is opposed to the Muslim practice of triple talaq, it has informed the Supreme Court, describing it as "misplaced in a secular country."
The constitution allows Muslims, the biggest religious minority group in the country, to regulate matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance through their own civil code.
The Supreme Court has been examining how much it can interfere in Muslim laws governing family-related issues as it hears a plea to end the practice which permits Muslim men to divorce their wives by saying talaq three times.
The top court had asked the government to weigh in on the debate as to whether intervening in the law would violate the Muslim community's fundamental rights. The centre today said "gender equality and the dignity of women are not negotiable" and told judges that "even theocratic states have undergone reforms in this area of law" which reinforces that these practices cannot be considered an integral part of practice of Islam.
Women's rights activists have long called for reform of the Muslim personal law which they say discriminates against women. What they want instead is a well-defined law that criminalises polygamy, unilateral divorce and child marriage.
Campaigners say the "triple talaq" practice - which allows Muslim men an instant divorce with Muslim women being divorced via Facebook, Skype and text message - is unconstitutional because it violates the right to equality.
Earlier, the top decision-making body for Muslims in India, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said the court cannot interfere in the religious freedom of minorities and "rewrite personal laws in the name of social reform".
The petition being considered by the Supreme Court also seeks an end to polygamy and 'halala', which mandates that if a woman wants to go back to her husband after a divorce, she must first consummate her marriage with another man.
"Triple talaq is not valid as per the Koran, which stresses mediation and reconciliation before the decision to divorce," said Zakia Soman, co-founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), which campaigns for Muslim women's rights and is a co-petitioner in the case.
In a 1985 landmark judgment, the Supreme Court granted divorcee, Shah Bano, alimony for life. But following protests from Muslim leaders and others that the court was being intrusive, the judgment was overturned.
The constitution allows Muslims, the biggest religious minority group in the country, to regulate matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance through their own civil code.
The top court had asked the government to weigh in on the debate as to whether intervening in the law would violate the Muslim community's fundamental rights. The centre today said "gender equality and the dignity of women are not negotiable" and told judges that "even theocratic states have undergone reforms in this area of law" which reinforces that these practices cannot be considered an integral part of practice of Islam.
Women's rights activists have long called for reform of the Muslim personal law which they say discriminates against women. What they want instead is a well-defined law that criminalises polygamy, unilateral divorce and child marriage.
Earlier, the top decision-making body for Muslims in India, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said the court cannot interfere in the religious freedom of minorities and "rewrite personal laws in the name of social reform".
The petition being considered by the Supreme Court also seeks an end to polygamy and 'halala', which mandates that if a woman wants to go back to her husband after a divorce, she must first consummate her marriage with another man.
"Triple talaq is not valid as per the Koran, which stresses mediation and reconciliation before the decision to divorce," said Zakia Soman, co-founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), which campaigns for Muslim women's rights and is a co-petitioner in the case.
In a 1985 landmark judgment, the Supreme Court granted divorcee, Shah Bano, alimony for life. But following protests from Muslim leaders and others that the court was being intrusive, the judgment was overturned.
Government Must Share Facts With The Public: Rajyavardhan Rathore
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NEW DELHI: Information cannot be kept hidden from the public for long in this age of social media, and in the absence of authentic information from government agencies people often fall victim to malicious campaigns of disinformation, said Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore today.
"These are the days when a government cannot actually hide information. You have to put all the information out," said Mr Rathore, who is also the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting.
Suggesting that government agencies should put out all information in the public domain, he cautioned that it is said "if you don't share, you die". He emphasized that the government must not only put out correct information, but must do so speedily, using social media tools like Twitter.
Pointing out the increasing social media presence of government ministries and departments, he said that the centre was consciously encouraging an environment of transparency. Over the past few months a number of workshops had been organised to train officers in using social media, the minister said.
That several news agencies and broadcasters take trends on social media into consideration before deciding which news to play up is a testament to the influence Twitter and Facebook wield, Mr Rathore said. He also pointed out that a number of people now use social media to get the information they want.
On a lighter note the minister admitted that when his senior colleagues remark that he remains glued to his phone like a "teenager", he excuses himself by saying that it is a part of his job as information minister.
"These are the days when a government cannot actually hide information. You have to put all the information out," said Mr Rathore, who is also the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting.
Pointing out the increasing social media presence of government ministries and departments, he said that the centre was consciously encouraging an environment of transparency. Over the past few months a number of workshops had been organised to train officers in using social media, the minister said.
That several news agencies and broadcasters take trends on social media into consideration before deciding which news to play up is a testament to the influence Twitter and Facebook wield, Mr Rathore said. He also pointed out that a number of people now use social media to get the information they want.
