General Affairs
India taking diplomatic route to solve border crisis with China in Doklam
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India is trying to engage China diplomatically as the stand-off between the troops of two sides have been going on for the last few weeks in Doklam area of Sikkim sector, the NDA government said today.
At an all-party meeting at Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence in the evening today, Modi government's ministers briefed Opposition leaders on the China issue.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said during the meeting they underlined the importance of India and China to remain engaged through diplomacy.
"The unique nature of very close and longstanding India-Bhutan relationship was recognised. There was widespread appreciation of the Astana understanding between India and China that differences between them shouldn't become disputes," Baglay said.
He said all participants expressed strong support for India's approach and also the need for national unity.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said during the meeting they made it clear that national interest is of paramount importance and non-negotiable.
Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament which begins from Monday, the NDA government today tried its best to built a consensus with the opposition parties on two critical issues - tension in Jammu and Kashmir and border standoff with China at Doklam in Sikkim area.
PROMINENT PARTIES PRESENT AT THE MEETING
Leaders of all prominent opposition parties, including the Congress, attended the meeting where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj briefed the leaders on the issues. Besides Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, all senior ministers were present at the opposition meeting.
Indian and Chinese soldiers are engaged in a face-off for three weeks at a tri-junction of India-China-Bhutan borders.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to visit Beijing for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) NSAs meet later this month, was also present at the meeting.
In the meeting, the government also briefed opposition parties on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed by militants in Anantnag.
Since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016, four districts of the state -- Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag -- have seen an escalation in violence.
The unrest resumed since the April 9 bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
The government has been facing flak on how the government has dealt with both the issues - China and Kashmir.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on China, and had also met Chinese ambassador to India.
Rahul Gandhi had singled out Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) alliance with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the increase in terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley including the Amarnath Yatra terror attack.
He had said Modi's policies have created space for terrorists in Kashmir which is a "grave strategic blow" to India.
India is trying to engage China diplomatically as the stand-off between the troops of two sides have been going on for the last few weeks in Doklam area of Sikkim sector, the NDA government said today.
At an all-party meeting at Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence in the evening today, Modi government's ministers briefed Opposition leaders on the China issue.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said during the meeting they underlined the importance of India and China to remain engaged through diplomacy.
"The unique nature of very close and longstanding India-Bhutan relationship was recognised. There was widespread appreciation of the Astana understanding between India and China that differences between them shouldn't become disputes," Baglay said.
He said all participants expressed strong support for India's approach and also the need for national unity.
Congress leader Anand Sharma said during the meeting they made it clear that national interest is of paramount importance and non-negotiable.
Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament which begins from Monday, the NDA government today tried its best to built a consensus with the opposition parties on two critical issues - tension in Jammu and Kashmir and border standoff with China at Doklam in Sikkim area.
PROMINENT PARTIES PRESENT AT THE MEETING
Leaders of all prominent opposition parties, including the Congress, attended the meeting where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj briefed the leaders on the issues. Besides Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, all senior ministers were present at the opposition meeting.
Indian and Chinese soldiers are engaged in a face-off for three weeks at a tri-junction of India-China-Bhutan borders.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to visit Beijing for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) NSAs meet later this month, was also present at the meeting.
In the meeting, the government also briefed opposition parties on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed by militants in Anantnag.
Since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016, four districts of the state -- Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag -- have seen an escalation in violence.
The unrest resumed since the April 9 bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
The government has been facing flak on how the government has dealt with both the issues - China and Kashmir.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on China, and had also met Chinese ambassador to India.
Rahul Gandhi had singled out Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) alliance with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the increase in terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley including the Amarnath Yatra terror attack.
He had said Modi's policies have created space for terrorists in Kashmir which is a "grave strategic blow" to India.
Forensic lab test proves EVM was not hacked during Maharashtra election
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Electronic Voting Machines have been under the scanner of opposition parties after allegations that the EVMs have been rigged to favour the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission had also thrown open EVM hackathon challenge, in which hardly any political party showed interest, to prove that the machines are incorruptible.
And now for the first time the poll watchdog has scientific proof to back up its claim.
A forensic test, conducted on an EVM on the orders of Bombay High Court to check whether it can be tampered with, has proved that they found no evidence of manipulation in the machine.
It is for the first time an EVM underwent such a test.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVM'S LAB TEST:
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In May, the Bombay High Court had ordered examination of the EVMs from the Parvatti constituency in Pune. The order was issued to rule out tampering during elections to Maharashtra legislative assembly in 2014.
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The court had asked the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad to examine the EVMs and opine as to whether they could have been remotely accessed. It also asked the lab to find out whether there was any additional memory chip with other data that could be activated to alter results of an election.
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One control unit, one ballot unit and two batteries were sent to the lab. An EVM comprises a control unit and a ballot unit.
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As per the report received from the lab, the machine is a stand alone, non-networked, one-time programmable unit, which is neither computer controlled externally nor could be connected internally or to any network.
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"Hence, it is opined that no evidence of tampering, altering or any other manipulation could be detected," the report said.
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The report was made public after being submitted to the high court.
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After the declaration of assembly poll results of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand, some parties had raised concerns over the credibility of EVMs used by the EC and had alleged tampering of the machines during the elections.
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In April, 13 parties had met the Commission and had urged it to revert to the old ballot paper system. After an all-party meet on the issue, the poll panel had organised a challenge to tamper with its EVMs. But no political party took part in the June 3 challenge.
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EVMs had replaced the ballot paper nearly 20 years ago.
Electronic Voting Machines have been under the scanner of opposition parties after allegations that the EVMs have been rigged to favour the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission had also thrown open EVM hackathon challenge, in which hardly any political party showed interest, to prove that the machines are incorruptible.
And now for the first time the poll watchdog has scientific proof to back up its claim.
A forensic test, conducted on an EVM on the orders of Bombay High Court to check whether it can be tampered with, has proved that they found no evidence of manipulation in the machine.
It is for the first time an EVM underwent such a test.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVM'S LAB TEST:
- In May, the Bombay High Court had ordered examination of the EVMs from the Parvatti constituency in Pune. The order was issued to rule out tampering during elections to Maharashtra legislative assembly in 2014.
- The court had asked the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad to examine the EVMs and opine as to whether they could have been remotely accessed. It also asked the lab to find out whether there was any additional memory chip with other data that could be activated to alter results of an election.
- One control unit, one ballot unit and two batteries were sent to the lab. An EVM comprises a control unit and a ballot unit.
- As per the report received from the lab, the machine is a stand alone, non-networked, one-time programmable unit, which is neither computer controlled externally nor could be connected internally or to any network.
- "Hence, it is opined that no evidence of tampering, altering or any other manipulation could be detected," the report said.
- The report was made public after being submitted to the high court.
- After the declaration of assembly poll results of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand, some parties had raised concerns over the credibility of EVMs used by the EC and had alleged tampering of the machines during the elections.
- In April, 13 parties had met the Commission and had urged it to revert to the old ballot paper system. After an all-party meet on the issue, the poll panel had organised a challenge to tamper with its EVMs. But no political party took part in the June 3 challenge.