On a lighter note the minister admitted that when his senior colleagues remark that he remains glued to his phone like a "teenager", he excuses himself by saying that it is a part of his job as information minister.
NASA's Hubble Telescope Detects Giant 'Cannonballs' Shooting From Unseen Star
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WASHINGTON: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has detected mysterious stellar "cannon fire" - superhot blobs of gas, each twice as massive as the planet Mars, being ejected at a very high speed near a dying star, say scientists including one scientist of Indian origin.
The plasma balls are zooming so fast through space it would take only 30 minutes for them to travel from the Earth to the Moon, researchers said.
This stellar "cannon fire" has occurred once every 8.5 years for at least the past 400 years, they said.
The fireballs present a puzzle to astronomers because the ejected material could not have been shot out by the host star, called V Hydrae.
The star is a bloated red giant, residing 1,200 light-years away, which has probably shed at least half of its mass into space during its death throes.
Red giants are dying stars in the late stages of life that exhaust the nuclear fuel that makes them shine. They expand in size and shed their outer layers into space.
So far, the best explanation for this suggests the plasma balls were launched by an unseen companion star.
According to this theory, the companion would have to be in an elliptical orbit that carries it close to the red giant's puffed-up atmosphere every 8.5 years.
As the companion enters the bloated star's outer atmosphere, it gobbles up material. This material then settles into a disk around the companion and serves as the launching pad for blobs of plasma, which travel at roughly a half-million miles per hour.
This star system could be the archetype to explain a dazzling variety of glowing shapes uncovered by Hubble that are seen around dying stars, called planetary nebulae, researchers said. A planetary nebula is an expanding shell of glowing gas expelled by a star late in its life.
"We knew this object had a high-speed outflow from previous data, but this is the first time we are seeing this process in action," said Mr Raghvendra Sahai of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the United States.
"We suggest that these gaseous blobs produced during this late phase of a star's life help make the structures seen in planetary nebulae," Mr Sahai said.
Researchers used Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to conduct observations of V Hydrae and its surrounding region over an 11-year period, first from 2002 to 2004, and then from 2011 to 2013.
Spectroscopy decodes light from an object, unveiling information on its velocity, temperature, location and motion.
The data showed a string of monstrous, superhot blobs, each with a temperature of more than 9,400 degrees Celsius - almost twice as hot as the surface of the sun.
The researchers compiled a detailed map of the blobs' locations, allowing them to trace the first behemoth clumps back to 1986.
The plasma balls are zooming so fast through space it would take only 30 minutes for them to travel from the Earth to the Moon, researchers said.
This stellar "cannon fire" has occurred once every 8.5 years for at least the past 400 years, they said.
The star is a bloated red giant, residing 1,200 light-years away, which has probably shed at least half of its mass into space during its death throes.
Red giants are dying stars in the late stages of life that exhaust the nuclear fuel that makes them shine. They expand in size and shed their outer layers into space.
So far, the best explanation for this suggests the plasma balls were launched by an unseen companion star.
According to this theory, the companion would have to be in an elliptical orbit that carries it close to the red giant's puffed-up atmosphere every 8.5 years.
As the companion enters the bloated star's outer atmosphere, it gobbles up material. This material then settles into a disk around the companion and serves as the launching pad for blobs of plasma, which travel at roughly a half-million miles per hour.
This star system could be the archetype to explain a dazzling variety of glowing shapes uncovered by Hubble that are seen around dying stars, called planetary nebulae, researchers said. A planetary nebula is an expanding shell of glowing gas expelled by a star late in its life.
"We knew this object had a high-speed outflow from previous data, but this is the first time we are seeing this process in action," said Mr Raghvendra Sahai of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the United States.
"We suggest that these gaseous blobs produced during this late phase of a star's life help make the structures seen in planetary nebulae," Mr Sahai said.
Researchers used Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to conduct observations of V Hydrae and its surrounding region over an 11-year period, first from 2002 to 2004, and then from 2011 to 2013.
Spectroscopy decodes light from an object, unveiling information on its velocity, temperature, location and motion.
The data showed a string of monstrous, superhot blobs, each with a temperature of more than 9,400 degrees Celsius - almost twice as hot as the surface of the sun.
The researchers compiled a detailed map of the blobs' locations, allowing them to trace the first behemoth clumps back to 1986.
Business Affairs
Sensex ends 45 points lower, Nifty below 8,670 ahead of US jobs data; Asian Paints top loser
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The S&P BSE Sensex on Friday ended 52 points lower, while the broader Nifty50 settled the day below its key support level of 8,700.
The headline indices fell tracking Asian markets ahead of a US jobs report due later in the day and the start of domestic quarterly earnings season, but still logged their best weekly gains in nearly a month.
The 30-share index ended the day at 28,054, down 51.93 points, while the broad-based 50-share index quoted 8,695, down 14.15 points at close.