- EVMs had replaced the ballot paper nearly 20 years ago.
Monsoon session of Parliament: Opposition likely to corner Modi sarkar on these 5 issues
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The Monsoon session of Parliament is commencing on July 17. It promises to be an eventful day as presidential elections would also be held on the same day.
The 18 Opposition parties would seek to corner the treasury benches over several burning issues, prominent among them being firing on farmers in Mandsaur, demonetisation and GST. Issues of investigation of Opposition leaders, raids by CBI, income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate may also be raised by the Opposition.
The investigation against Trinamool Congress leaders in the Narada scam, raids on premises associated with former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and RJD supremo Lalu Yadav and their kin are likely to figure prominently in the Opposition's agenda, calling them vindictive action by the ruling BJP.
1. FIRING ON FARMERS
The firing last month on farmers protesting in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh may be one of the most dominant issues in Parliament. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had tried to visit Mandsaur to meet the family members of those who were killed in the police firing. He was stopped at the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border.
2. GST
GST, which was launched by the Narendra Modi government on July 1, is likely to be taken up by the Opposition with gusto. Congress, Left and some other opposition parties had boycotted the function to launch GST at midnight in the Central Hall of Parliament. They had alleged that the government had implemented GST in a tearing hurry and without much preparation.
3. DEMONETISATION
Just a couple of days ago, RBI Governor Urjit Patel said that the amount of money deposited in the banks after demonetisation was being counted. He did not present any final figure while appearing before a parliamentary committee. Rahul Gandhi has already mocked Patel and the government over this statement. The Opposition generally maintains that the common man was inconvenienced and suffered losses due to notebandi.
4. AMARNATH YATRA TERRORIST ATTACK
The Kashmir unrest and terrorist attack on pilgrims of the Amarnath Yatra in Anantnag may also be raised by the Opposition. Seven people lost their lives in the attack. Congress has already criticised the Centre for lapses in security arrangements. The Opposition may also take up the unrest in Kashmir, which started after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8 last year. The human shield incident may also be included in discussion.
5. TENSION ON CHINA BORDER
A faceoff is expected between the ruling and treasury benches over the tension on the border between India and China on Doklam. When Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj convened an all-party meeting over China, the Opposition called it a facade. The flip-flop of Congress over a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and the Chinese ambassador may be raised by the treasury benches as a counterattack.
The Monsoon session of Parliament is commencing on July 17. It promises to be an eventful day as presidential elections would also be held on the same day.
The 18 Opposition parties would seek to corner the treasury benches over several burning issues, prominent among them being firing on farmers in Mandsaur, demonetisation and GST. Issues of investigation of Opposition leaders, raids by CBI, income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate may also be raised by the Opposition.
The investigation against Trinamool Congress leaders in the Narada scam, raids on premises associated with former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and RJD supremo Lalu Yadav and their kin are likely to figure prominently in the Opposition's agenda, calling them vindictive action by the ruling BJP.
1. FIRING ON FARMERS
The firing last month on farmers protesting in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh may be one of the most dominant issues in Parliament. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had tried to visit Mandsaur to meet the family members of those who were killed in the police firing. He was stopped at the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border.
2. GST
GST, which was launched by the Narendra Modi government on July 1, is likely to be taken up by the Opposition with gusto. Congress, Left and some other opposition parties had boycotted the function to launch GST at midnight in the Central Hall of Parliament. They had alleged that the government had implemented GST in a tearing hurry and without much preparation.
3. DEMONETISATION
Just a couple of days ago, RBI Governor Urjit Patel said that the amount of money deposited in the banks after demonetisation was being counted. He did not present any final figure while appearing before a parliamentary committee. Rahul Gandhi has already mocked Patel and the government over this statement. The Opposition generally maintains that the common man was inconvenienced and suffered losses due to notebandi.
4. AMARNATH YATRA TERRORIST ATTACK
The Kashmir unrest and terrorist attack on pilgrims of the Amarnath Yatra in Anantnag may also be raised by the Opposition. Seven people lost their lives in the attack. Congress has already criticised the Centre for lapses in security arrangements. The Opposition may also take up the unrest in Kashmir, which started after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8 last year. The human shield incident may also be included in discussion.
5. TENSION ON CHINA BORDER
A faceoff is expected between the ruling and treasury benches over the tension on the border between India and China on Doklam. When Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj convened an all-party meeting over China, the Opposition called it a facade. The flip-flop of Congress over a meeting between Rahul Gandhi and the Chinese ambassador may be raised by the treasury benches as a counterattack.
Modi ministers brief opposition on China standoff, Kashmir violence
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Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament which begins from Monday, the NDA government today tried its best to built a consensus with the opposition parties on two critical issues - tension in Jammu and Kashmir and border standoff with China at Doklam in Sikkim area.
Leaders of all prominent opposition parties, including the Congress, attended the meeting at Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj briefed the leaders on the issues. Besides Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, all senior ministers were present at the opposition meeting.
Indian and Chinese soldiers are engaged in a face-off for three weeks at a tri-junction of India-China-Bhutan borders.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to visit Beijing for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) NSAs meet later this month, was also present at the meeting. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala took a jibe at the government, saying it was "satisfying" to see that the NDA government had "finally woken up" after three years to brief the opposition on the issues concerning the nation.
He said the Congress would fully "cooperate" with the government on issues relating to national security.
In the meeting, the government also briefed opposition parties on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed by militants in Anantnag. Since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016, four districts of the state -- Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag -- have seen an escalation in violence.
The unrest resumed since the April 9 bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
The government has been facing flak on how the government has dealt with both the issues - China and Kashmir.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on China, and had also met Chinese ambassador to India.
Rahul Gandhi had singled out Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) alliance with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the increase in terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley including the Amarnath Yatra terror attack.
He had said Modi's policies have created space for terrorists in Kashmir which is a "grave strategic blow" to India.
Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament which begins from Monday, the NDA government today tried its best to built a consensus with the opposition parties on two critical issues - tension in Jammu and Kashmir and border standoff with China at Doklam in Sikkim area.
Leaders of all prominent opposition parties, including the Congress, attended the meeting at Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj briefed the leaders on the issues. Besides Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, all senior ministers were present at the opposition meeting.
Indian and Chinese soldiers are engaged in a face-off for three weeks at a tri-junction of India-China-Bhutan borders.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who is scheduled to visit Beijing for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) NSAs meet later this month, was also present at the meeting. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala took a jibe at the government, saying it was "satisfying" to see that the NDA government had "finally woken up" after three years to brief the opposition on the issues concerning the nation.
He said the Congress would fully "cooperate" with the government on issues relating to national security.
In the meeting, the government also briefed opposition parties on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir where seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed by militants in Anantnag. Since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016, four districts of the state -- Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian and Anantnag -- have seen an escalation in violence.
The unrest resumed since the April 9 bypoll to the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat.
The government has been facing flak on how the government has dealt with both the issues - China and Kashmir.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on China, and had also met Chinese ambassador to India.
Rahul Gandhi had singled out Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies and the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) alliance with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) for the increase in terror attacks in the Kashmir Valley including the Amarnath Yatra terror attack.
He had said Modi's policies have created space for terrorists in Kashmir which is a "grave strategic blow" to India.
How India and China can defuse Doklam tension by blaming colonial Britain
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Even as the Indian and Chinese armies are standing their grounds in Doklam area of Bhutan, reports suggest that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval may visit Beijing to break ice with China.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (July 13) said that diplomatic channels would be used to defuse the Doklam tension. Earlier, it was made clear by the government at several levels that the Indian Army will not back off from their position in Doklam.
China has used an 1890 treaty between Chinese Qing dynasty of British colonial leaders of India to justify its claim over Doklam. The treaty was formalised between Britain and Chinese kingdom. Ironically, it is being used by China to alter its boundary with Bhutan, which was not a signatory to the 127-year-old treaty. Tibet also did not sign the treaty. Britain officially negotiated on behalf of both India and the kingdom of Sikkim.
WHAT IS IN THE 1890 TREATY?
The treaty between Britain and China was signed at Calcutta Convention in 1890. Of the eight Articles mentioned in the treaty, Article 1 is of critical significance. China has cited this Article to stake its claim over Doklam.
Article 1 of the Calcutta convention reads, "The boundary of Sikkim and Tibet shall be the crest of the mountain range separating the waters flowing into the Sikkim Teesta and its affluents from the waters flowing into the Tibetan Mochu and northwards into other rivers of Tibet. The line commences at Mount Gipmochi (Gyemochen), on the Bhutan frontier, and follows the above-mentioned water-parting to the point where it meets Nipal (Nepal) territory."
This treaty was an attempt to define what has become the bone of contention now: the tri-junction or tri-boundary between India, Bhutan and China or Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet.
WHERE IS TRI-BOUNDARY?
The tri-junction or the disputed tri-boundary is an area of less than 90 sq km and is part of the Doklam plateau of Bhutan, north of which lies China (till the recent stand-off broke out).
This area is locally called not Doklam but Dolam plateau. China has claimed that Doklam tri-boundary area is its territory with "effective jurisdiction". China uses a similar language to assert its claim over the South China Sea.
The Doklam tri-boundary is very close to the passage - otherwise called Chicken's Neck or Silliguri Corridor - that connects the northeastern Indian states with the rest of India and hence of great strategic value for New Delhi.
For some distance the boundaries of Bhutan and Sikkim are separated by the Chumbi Valley of Tibet. The valley protrudes towards the tri-junction like a knife. While the Indian side of the boundary is settled and there is no dispute over it with China, the Bhutanese side is disputed. This is the present theatre of stand-off between India and China.
CHINESE INTERPRETATIONS OF 1890 TREATY
China has used 1890 treaty to justify its claim on Doklam tri-boundary referring to specifically mentioned Gipmochi which is same as Gyemochen. China says that Gyemochen is an established tri-boundary under the Sikkim-Tibet Convention.
But, Bhutan and India don't agree. Bhutan was the first to lodge protest against Chinese construction activities in Doklam tri-boundary area. It objected to road construction by China saying that Doklam belonged to China.
India, under its security arrangement with Bhutan stopped Chinese advance in the area and asked last month the People's Liberation Army of China to hold construction of road there.
WHY INDIA SEES IT DIFFERENTLY
According to India's interpretation of the treaty and delineation of the boundaries, the phrase "crest line" assumes more significance. This is in accordance with the general principle of boundary delineation across the world for the treaties agreed on the basis of 18th and 19th century understanding of maps and cartographic practices.
India asserts that the crest line or the ridge that runs from the border of Nepal ends at a place called Batang La. Bhutan also maintains the same demarcation. Batang La is located about four kilometres north (farther from India) of Doka La, where the stand-off is going on. Gyemochen - which China defines as the tri-junction - is about two-and-a-half kilometre south of Doka La (towards India). This stretch of six-and-a-half kilometers alters strategic stakes of India considerably as it would replace Bhutan - an ally - at the vantage with China - a known adversary.
China also ignores the phrase "Bhutan frontier" mentioned in the 1890 treaty. Use of word "frontier" means that the boundary lines were not clearly demarcated between Bhutan and Tibet in 1890 - as per British and Chinese understanding.
Technically, a frontier is a zone or area that separates two sovereign nations while border is a specifically marked line that defines sovereign control of countries involved.
WAY OUT - STATUS QUO
China has been on an information campaign to suggest that India has accepted Chinese jurisdiction over Doklam area. It produced a letter written by former Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru to back its claim.
Chinese foreign office read the portion of Nehru's letter to suit its case. "On September 26, 1959, Nehru confirmed with Zhou that there was no dispute on the China-Sikkim border," Chinese foreign office spokesperson Geng Shuang said last month citing the letter.
But, in the same letter, Nehru went on to state that the "Chinese maps show sizeable areas of Bhutan as part of Tibet," adding, "The rectification of errors in Chinese maps regarding the boundary of Bhutan with Tibet is therefore a matter which has to be discussed along with the boundary of India with the Tibet region of China in the same sector."
India and China have been discussing various aspects of boundary for decades. An agreement has eluded the two countries. But, the negotiators from the two countries developed broad understandings of the terms to settle their disputes.
One such understanding was reached in 2012, when the two Governments "reached (an) agreement that the tri-junction boundary points between India, China and third countries will be finalized in consultation with the concerned countries."
Pointing to the 2012-agreement, the Ministry of External Affair (MEA) has said, "Any attempt, therefore, to unilaterally determine tri-junction points is in violation of this understanding."
During his Beijing visit later this month, Ajit Doval may use the five-year-old bilateral understanding to blame colonial leaders of Great Britain for creating confusion and leaving the legacy of boundary disputes between India, Bhutan and China to resolve the present stand-off. Ajit Doval's visit may result in India and China finally settle for the status quo over Doklam.
Even as the Indian and Chinese armies are standing their grounds in Doklam area of Bhutan, reports suggest that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval may visit Beijing to break ice with China.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (July 13) said that diplomatic channels would be used to defuse the Doklam tension. Earlier, it was made clear by the government at several levels that the Indian Army will not back off from their position in Doklam.
China has used an 1890 treaty between Chinese Qing dynasty of British colonial leaders of India to justify its claim over Doklam. The treaty was formalised between Britain and Chinese kingdom. Ironically, it is being used by China to alter its boundary with Bhutan, which was not a signatory to the 127-year-old treaty. Tibet also did not sign the treaty. Britain officially negotiated on behalf of both India and the kingdom of Sikkim.
WHAT IS IN THE 1890 TREATY?
The treaty between Britain and China was signed at Calcutta Convention in 1890. Of the eight Articles mentioned in the treaty, Article 1 is of critical significance. China has cited this Article to stake its claim over Doklam.
Article 1 of the Calcutta convention reads, "The boundary of Sikkim and Tibet shall be the crest of the mountain range separating the waters flowing into the Sikkim Teesta and its affluents from the waters flowing into the Tibetan Mochu and northwards into other rivers of Tibet. The line commences at Mount Gipmochi (Gyemochen), on the Bhutan frontier, and follows the above-mentioned water-parting to the point where it meets Nipal (Nepal) territory."