Analysts expect non-farm payrolls to have risen by 175,000 last month from 151,000 in August, according to a Reuters survey of economists - a pick-up that could put pressure on the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.
Back home, investors were also girding themselves for the July-September quarter results, starting with software maker Infosys on October 14.
"There is no positive trigger and the earnings season has just started," said Saurabh Jain, assistant vice president of research at SMC Global Securities.
Among the losers, Bharti Infratel fell 3.45 per cent, after gaining 5.11 per cent in the last three sessions.
The Nifty IT Index extended losses for the third straight session. Tata consultancy Services Ltd and Infosys Ltd fell more than 1 per cent each.
Among the gainers, Tata Motors rose as much as 2 per cent and was the top percentage gainer on the Nifty.
The S&P BSE Sensex on Friday ended 52 points lower, while the broader Nifty50 settled the day below its key support level of 8,700.
The headline indices fell tracking Asian markets ahead of a US jobs report due later in the day and the start of domestic quarterly earnings season, but still logged their best weekly gains in nearly a month.The 30-share index ended the day at 28,054, down 51.93 points, while the broad-based 50-share index quoted 8,695, down 14.15 points at close.
Back home, investors were also girding themselves for the July-September quarter results, starting with software maker Infosys on October 14.
"There is no positive trigger and the earnings season has just started," said Saurabh Jain, assistant vice president of research at SMC Global Securities.
Among the losers, Bharti Infratel fell 3.45 per cent, after gaining 5.11 per cent in the last three sessions.
The Nifty IT Index extended losses for the third straight session. Tata consultancy Services Ltd and Infosys Ltd fell more than 1 per cent each.
Among the gainers, Tata Motors rose as much as 2 per cent and was the top percentage gainer on the Nifty.
Why spectrum auctions will not increase mobile data speeds
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The just-concluded telecom spectrum auctions were muted. The companies balked at buying the pricey 700 megahertz (MHz) and 900 MHz spectrum. The government could sell just 965 MHz out of the 2,354.55 MHz put up for sale. It garnered just 11 per cent of the Rs 5.63 lakh crore it was expecting to raise. Vodafone, which had huge gaps in its 4G network, spent around Rs 20,000 crore; it was followed by Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Idea Cellular.
The bands sold include 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz. The total quantity of the lower-frequency 800 MHz band was 73.75 MHz, out of which the government could sell only 15 MHz. The quantities of other bands sold were higher - 175 MHz in 1,800 MHz, 320 MHz in 2,100 MHz, 85 MHz in 2,300 MHz and 370 MHz in 2,500 MHz.
As the spectrum sold was primarily high-frequency spectrum, the quality of services may not improve much. Providing services using higher-frequency spectrum involves challenges due to lower indoor coverage and high operational and deployment costs. On the other hand, 700 MHz signals travel longer distances - this results in better coverage and lesser tower requirements. At the moment, bands such as 1,800 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz are used to offer 4G services, whereas 2,100 MHz is used to deploy 3G services.
The biggest reason telecom companies didn't go for the expensive 700 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum is that they are already burdened with huge debt. As per ratings agency ICRA, the consolidated debt of the telecom sector stood at Rs 4,10,000 crore as on March 31, 2016.
ICRA says despite the tepid response to the auction, the debt is likely to go up to Rs 4,25,000 crore. Buying 700 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum could have badly dented the already-stretched balance sheets of telcos.
At the India Economic Forum, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said his company's return on capital was around 9 per cent, which is roughly the bank fixed deposit rate. Low returns and high debt levels make for a heady cocktail.
The high level of interest in 1,800 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 2,500 MHz means the industry will have to invest more in rolling out networks. Its ability to efficiently utilise these recently purchased spectrum depends on its ability to allocate more resources for capex.
On data speeds, the industry's opinion differs. Mittal said he sees a tremendous improvement in broadband speeds.
"My company has picked up [spectrum] in most of the key places that [will] not only double broadband speeds but give four-five times speeds. In the coming months, [there will be] massive improvements across the country, not just for my company but all industry players who have actively participated in the auctions. India is finally getting out of fractured spectrum. It was earlier very small and fractured among 12 players. We are getting down to four players now and that means spectrum will not be an issue," he said.
Ultimately, the telecom sector is about getting more subscribers and generating revenues from them. With more users shifting to data, the speeds are bound to slow down. The investments in higher frequency bands are unlikely to make the wireless broadband experience better.
The just-concluded telecom spectrum auctions were muted. The companies balked at buying the pricey 700 megahertz (MHz) and 900 MHz spectrum. The government could sell just 965 MHz out of the 2,354.55 MHz put up for sale. It garnered just 11 per cent of the Rs 5.63 lakh crore it was expecting to raise. Vodafone, which had huge gaps in its 4G network, spent around Rs 20,000 crore; it was followed by Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Idea Cellular.
The bands sold include 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz. The total quantity of the lower-frequency 800 MHz band was 73.75 MHz, out of which the government could sell only 15 MHz. The quantities of other bands sold were higher - 175 MHz in 1,800 MHz, 320 MHz in 2,100 MHz, 85 MHz in 2,300 MHz and 370 MHz in 2,500 MHz.
As the spectrum sold was primarily high-frequency spectrum, the quality of services may not improve much. Providing services using higher-frequency spectrum involves challenges due to lower indoor coverage and high operational and deployment costs. On the other hand, 700 MHz signals travel longer distances - this results in better coverage and lesser tower requirements. At the moment, bands such as 1,800 MHz, 2,300 MHz and 2,500 MHz are used to offer 4G services, whereas 2,100 MHz is used to deploy 3G services.
The biggest reason telecom companies didn't go for the expensive 700 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum is that they are already burdened with huge debt. As per ratings agency ICRA, the consolidated debt of the telecom sector stood at Rs 4,10,000 crore as on March 31, 2016.
ICRA says despite the tepid response to the auction, the debt is likely to go up to Rs 4,25,000 crore. Buying 700 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum could have badly dented the already-stretched balance sheets of telcos.
At the India Economic Forum, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said his company's return on capital was around 9 per cent, which is roughly the bank fixed deposit rate. Low returns and high debt levels make for a heady cocktail.
The high level of interest in 1,800 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 2,500 MHz means the industry will have to invest more in rolling out networks. Its ability to efficiently utilise these recently purchased spectrum depends on its ability to allocate more resources for capex.
On data speeds, the industry's opinion differs. Mittal said he sees a tremendous improvement in broadband speeds.
"My company has picked up [spectrum] in most of the key places that [will] not only double broadband speeds but give four-five times speeds. In the coming months, [there will be] massive improvements across the country, not just for my company but all industry players who have actively participated in the auctions. India is finally getting out of fractured spectrum. It was earlier very small and fractured among 12 players. We are getting down to four players now and that means spectrum will not be an issue," he said.
Ultimately, the telecom sector is about getting more subscribers and generating revenues from them. With more users shifting to data, the speeds are bound to slow down. The investments in higher frequency bands are unlikely to make the wireless broadband experience better.
Five deals that will bolster India's air defence
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In a bid to strengthen the country's defence capacity, India plans to sign big-ticket defence deals with its traditional and strategic partner Russia during the upcoming annual summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week in Goa on October 15-16. It is expected that some of the most important defence deals may get green signal during the meet.
These include the purchase of 5 S-400 'Triumf' long-range air defence missile systems apart from Kamov-28 helicopters and up-gradation of the Sukhoi 30-MKIs. Two other projects which could also be finalised are the joint production of Kamov-226 light choppers and the long pending joint development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft.
India is one of the biggest purchasers of arms in the world and these deals will further strengthen India's defence arsenal which already boasts of some big purchases that have been made and other deals that are under discussion:
MAJOR PUSH TO BOOST INDIA'S AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM
1-Rafale fighter jets
Manufacturer: France
On September 23, India signed a 7.8 billion Euro deal with France to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets. And with the addition of these 36 lethal flying machines, the Indian Air Force has re-established its stance as the fourth largest Air Force in the world. The jet comes with RBE2 AA active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar that has a target detection range of at least 130 kilometres which will also be able to track specific enemy entities.
Rafale has an unprecedented range of 100 kilometres as compared to Pakistan's current capability of 80km. This missile can be used to shoot down enemy air crafts and cruise missiles.
The Rafale jet is capable of reaching speeds as high as 2000km per hour which can even outrun most missiles. The jet is made with composite materials which gives it greater agility and high manoeuvrability. The features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon in the hands of IAF is its Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Meteor air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 km. With the induction of the Rafale jets, IAF can hit any targets inside both Pakistan and across the northern and eastern borders while staying within India's territorial boundary.
2- S-400 'Triumf' Long-Range Air Defence Missile Systems
Manufacturer: Russia
The new advanced Russian S-400 Triumf missile system is the most modern, air defence system in the Russian arsenal. Its long-range radars can track hundreds of targets simultaneously and can shoot down even stealth fighters like American F-35 jets.
Russian S-400 Triumf missile systems are capable of destroying incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones within a range of up to 400 km. The S400 Triumf is designed to knock down flying targets including those equipped with stealth technologies, at a distance of about 400 kms. It is also capable of taking out ballistic missiles and hyper-sonic targets.
3- Apache and Chinook
Manufacturer: USA
Last year, India signed a nearly $3 billion deal for purchase of 22 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers with American aviation giant Boeing and the US government. India has purchased the latest Block III configuration version which the US first got in 2011. Apache Longbow helicopters are one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, featuring all-weather and night-fighting features, ability to track upto 128 targets in less than a minute.