This treaty was an attempt to define what has become the bone of contention now: the tri-junction or tri-boundary between India, Bhutan and China or Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet.
WHERE IS TRI-BOUNDARY?
WHERE IS TRI-BOUNDARY?
The tri-junction or the disputed tri-boundary is an area of less than 90 sq km and is part of the Doklam plateau of Bhutan, north of which lies China (till the recent stand-off broke out).
This area is locally called not Doklam but Dolam plateau. China has claimed that Doklam tri-boundary area is its territory with "effective jurisdiction". China uses a similar language to assert its claim over the South China Sea.
The Doklam tri-boundary is very close to the passage - otherwise called Chicken's Neck or Silliguri Corridor - that connects the northeastern Indian states with the rest of India and hence of great strategic value for New Delhi.
For some distance the boundaries of Bhutan and Sikkim are separated by the Chumbi Valley of Tibet. The valley protrudes towards the tri-junction like a knife. While the Indian side of the boundary is settled and there is no dispute over it with China, the Bhutanese side is disputed. This is the present theatre of stand-off between India and China.
CHINESE INTERPRETATIONS OF 1890 TREATY
China has used 1890 treaty to justify its claim on Doklam tri-boundary referring to specifically mentioned Gipmochi which is same as Gyemochen. China says that Gyemochen is an established tri-boundary under the Sikkim-Tibet Convention.
But, Bhutan and India don't agree. Bhutan was the first to lodge protest against Chinese construction activities in Doklam tri-boundary area. It objected to road construction by China saying that Doklam belonged to China.
India, under its security arrangement with Bhutan stopped Chinese advance in the area and asked last month the People's Liberation Army of China to hold construction of road there.
WHY INDIA SEES IT DIFFERENTLY
According to India's interpretation of the treaty and delineation of the boundaries, the phrase "crest line" assumes more significance. This is in accordance with the general principle of boundary delineation across the world for the treaties agreed on the basis of 18th and 19th century understanding of maps and cartographic practices.
India asserts that the crest line or the ridge that runs from the border of Nepal ends at a place called Batang La. Bhutan also maintains the same demarcation. Batang La is located about four kilometres north (farther from India) of Doka La, where the stand-off is going on. Gyemochen - which China defines as the tri-junction - is about two-and-a-half kilometre south of Doka La (towards India). This stretch of six-and-a-half kilometers alters strategic stakes of India considerably as it would replace Bhutan - an ally - at the vantage with China - a known adversary.
China also ignores the phrase "Bhutan frontier" mentioned in the 1890 treaty. Use of word "frontier" means that the boundary lines were not clearly demarcated between Bhutan and Tibet in 1890 - as per British and Chinese understanding.
Technically, a frontier is a zone or area that separates two sovereign nations while border is a specifically marked line that defines sovereign control of countries involved.
WAY OUT - STATUS QUO
China has been on an information campaign to suggest that India has accepted Chinese jurisdiction over Doklam area. It produced a letter written by former Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru to back its claim.
Chinese foreign office read the portion of Nehru's letter to suit its case. "On September 26, 1959, Nehru confirmed with Zhou that there was no dispute on the China-Sikkim border," Chinese foreign office spokesperson Geng Shuang said last month citing the letter.
But, in the same letter, Nehru went on to state that the "Chinese maps show sizeable areas of Bhutan as part of Tibet," adding, "The rectification of errors in Chinese maps regarding the boundary of Bhutan with Tibet is therefore a matter which has to be discussed along with the boundary of India with the Tibet region of China in the same sector."
India and China have been discussing various aspects of boundary for decades. An agreement has eluded the two countries. But, the negotiators from the two countries developed broad understandings of the terms to settle their disputes.
One such understanding was reached in 2012, when the two Governments "reached (an) agreement that the tri-junction boundary points between India, China and third countries will be finalized in consultation with the concerned countries."
Pointing to the 2012-agreement, the Ministry of External Affair (MEA) has said, "Any attempt, therefore, to unilaterally determine tri-junction points is in violation of this understanding."
During his Beijing visit later this month, Ajit Doval may use the five-year-old bilateral understanding to blame colonial leaders of Great Britain for creating confusion and leaving the legacy of boundary disputes between India, Bhutan and China to resolve the present stand-off. Ajit Doval's visit may result in India and China finally settle for the status quo over Doklam.
Business Affairs
Inflation, product demand dip: Is it slowdown or macro stability?
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The just released annual rate of inflation for the month of June, based on the monthly wholesale price index (WPI), and the monthly consumer price index that came out a few days ago suggest an overall slowdown in demand across product categories. Prices of products, including food items, remain subdued.
As usual, the easing of inflation has resulted in a clamour for making cheaper credit available to businesses and industry - through a rate cut by the central bank.
The WPI data for June would tell you that the prices of some key components in fuel and power category, which has a 13.15 percent weightage in the index, has declined. Manufactured products also saw a slightly less uptake compared to June this year. Food prices fell as well.
Last week we saw CPI or retail inflation registering a historic low at 1.54 per cent. Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian termed it a reflection of the firm and ongoing consolidation of macro stability. He even assured that the government's Economic Survey, which he prepares, will fully elaborate on this phenomenon.
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) upcoming monetary policy will look into whether the time is ripe for another rate cut. The Economic Policy will, hopefully, unravel the reasons for the decline in demand.
While we wait for responses from RBI and the Finance Ministry, it is only logical to ask a few questions.
Is the easing of inflationary pressure or the declining demand for products a direct outcome of the series of policy disruptions made by the Modi government? Or is it just a reflection of the fluctuating oil and energy prices - one of the key factors that would impact overall inflationary trend? Has demonetisation played a key role in sucking the liquidity out of the system? Has bad debt made industries and financial institutions wary of spending and lending? Can farmers' remuneration and consumer price for farm produce find a balance?
Answering these questions may provide us with some clue to the changes happening in the macroeconomic landscape around us.
The just released annual rate of inflation for the month of June, based on the monthly wholesale price index (WPI), and the monthly consumer price index that came out a few days ago suggest an overall slowdown in demand across product categories. Prices of products, including food items, remain subdued.
As usual, the easing of inflation has resulted in a clamour for making cheaper credit available to businesses and industry - through a rate cut by the central bank.
The WPI data for June would tell you that the prices of some key components in fuel and power category, which has a 13.15 percent weightage in the index, has declined. Manufactured products also saw a slightly less uptake compared to June this year. Food prices fell as well.
Last week we saw CPI or retail inflation registering a historic low at 1.54 per cent. Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian termed it a reflection of the firm and ongoing consolidation of macro stability. He even assured that the government's Economic Survey, which he prepares, will fully elaborate on this phenomenon.
The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) upcoming monetary policy will look into whether the time is ripe for another rate cut. The Economic Policy will, hopefully, unravel the reasons for the decline in demand.
While we wait for responses from RBI and the Finance Ministry, it is only logical to ask a few questions.
Is the easing of inflationary pressure or the declining demand for products a direct outcome of the series of policy disruptions made by the Modi government? Or is it just a reflection of the fluctuating oil and energy prices - one of the key factors that would impact overall inflationary trend? Has demonetisation played a key role in sucking the liquidity out of the system? Has bad debt made industries and financial institutions wary of spending and lending? Can farmers' remuneration and consumer price for farm produce find a balance?
Answering these questions may provide us with some clue to the changes happening in the macroeconomic landscape around us.
5.56 lakh persons identified in second phase of Operation Clean Money
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The Income Tax Department has identified 5.56 lakh new persons whose tax profiles were found to be inconsistent with the cash deposits made by them during the demonetisation period. The operations were carried out during the second phase of Operation Clean Money (OCM).
Another 1.04 lakh persons, who did not disclose all their bank accounts during e-verification in the first phase of OCM, have also been identified. In the first phase, 1.79 million people were identified for e-verification as they had made large cash deposits. Out of these, 9.72 lakh people had submitted their online response.
The information regarding the cases and accounts identified has been made available in the e-filing window of a PAN holder at the portal https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. A PAN holder can view the information using the link "Cash Transactions 2016" under "Compliance" section of the portal. Taxpayers will be able to submit online explanation without visiting income tax offices. All identified persons are being informed via e-mail and SMS to submit their response online.
Under Operation Clean Money, details of the cash deposited in bank accounts aggregating to Rs 2 lakh or more are required to be given in the Income Tax Return (ITR). This information will be matched with the information in possession of the Income Tax Department.
A taxpayer's ITR should be in sync with the amount deposited in bank accounts during demonetisation, and while computing one's income, the amounts so deposited are considered/ taken into account for tax payment.
The Income Tax Department has identified 5.56 lakh new persons whose tax profiles were found to be inconsistent with the cash deposits made by them during the demonetisation period. The operations were carried out during the second phase of Operation Clean Money (OCM).
Another 1.04 lakh persons, who did not disclose all their bank accounts during e-verification in the first phase of OCM, have also been identified. In the first phase, 1.79 million people were identified for e-verification as they had made large cash deposits. Out of these, 9.72 lakh people had submitted their online response.
The information regarding the cases and accounts identified has been made available in the e-filing window of a PAN holder at the portal https://incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. A PAN holder can view the information using the link "Cash Transactions 2016" under "Compliance" section of the portal. Taxpayers will be able to submit online explanation without visiting income tax offices. All identified persons are being informed via e-mail and SMS to submit their response online.
Under Operation Clean Money, details of the cash deposited in bank accounts aggregating to Rs 2 lakh or more are required to be given in the Income Tax Return (ITR). This information will be matched with the information in possession of the Income Tax Department.
A taxpayer's ITR should be in sync with the amount deposited in bank accounts during demonetisation, and while computing one's income, the amounts so deposited are considered/ taken into account for tax payment.
India's trade deficit narrows to USD 13 billion in June
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India's trade deficit narrowed more-than-expected to USD 12.96 billion in June as gold imports nearly halved from a month earlier, government data showed on Friday.
Economists in a Reuters poll had predicted that trade deficit would decline to USD 12.5 billion in June compared with a provisional USD 13.84 billion in the previous month.
Gold imports declined to USD 2.45 billion from almost USD 5 billion a month ago.
Merchandise exports for June came in at USD 23.56 billion, up 4.39 percent from a year ago. Goods imports for the month were USD 36.52 billion, up 19.01 percent from a year ago, data from the commerce and industry ministry showed.
India's trade deficit narrowed more-than-expected to USD 12.96 billion in June as gold imports nearly halved from a month earlier, government data showed on Friday.
Economists in a Reuters poll had predicted that trade deficit would decline to USD 12.5 billion in June compared with a provisional USD 13.84 billion in the previous month.
Gold imports declined to USD 2.45 billion from almost USD 5 billion a month ago.
Merchandise exports for June came in at USD 23.56 billion, up 4.39 percent from a year ago. Goods imports for the month were USD 36.52 billion, up 19.01 percent from a year ago, data from the commerce and industry ministry showed.
Nifty hits 9,900 mark, Sensex at new high post Infosys results
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The benchmark Nifty on Friday raced past the 9,900 milestone for the first time and the Sensex climbed yet another peak 32,110 as Infosys maintained its 2017-18 revenue growth guidance.
IT, healthcare, consumer durables, oil and gas stocks were among the big gainers. Asian cues remained mixed though.
The 50-issue Nifty crossed the 9,900 level for the first time by gaining 21.60 points, or 0.21 per cent, to trade at an all-time high of 9,913.30, within striking distance of 10,000.
It surpassed its previous intra-day high of 9,897.25 touched on Thursday.
Capital inflows and widespread buying by domestic institutional and retail investors continued.
The benchmark BSE Sensex too climbed 72.37 points, or 0.22 per cent, to a new record 32,109.75, breaking its previous life high of 32,091.521 reached on Thursday.
Software services exporter Infosys rallied by 1.63 per cent to Rs 992.25 after the company reported 1.3 per cent growth on Friday in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,483 crore for the June quarter. It maintained 2017-18 revenue growth guidance at 6.5-8.5 per cent in constant currency and 7.1-9.1 per cent in dollar terms.
Tata Consultancy Services, the top software exporter, however, fell 2.38 per cent to Rs 2,386 after the company on Thursday reported a 5.9 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit at Rs 5,945 crore for the April-June quarter.
Japan's Nikkei rose 0.22 per cent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 0.03 per cent. Shanghai Composite fell 0.22 per cent in early trade.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.10 per cent higher on Thursday.
The benchmark Nifty on Friday raced past the 9,900 milestone for the first time and the Sensex climbed yet another peak 32,110 as Infosys maintained its 2017-18 revenue growth guidance.
IT, healthcare, consumer durables, oil and gas stocks were among the big gainers. Asian cues remained mixed though.
The 50-issue Nifty crossed the 9,900 level for the first time by gaining 21.60 points, or 0.21 per cent, to trade at an all-time high of 9,913.30, within striking distance of 10,000.
It surpassed its previous intra-day high of 9,897.25 touched on Thursday.
Capital inflows and widespread buying by domestic institutional and retail investors continued.
The benchmark BSE Sensex too climbed 72.37 points, or 0.22 per cent, to a new record 32,109.75, breaking its previous life high of 32,091.521 reached on Thursday.
Software services exporter Infosys rallied by 1.63 per cent to Rs 992.25 after the company reported 1.3 per cent growth on Friday in consolidated net profit at Rs 3,483 crore for the June quarter. It maintained 2017-18 revenue growth guidance at 6.5-8.5 per cent in constant currency and 7.1-9.1 per cent in dollar terms.
Tata Consultancy Services, the top software exporter, however, fell 2.38 per cent to Rs 2,386 after the company on Thursday reported a 5.9 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit at Rs 5,945 crore for the April-June quarter.
Japan's Nikkei rose 0.22 per cent while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was up 0.03 per cent. Shanghai Composite fell 0.22 per cent in early trade.
The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.10 per cent higher on Thursday.