The Apache will be the first pure attack helicopter in India's possession and it's a significant move as the Russian origin Mi 35 which has been in the operation for years are now on the verge of retirement. The stealthy chopper is quipped with laser and infrared systems for a weather, day-night operations. It can also fire the Hellfire missiles, besides its arsenal of 70 mm rockets and an automatic cannon.
Apart from this India has also bought 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers which can carry 9.6 tons of cargo, including heavy machinery, artillery guns and even light armoured vehicles to high altitude. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply. The Chinooks will be used for heli-lifting of heavy military equipment, including special artillery guns and supplies, to inhospitable areas of the North-East.
4- Predator drone aircraft for military surveillance
Manufacturer: USA
India is trying to expedite a deal with the United States to buy Predator drone aircraft for military surveillance. The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by General Atomics and used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Initially conceived in the early 1990s for aerial reconnaissance and forward observation roles, the Predator carries cameras and other sensors but has been modified and upgraded to carry and fire two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or other munitions.
With Pakistan on the west and the ever expanding China showing its might in the sea areas close to Indian coastline, the Indian Navy has an extremely important task of protecting the country. India is trying to equip the military with Predator drone to gather intelligence as well as boost its firepower along the borders with its immediate neighbours Pakistan and China. It also wants to protect Indian Ocean from any external aggression.
5- HAL's Light Combat Helicopter
State-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) has been under development for some years. However, a series of recent performance trials have paved way for finalisation of basic configuration. Earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar visited HAL's helicopter complex to have a detailed look on advanced features and armament fit of LCH prototypes.
As per HAL claim the Light Combat Helicopter is designed to carry out dedicated combat roles such as Air Defence, anti-tank, scout, support combat search and rescue operations. It also incorporates a number of stealth features such as reduced visual, aural, radar and infra-red signatures and crash-worthy landing gear, armour protection for better survival.
In a bid to strengthen the country's defence capacity, India plans to sign big-ticket defence deals with its traditional and strategic partner Russia during the upcoming annual summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week in Goa on October 15-16. It is expected that some of the most important defence deals may get green signal during the meet.
These include the purchase of 5 S-400 'Triumf' long-range air defence missile systems apart from Kamov-28 helicopters and up-gradation of the Sukhoi 30-MKIs. Two other projects which could also be finalised are the joint production of Kamov-226 light choppers and the long pending joint development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft.
India is one of the biggest purchasers of arms in the world and these deals will further strengthen India's defence arsenal which already boasts of some big purchases that have been made and other deals that are under discussion:
MAJOR PUSH TO BOOST INDIA'S AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM
1-Rafale fighter jets
Manufacturer: France
On September 23, India signed a 7.8 billion Euro deal with France to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets. And with the addition of these 36 lethal flying machines, the Indian Air Force has re-established its stance as the fourth largest Air Force in the world. The jet comes with RBE2 AA active electronic scanning array (AESA) radar that has a target detection range of at least 130 kilometres which will also be able to track specific enemy entities.
Rafale has an unprecedented range of 100 kilometres as compared to Pakistan's current capability of 80km. This missile can be used to shoot down enemy air crafts and cruise missiles.
The Rafale jet is capable of reaching speeds as high as 2000km per hour which can even outrun most missiles. The jet is made with composite materials which gives it greater agility and high manoeuvrability. The features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon in the hands of IAF is its Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Meteor air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 km. With the induction of the Rafale jets, IAF can hit any targets inside both Pakistan and across the northern and eastern borders while staying within India's territorial boundary.
2- S-400 'Triumf' Long-Range Air Defence Missile Systems
Manufacturer: Russia
The new advanced Russian S-400 Triumf missile system is the most modern, air defence system in the Russian arsenal. Its long-range radars can track hundreds of targets simultaneously and can shoot down even stealth fighters like American F-35 jets.
Russian S-400 Triumf missile systems are capable of destroying incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones within a range of up to 400 km. The S400 Triumf is designed to knock down flying targets including those equipped with stealth technologies, at a distance of about 400 kms. It is also capable of taking out ballistic missiles and hyper-sonic targets.
3- Apache and Chinook
Manufacturer: USA
Manufacturer: USA
Last year, India signed a nearly $3 billion deal for purchase of 22 Apache attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers with American aviation giant Boeing and the US government. India has purchased the latest Block III configuration version which the US first got in 2011. Apache Longbow helicopters are one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, featuring all-weather and night-fighting features, ability to track upto 128 targets in less than a minute.
The Apache will be the first pure attack helicopter in India's possession and it's a significant move as the Russian origin Mi 35 which has been in the operation for years are now on the verge of retirement. The stealthy chopper is quipped with laser and infrared systems for a weather, day-night operations. It can also fire the Hellfire missiles, besides its arsenal of 70 mm rockets and an automatic cannon.
Apart from this India has also bought 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers which can carry 9.6 tons of cargo, including heavy machinery, artillery guns and even light armoured vehicles to high altitude. Its primary roles are troop movement, artillery placement and battlefield resupply. The Chinooks will be used for heli-lifting of heavy military equipment, including special artillery guns and supplies, to inhospitable areas of the North-East.
4- Predator drone aircraft for military surveillance
Manufacturer: USA
India is trying to expedite a deal with the United States to buy Predator drone aircraft for military surveillance. The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator is an American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by General Atomics and used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Initially conceived in the early 1990s for aerial reconnaissance and forward observation roles, the Predator carries cameras and other sensors but has been modified and upgraded to carry and fire two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or other munitions.
With Pakistan on the west and the ever expanding China showing its might in the sea areas close to Indian coastline, the Indian Navy has an extremely important task of protecting the country. India is trying to equip the military with Predator drone to gather intelligence as well as boost its firepower along the borders with its immediate neighbours Pakistan and China. It also wants to protect Indian Ocean from any external aggression.
5- HAL's Light Combat Helicopter
State-run aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) has been under development for some years. However, a series of recent performance trials have paved way for finalisation of basic configuration. Earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar visited HAL's helicopter complex to have a detailed look on advanced features and armament fit of LCH prototypes.
As per HAL claim the Light Combat Helicopter is designed to carry out dedicated combat roles such as Air Defence, anti-tank, scout, support combat search and rescue operations. It also incorporates a number of stealth features such as reduced visual, aural, radar and infra-red signatures and crash-worthy landing gear, armour protection for better survival.
Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular have enough 4G spectrum to counter Jio: Analysts
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Top three telcos -- Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea -- have secured adequate 4G spectrum during the recently-concluded auction to counter Jio, making them more competitive to poach subscribers, analysts said today.
The spectrum auction, which was touted as the largest sale of mobile airwaves, ended in a whimper yesterday, with just Rs 65,789 crore of bids coming in over five days as against an expectation of Rs 5.6 lakh crore.
Nearly 60 per cent of airwaves, including premium 4G bands, remained unsold.
"We now believe that the top three telcos have adequate 4G spectrum to counter Jio, making it more competitive to poach subscribers. We now also see faster consolidation among smaller telcos, given lack of data spectrum," Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report.
It added that the top three operators, however, still lack a sub-1 GHz 4G band that Jio has and therefore, there is a possibility that these companies may purchase spectrum in the 700 MHz in future.
The appetite may be driven by improvement in capacity utilisation, led by data growth.
"With 60 per cent of the spectrum unsold, we expect the government to reduce prices of 700/900 MHz in future auctions to entice demand," it added.
The industry has said financial strain on the industry and unrealistically high reserve price were the major reasons for the 700 MHz band not getting any bidder.
"With 60 per cent airwaves witnessing no bidding, the muted response is indicative of operators' reluctance to invest heavily at current market prices," EY Global Telecom Leader Prashant Singhal said.
Steep pricing of 700 MHz band kept operators away from bidding for the efficient frequency band that alone had the potential to fetch over Rs 4 lakh crore at the base price to the government.
"Telcos bought more spectrum than what we had anticipated, and at 50-60 MHz of average spectrum holding per circle, we do not expect Bharti and Jio to need additional spectrum in the near-to-medium term," said Goldman Sachs.
It added that while Vodafone and Idea bought 2500 MHz spectrum in the auction, neither of them has plugged all their 3G/4G gaps and instead consolidated holdings in many existing circles.
Market leader Bharti Airtel acquired 173.8 MHz spectrum in bands of 1800MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300 Mhz for Rs 14,244 crore in circles including Kerala, Assam, Maharashtra, Delhi, Mumbai and the North-East.
Idea acquired 349.20 MHz of spectrum for Rs 12,798 crore in 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands and will be able to offer 4G services on its own spectrum across 20 circles, including nine new service areas of Uttar Pradesh (West), UP (East), Gujarat and Mumbai.
Vodafone India, which has emerged as the most aggressive bidder, has acquired spectrum in 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2500 MHz bands for a total cost of Rs 20,280 crore. It has 17 circles with 4G capability.
Top three telcos -- Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea -- have secured adequate 4G spectrum during the recently-concluded auction to counter Jio, making them more competitive to poach subscribers, analysts said today.
The spectrum auction, which was touted as the largest sale of mobile airwaves, ended in a whimper yesterday, with just Rs 65,789 crore of bids coming in over five days as against an expectation of Rs 5.6 lakh crore.