Battle with Vikram Bakshi could hit the brand equity of McDonald's in India
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The National Company Law Tribunal's has reinstated Vikram Bakshi as the CEO of Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd--the franchise arm of burger major McDonalds in the North and East of the country. It's another twist in the battle between Bakshi and the US firm.
For the uninitiated and for those who have not followed the fight closely enough here is a recap.
Bakshi and McDonalds have been at loggerheads for close to four years now. In August 2013 Bakshi was unceremoniously ousted as the managing director of CPRL--the 22 year old joint venture company where he owns 50 per cent equity. Bakshi swiftly dragged McDonald's to the Company Law Board (CLB) seeking his re-instatement.
After the first few round of hearings, CLB ordered a status quo at CPRL on equity (50:50) negating any possibility of a change in shareholding or of either partners taking full hold of the company by a call option (where a partner bids for the other's equity). While that was seen as a victory for Bakshi, McDonald's unilaterally terminated its 1995 joint venture agreement and sought arbitration in the London Court of International Arbitration.
Bakshi's subsequent appeals to the CLB and Supreme Court for a stay in the arbitration proceedings have all been rejected.
As he resumes his position at the head of the table at CPRL on Friday after four years, it does feel like Bakshi has got a slight upper hand in this long drawn out battle. Prima facie, it seems McDonald's has more to lose.
Over the years, CPRL performance has borne the brunt of the cold war between its two partners. Expansion plans have stalled, attrition is at a high, quality control has gone for a toss and profitability has nosedived. Between 2009 and 2013, the company registered cash profit of Rs 110 crore. In 2014/15 it had a cash loss of Rs 41 crore.
After 27 outlets in 2012, CPRL opened only 14 in 2013 against the target of 35, 9 in 2014 and 3 in 2015. Last year, it opened just one outlet. The score for this year is zero. Instead, only last week CPRL decided to shut down 43 of its 55 outlets in Delhi-NCR.
Bakshi has little to lose if CPRL continues to flounder. It is very evident that he does not wish to be a part of the venture anymore but wants a fair valuation of the stake he owns. Infact, the disagreement over how much his stake would be valued at is one of the more intangible facets of this battle.
In early 2014, Bakshi had offered to buy McDonald's stake in the JV at net asset value of Rs 150 crore. Shrugging the offer aside, the US firm countered with a Rs 48-50 crore offer for Bakshi's stake. The latter in turn insisted on a fair market value and offered to sell his stake initially for Rs 2500 crore and later Rs 1800 crore. These did not elicit a response from McDonald's and subsequently the round of bids and counter-bids also petered out.
The dwindling fortunes of CPRL also undermines the fair valuation of Bakshi's stake in the company. When a company is profitable and growing, equity is valued higher than when it is loss making and shrinking.
But it would appear, Bakshi doesn't care less after the acrimony between the two parties. In the balance, the loss of reputation of McDonald's in India at a time when competitors like Dominos, KFC and Burger King are ultra aggressive seems like a bigger and possibly irreversible damage.
The National Company Law Tribunal's has reinstated Vikram Bakshi as the CEO of Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt Ltd--the franchise arm of burger major McDonalds in the North and East of the country. It's another twist in the battle between Bakshi and the US firm.
For the uninitiated and for those who have not followed the fight closely enough here is a recap.
Bakshi and McDonalds have been at loggerheads for close to four years now. In August 2013 Bakshi was unceremoniously ousted as the managing director of CPRL--the 22 year old joint venture company where he owns 50 per cent equity. Bakshi swiftly dragged McDonald's to the Company Law Board (CLB) seeking his re-instatement.
After the first few round of hearings, CLB ordered a status quo at CPRL on equity (50:50) negating any possibility of a change in shareholding or of either partners taking full hold of the company by a call option (where a partner bids for the other's equity). While that was seen as a victory for Bakshi, McDonald's unilaterally terminated its 1995 joint venture agreement and sought arbitration in the London Court of International Arbitration.
Bakshi's subsequent appeals to the CLB and Supreme Court for a stay in the arbitration proceedings have all been rejected.
As he resumes his position at the head of the table at CPRL on Friday after four years, it does feel like Bakshi has got a slight upper hand in this long drawn out battle. Prima facie, it seems McDonald's has more to lose.
Over the years, CPRL performance has borne the brunt of the cold war between its two partners. Expansion plans have stalled, attrition is at a high, quality control has gone for a toss and profitability has nosedived. Between 2009 and 2013, the company registered cash profit of Rs 110 crore. In 2014/15 it had a cash loss of Rs 41 crore.
After 27 outlets in 2012, CPRL opened only 14 in 2013 against the target of 35, 9 in 2014 and 3 in 2015. Last year, it opened just one outlet. The score for this year is zero. Instead, only last week CPRL decided to shut down 43 of its 55 outlets in Delhi-NCR.
Bakshi has little to lose if CPRL continues to flounder. It is very evident that he does not wish to be a part of the venture anymore but wants a fair valuation of the stake he owns. Infact, the disagreement over how much his stake would be valued at is one of the more intangible facets of this battle.
In early 2014, Bakshi had offered to buy McDonald's stake in the JV at net asset value of Rs 150 crore. Shrugging the offer aside, the US firm countered with a Rs 48-50 crore offer for Bakshi's stake. The latter in turn insisted on a fair market value and offered to sell his stake initially for Rs 2500 crore and later Rs 1800 crore. These did not elicit a response from McDonald's and subsequently the round of bids and counter-bids also petered out.
The dwindling fortunes of CPRL also undermines the fair valuation of Bakshi's stake in the company. When a company is profitable and growing, equity is valued higher than when it is loss making and shrinking.
But it would appear, Bakshi doesn't care less after the acrimony between the two parties. In the balance, the loss of reputation of McDonald's in India at a time when competitors like Dominos, KFC and Burger King are ultra aggressive seems like a bigger and possibly irreversible damage.
General Awareness
Ancient Indian Scientists
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The contributions made by ancient Indians in the field of Mathematics and Science, including Medical Science, Ayurveda, Yoga,Astronomy, Astrology, etc. are immense and as proud Indians we must have knowledge of them. Questions related to this topic are seen in every exam. Therefore for the benefit of all aspirants of competitive exams, we are bringing out details of the noted scientists of ancient India.
MATHEMATICS & ASTRONOMY:
Science and Mathematics were highly developed during the ancient times in India. There were immense contributions to the fields of Mathematics as well as various branches of Science. Some notable contributors of whom everyone should know:
Aryabhatta:
- Aryabhatta was a fifth century mathematician, astronomer, astrologer and
physicist.
- He was also a pioneer in the field of mathematics.
- He wrote Aryabhattiya, which is a summary of mathematics of his time. It has four sections. In the first section he describes the method of denoting big decimal numbers by alphabets.
- In the second section, we find difficult questions from topics of modern day Mathematics such as number theory, geometry, trigonometry and algebra.
- Aryabhatta and Zero : He showed that zero was not just a numeral but also a symbol and a concept. He found out the exact distance between the earth and the moon. The discovery of zero also opened up a new dimension of negative numerals.
- The remaining two sections of Aryabhattiya are on astronomy, also called Khagol-shastra, (Khagol was the famous astronomical observatory at Nalanda, where Aryabhatta studied).
- The need for the development of the science of astronomy was it was required to have accurate calendars, a better understanding of climate and rainfall patterns for timely sowing and choice of crops, fixing the dates of seasons and festivals, navigation, calculation of time and casting of horoscopes for use in astrology.
- Knowledge of astronomy, particularly knowledge of the tides and the stars, was of great importance in trade, because of the requirement of crossing the oceans and deserts during night time.
- He disregarded the view that our planet is ‘Achala’ (immovable), and stated his theory that ‘ earth is round and rotates on its own axis’. He explained that the appearance of the sun moving from east to west is false by giving examples. One such example was: When a person travels in a boat, the trees on the shore appear to move in the opposite direction.
- He also stated that the moon and the planets are shined by reflected sunlight, which was proved later in modern times.
- He also gave a scientific explanation for solar and lunar eclipse clearing the notion that the eclipse were happening because of Rahhu or Ketu or some other rakshasa (demon).
- Therefore, India’s first satellite sent into orbit has been named after Aryabhatta.
Baudhayan:
- Baudhayan was the first one ever to arrive at several concepts in Mathematics, which were later rediscovered by the western world.
- The value of pi was first calculated by him. pi is useful in calculations of the area and circumference of a circle.
- Baudhayan’s Sulva Sutra mentioned what is today known as Pythagoras theoram years before him.
Brahmgupta:
- In 7th century, Brahmgupta developed methods of multiplication, he used place value in almost the same way as it is used today.
- He also introduced negative numbers and operations on zero.
- He wrote BrahmSputa Siddantika through which the Arabs came to know of our mathematical system.
Bhaskaracharya:
- Bhaskaracharya came in 12th Century, born in Bijapur, Karnataka.
- He is famous for his book Siddanta Shiromani.
- It is divided into four sections namely: Lilavati (Arithmetic), Beejaganit (Algebra), Goladhyaya (Sphere) and Grahaganit (mathematics of planets).
- Bhaskara introduced Chakrawat Method or the Cyclic Method to solve algebraic equations. This method was the rediscovered six centuries later by European mathematicians, then called inverse cycle.
- In the nineteenth century, James Taylor, translated Lilavati and the world came to know of this great work.
Mahaviracharya:
- There is an elaborate description of mathematics in Jain literature (500 B.C -100 B.C).
- Jain Guru Mahaviracharya wrote Ganit Sara Sangraha in 850A.D., which is the first textbook on arithmetic in present day form.
- The present method of solving Least common Multiple (LCM) of given numbers was also described by him.
- Therefore, long before John Napier introduced LCM to the world, it was known to Indians. Also, Jain gurus knew how to solve quadratic equations. They have also described fractions, algebraic equations, series, set theory, logarithms and exponents in a very interesting manner.
SCIENCE
As in Mathematics, ancient Indians had contributed to the knowledge in Scienc as well.
Kanad:
- Kanad was a sixth century scientist of Vaisheshika School of philosophy, one of the six systems of Indian philosophy.
- He develped atomic theory which matches with any modern atomic theory.
- According to Kanad, material universe is made up of kana (anu/atom), which cannot be seen through any human senses. These cannot be further subdivided. Thus, they are indivisible and indestructible.
Varahamihira:
- Varahamihira was a well known scientist of the Gupta period.
- Varahamihira was one of the nine gems, in the court of Vikramaditya. Varahamihira’s predictions were so accurate that king Vikramaditya gave him the title of ‘Varaha’.
- Varahamihira made contributions in the fields of hydrology, geology and ecology.
- Termite theory: He was one of the first scientists to claim that termites and plants could be the indicators of the presence of underground water.He gave a list of six animals and thirty plants, which could indicate the presence of water. He gave very important information regarding termites (Deemak or insects that destroy wood), that they go very deep to the surface of water level to bring water to keep their houses (bambis) wet.
- Earthquake cloud theory: Contribution to the world of science is given by Varahmihira in his book Brhat Samhita. The thirty second chapter of this samhita is devoted to signs of earthquakes – the influence of planets, undersea activities, underground water, unusual cloud formation and abnormal behaviour of animals.
- Varahamihira’s contribution is worth mentioning in Jyotish or Astrology. He deveoped the science of astrology as is used in present form.
Nagarjuna:
- Nagarjuna was a tenth century scientist with work in alchemy.
- Till today, his technology of making material with gold like shine is used in making imitation jewelry.
- In his book, Rasaratnakara, he has also discussed methods for the extraction of metals like gold, silver, tin and copper.
MEDICAL SCIENCE IN ANCIENT INDIA (AYURVEDA & YOGA)
Medical Science was highly developed in ancient times. Ayurveda, an indigenous system of medicine that was developed in Ancient India. The word “Ayurveda” literally means the science of good health and longevity of life. It is the oldest medical system of our planet. Susruta, Charak, Madhava, Vagbhatta and Jeevak were notable ayurvedic practitioners of ancient India.
The oldest medical book of the world – Atreya Samhita. Charak is called the father of ayurvedic medicine and Susruta the father of surgery.
Susruta:
- Susruta is considered a pioneer in the field of surgery. He believed surgery to be “the highest division of the healing arts and least liable to fallacy”.
- He studied human anatomy with the help of a dead body.
- In Susruta Samhita , he has described over 1100 diseases including fevers of 26 kinds, jaundice of 8 kinds and urinary ailments of 20 kinds.
- In Susruta Samhita , the method of selecting and preserving a dead body for the purpose of its detailed study are also described.
- Susruta’s greatest contribution was in the fields of Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery) and Ophthalmic surgery (removal of cataracts). Restoration of limbs lost in wars was done by him.
- Susruta Samhita also gives a description of 101 instruments used in surgery. Some serious operations performed included taking foetus out of the womb, repairing the damaged rectum, removing stone from the bladder, etc.
Charak:
- Charak is considered the father of ancient Indian science of medicine.
- He was the Raj Vaidya (royal doctor) in the court of Kanishka.
- His book, Charak Samhita is an elaborate book on medicine. It has the description of a large number of diseases and gives methods of identifying their causes as well as their treatment.
- In Charak Samhita, more stress has been laid on removing the causes of disease rather than simply treating the symptoms of illness.
- Charak also had knowledge of the fundamentals of Genetics. The modern day genetics was started by Mendel.
Yoga & Patanjali:
- The science of Yoga has been developed in ancient India as a subsidiary science of Ayurveda, for healing without medication at the physical and mental level.
- The credit of systematically presenting this science of yoga goes to Patanjali.
- In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Om is spoken of as the symbol of God.
- He refers to OM as a cosmic sound, continuously flowing through the everything, fully known only to the illuminated.
- Besides Yoga Sutras , Patanjali also wrote a work on medicine and worked on Panini’s grammar known as Mahabhasaya.
The contributions made by ancient Indians in the field of Mathematics and Science, including Medical Science, Ayurveda, Yoga,Astronomy, Astrology, etc. are immense and as proud Indians we must have knowledge of them. Questions related to this topic are seen in every exam. Therefore for the benefit of all aspirants of competitive exams, we are bringing out details of the noted scientists of ancient India.