Nearly 60 per cent of airwaves, including premium 4G bands, remained unsold.
"We now believe that the top three telcos have adequate 4G spectrum to counter Jio, making it more competitive to poach subscribers. We now also see faster consolidation among smaller telcos, given lack of data spectrum," Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report.
It added that the top three operators, however, still lack a sub-1 GHz 4G band that Jio has and therefore, there is a possibility that these companies may purchase spectrum in the 700 MHz in future.
The appetite may be driven by improvement in capacity utilisation, led by data growth.
"With 60 per cent of the spectrum unsold, we expect the government to reduce prices of 700/900 MHz in future auctions to entice demand," it added.
The industry has said financial strain on the industry and unrealistically high reserve price were the major reasons for the 700 MHz band not getting any bidder.
"With 60 per cent airwaves witnessing no bidding, the muted response is indicative of operators' reluctance to invest heavily at current market prices," EY Global Telecom Leader Prashant Singhal said.
Steep pricing of 700 MHz band kept operators away from bidding for the efficient frequency band that alone had the potential to fetch over Rs 4 lakh crore at the base price to the government.
"Telcos bought more spectrum than what we had anticipated, and at 50-60 MHz of average spectrum holding per circle, we do not expect Bharti and Jio to need additional spectrum in the near-to-medium term," said Goldman Sachs.
It added that while Vodafone and Idea bought 2500 MHz spectrum in the auction, neither of them has plugged all their 3G/4G gaps and instead consolidated holdings in many existing circles.
Market leader Bharti Airtel acquired 173.8 MHz spectrum in bands of 1800MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300 Mhz for Rs 14,244 crore in circles including Kerala, Assam, Maharashtra, Delhi, Mumbai and the North-East.
Idea acquired 349.20 MHz of spectrum for Rs 12,798 crore in 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz bands and will be able to offer 4G services on its own spectrum across 20 circles, including nine new service areas of Uttar Pradesh (West), UP (East), Gujarat and Mumbai.
Vodafone India, which has emerged as the most aggressive bidder, has acquired spectrum in 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2500 MHz bands for a total cost of Rs 20,280 crore. It has 17 circles with 4G capability.
PPF interest rate expected to fall further. Here's why
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Last week, the government reduced the interest rate on public provident fund (PPF), one of its most popular small savings schemes, by 10 basis points to 8 per cent.
Although the reduction was marginal, experts feel that PPF rates are slated to go down further. It could well go below 8 per cent - a level unseen since 1980.
"There is a defined formula based on which the interest rate on small saving schemes such as PPF is calculated. If one goes by that formula the interest rate on PPF should be reduced substantially," says Manoj Nagpal, CEO of Outlook Asia Capital, a consulting and wealth management firm.
The new rule came into effect on April 1 this year. As per the new formula, interest rate on small savings schemes is market-determined based on the previous three-month yields of the government securities of the corresponding maturities with a small mark-up. In case of PPF, the mark up is 0.25 per cent. Now, the interest rate on small savings schemes is reviewed every quarter, unlike earlier when it was set every year by the government.
If the government implements this new formula, the interest rate on PPF should be around 7.50 per cent, according to Nagpal.
The yield of the 10-year benchmark papers are hovering around 6.7 per cent - a multi-year low. After the repo rate cut of 25 basis points (100 basis points is equal to one per cent) early this week, the yield of benchmark government debt papers slipped roughly 10 basis points to 6.67 per cent. This implies that the market is expecting more rate cuts in future.
Nagpal says it is unlikely that the RBI will cut the repo rate in the December monetary policy review ahead of the Fed's meeting. But he expects the RBI to cut the repo rates by another 25 basis points after that.
In line with the fall in bond yields, the government may consider lowering the small saving rates further.
Nagpal is of the view that the government may not lower the small savings rate in the next quarter, but post Budget, it is likely that the small savings rate will go down further.
What should investors do?
Apart from the fixed-guaranteed return, PPF also enjoys the exempt-exempt-exempt tax status. It means the contributions, interest incomes as well as withdrawals are exempt from tax. So, the experts' take is that given the tax status, PPF will continue to remain an attractive choice for investors.
Last week, the government reduced the interest rate on public provident fund (PPF), one of its most popular small savings schemes, by 10 basis points to 8 per cent.
Although the reduction was marginal, experts feel that PPF rates are slated to go down further. It could well go below 8 per cent - a level unseen since 1980.
"There is a defined formula based on which the interest rate on small saving schemes such as PPF is calculated. If one goes by that formula the interest rate on PPF should be reduced substantially," says Manoj Nagpal, CEO of Outlook Asia Capital, a consulting and wealth management firm.
The new rule came into effect on April 1 this year. As per the new formula, interest rate on small savings schemes is market-determined based on the previous three-month yields of the government securities of the corresponding maturities with a small mark-up. In case of PPF, the mark up is 0.25 per cent. Now, the interest rate on small savings schemes is reviewed every quarter, unlike earlier when it was set every year by the government.
If the government implements this new formula, the interest rate on PPF should be around 7.50 per cent, according to Nagpal.
The yield of the 10-year benchmark papers are hovering around 6.7 per cent - a multi-year low. After the repo rate cut of 25 basis points (100 basis points is equal to one per cent) early this week, the yield of benchmark government debt papers slipped roughly 10 basis points to 6.67 per cent. This implies that the market is expecting more rate cuts in future.
Nagpal says it is unlikely that the RBI will cut the repo rate in the December monetary policy review ahead of the Fed's meeting. But he expects the RBI to cut the repo rates by another 25 basis points after that.
In line with the fall in bond yields, the government may consider lowering the small saving rates further.
Nagpal is of the view that the government may not lower the small savings rate in the next quarter, but post Budget, it is likely that the small savings rate will go down further.
What should investors do?
Apart from the fixed-guaranteed return, PPF also enjoys the exempt-exempt-exempt tax status. It means the contributions, interest incomes as well as withdrawals are exempt from tax. So, the experts' take is that given the tax status, PPF will continue to remain an attractive choice for investors.
General Awareness
Indian pharmaceutical companies ranked 19th in the Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness & Investment (BCI) Survey
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Indian pharmaceutical companies have ranked at the bottom position in the recently conducted 2016 Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness & Investment (BCI) Survey. India has been ranked No. 19 in a 28-nation survey of biomedical investment attractiveness of countries, with an overall score of 59 out of 100.
About the Survey :
The US, UK and Switzerland lead, with the US at No. 1 with a score of 86.
- India has been ranked No. 19 in a 28-nation survey of biomedical investment attractiveness of countries, with an overall score of 59 out of 100.
- The ranking is part of the third edition of the Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness Survey (BCI) commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and executed by the Pugatch Consilium.
- It looks at biomedical innovation and its influencers, like intellectual property protection for investments in the sector.
Five metrics were used to determine rankings:
- Scientific capabilities and infrastructure;
- Clinical research conditions and framework;
- Regulatory system;
- Market access and financing; and
- Effective intellectual property protections.
Mature markets also seek to provide a highly streamlined regulatory framework, advanced intellectual property protection and favourable tax conditions (with some exceptions), the report advances. Interestingly, Singapore with a score of 85—placed in the newcomers category—is only a point behind the US, which is a mature market.
- India, along with China, Colombia, Argentina, Turkey, Russia, and Brazil were labeled as trailing markets, based on their overall score, while Saudi Arabia, Mexico and South Africa, the survey found, were “catching their stride”.
- Local executives indicate that India’s current draft bio similar guidelines deviate from WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines and international standards in several areas and if implemented as such could detract from India’s investment competitiveness.
- It is noted that only one compulsory license has been issued till date in India—to domestic generic drug maker Natco for Bayer AG’s anti-cancer drug Nexavar—which resulted in a 97% price reduction.
Indian pharmaceutical companies have ranked at the bottom position in the recently conducted 2016 Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness & Investment (BCI) Survey. India has been ranked No. 19 in a 28-nation survey of biomedical investment attractiveness of countries, with an overall score of 59 out of 100.
About the Survey :
The US, UK and Switzerland lead, with the US at No. 1 with a score of 86.
- India has been ranked No. 19 in a 28-nation survey of biomedical investment attractiveness of countries, with an overall score of 59 out of 100.
- The ranking is part of the third edition of the Biopharmaceutical Competitiveness Survey (BCI) commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and executed by the Pugatch Consilium.
- It looks at biomedical innovation and its influencers, like intellectual property protection for investments in the sector.
Five metrics were used to determine rankings:
- Scientific capabilities and infrastructure;
- Clinical research conditions and framework;
- Regulatory system;
- Market access and financing; and
- Effective intellectual property protections.
Mature markets also seek to provide a highly streamlined regulatory framework, advanced intellectual property protection and favourable tax conditions (with some exceptions), the report advances. Interestingly, Singapore with a score of 85—placed in the newcomers category—is only a point behind the US, which is a mature market.
- India, along with China, Colombia, Argentina, Turkey, Russia, and Brazil were labeled as trailing markets, based on their overall score, while Saudi Arabia, Mexico and South Africa, the survey found, were “catching their stride”.
- Local executives indicate that India’s current draft bio similar guidelines deviate from WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines and international standards in several areas and if implemented as such could detract from India’s investment competitiveness.
- It is noted that only one compulsory license has been issued till date in India—to domestic generic drug maker Natco for Bayer AG’s anti-cancer drug Nexavar—which resulted in a 97% price reduction.
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