MATHEMATICS & ASTRONOMY:
Science and Mathematics were highly developed during the ancient times in India. There were immense contributions to the fields of Mathematics as well as various branches of Science. Some notable contributors of whom everyone should know:
Aryabhatta:
- Aryabhatta was a fifth century mathematician, astronomer, astrologer and physicist.
- He was also a pioneer in the field of mathematics.
- He wrote Aryabhattiya, which is a summary of mathematics of his time. It has four sections. In the first section he describes the method of denoting big decimal numbers by alphabets.
- In the second section, we find difficult questions from topics of modern day Mathematics such as number theory, geometry, trigonometry and algebra.
- Aryabhatta and Zero : He showed that zero was not just a numeral but also a symbol and a concept. He found out the exact distance between the earth and the moon. The discovery of zero also opened up a new dimension of negative numerals.
- The remaining two sections of Aryabhattiya are on astronomy, also called Khagol-shastra, (Khagol was the famous astronomical observatory at Nalanda, where Aryabhatta studied).
- The need for the development of the science of astronomy was it was required to have accurate calendars, a better understanding of climate and rainfall patterns for timely sowing and choice of crops, fixing the dates of seasons and festivals, navigation, calculation of time and casting of horoscopes for use in astrology.
- Knowledge of astronomy, particularly knowledge of the tides and the stars, was of great importance in trade, because of the requirement of crossing the oceans and deserts during night time.
- He disregarded the view that our planet is ‘Achala’ (immovable), and stated his theory that ‘ earth is round and rotates on its own axis’. He explained that the appearance of the sun moving from east to west is false by giving examples. One such example was: When a person travels in a boat, the trees on the shore appear to move in the opposite direction.
- He also stated that the moon and the planets are shined by reflected sunlight, which was proved later in modern times.
- He also gave a scientific explanation for solar and lunar eclipse clearing the notion that the eclipse were happening because of Rahhu or Ketu or some other rakshasa (demon).
- Therefore, India’s first satellite sent into orbit has been named after Aryabhatta.
Baudhayan:
- Baudhayan was the first one ever to arrive at several concepts in Mathematics, which were later rediscovered by the western world.
- The value of pi was first calculated by him. pi is useful in calculations of the area and circumference of a circle.
- Baudhayan’s Sulva Sutra mentioned what is today known as Pythagoras theoram years before him.
Brahmgupta:
- In 7th century, Brahmgupta developed methods of multiplication, he used place value in almost the same way as it is used today.
- He also introduced negative numbers and operations on zero.
- He wrote BrahmSputa Siddantika through which the Arabs came to know of our mathematical system.
Bhaskaracharya:
- Bhaskaracharya came in 12th Century, born in Bijapur, Karnataka.
- He is famous for his book Siddanta Shiromani.
- It is divided into four sections namely: Lilavati (Arithmetic), Beejaganit (Algebra), Goladhyaya (Sphere) and Grahaganit (mathematics of planets).
- Bhaskara introduced Chakrawat Method or the Cyclic Method to solve algebraic equations. This method was the rediscovered six centuries later by European mathematicians, then called inverse cycle.
- In the nineteenth century, James Taylor, translated Lilavati and the world came to know of this great work.
Mahaviracharya:
- There is an elaborate description of mathematics in Jain literature (500 B.C -100 B.C).
- Jain Guru Mahaviracharya wrote Ganit Sara Sangraha in 850A.D., which is the first textbook on arithmetic in present day form.
- The present method of solving Least common Multiple (LCM) of given numbers was also described by him.
- Therefore, long before John Napier introduced LCM to the world, it was known to Indians. Also, Jain gurus knew how to solve quadratic equations. They have also described fractions, algebraic equations, series, set theory, logarithms and exponents in a very interesting manner.
SCIENCE
As in Mathematics, ancient Indians had contributed to the knowledge in Scienc as well.
Kanad:
- Kanad was a sixth century scientist of Vaisheshika School of philosophy, one of the six systems of Indian philosophy.
- He develped atomic theory which matches with any modern atomic theory.
- According to Kanad, material universe is made up of kana (anu/atom), which cannot be seen through any human senses. These cannot be further subdivided. Thus, they are indivisible and indestructible.
Varahamihira:
- Varahamihira was a well known scientist of the Gupta period.
- Varahamihira was one of the nine gems, in the court of Vikramaditya. Varahamihira’s predictions were so accurate that king Vikramaditya gave him the title of ‘Varaha’.
- Varahamihira made contributions in the fields of hydrology, geology and ecology.
- Termite theory: He was one of the first scientists to claim that termites and plants could be the indicators of the presence of underground water.He gave a list of six animals and thirty plants, which could indicate the presence of water. He gave very important information regarding termites (Deemak or insects that destroy wood), that they go very deep to the surface of water level to bring water to keep their houses (bambis) wet.
- Earthquake cloud theory: Contribution to the world of science is given by Varahmihira in his book Brhat Samhita. The thirty second chapter of this samhita is devoted to signs of earthquakes – the influence of planets, undersea activities, underground water, unusual cloud formation and abnormal behaviour of animals.
- Varahamihira’s contribution is worth mentioning in Jyotish or Astrology. He deveoped the science of astrology as is used in present form.
Nagarjuna:
- Nagarjuna was a tenth century scientist with work in alchemy.
- Till today, his technology of making material with gold like shine is used in making imitation jewelry.
- In his book, Rasaratnakara, he has also discussed methods for the extraction of metals like gold, silver, tin and copper.
MEDICAL SCIENCE IN ANCIENT INDIA (AYURVEDA & YOGA)
Medical Science was highly developed in ancient times. Ayurveda, an indigenous system of medicine that was developed in Ancient India. The word “Ayurveda” literally means the science of good health and longevity of life. It is the oldest medical system of our planet. Susruta, Charak, Madhava, Vagbhatta and Jeevak were notable ayurvedic practitioners of ancient India.
The oldest medical book of the world – Atreya Samhita. Charak is called the father of ayurvedic medicine and Susruta the father of surgery.
The oldest medical book of the world – Atreya Samhita. Charak is called the father of ayurvedic medicine and Susruta the father of surgery.
Susruta:
- Susruta is considered a pioneer in the field of surgery. He believed surgery to be “the highest division of the healing arts and least liable to fallacy”.
- He studied human anatomy with the help of a dead body.
- In Susruta Samhita , he has described over 1100 diseases including fevers of 26 kinds, jaundice of 8 kinds and urinary ailments of 20 kinds.
- In Susruta Samhita , the method of selecting and preserving a dead body for the purpose of its detailed study are also described.
- Susruta’s greatest contribution was in the fields of Rhinoplasty (plastic surgery) and Ophthalmic surgery (removal of cataracts). Restoration of limbs lost in wars was done by him.
- Susruta Samhita also gives a description of 101 instruments used in surgery. Some serious operations performed included taking foetus out of the womb, repairing the damaged rectum, removing stone from the bladder, etc.
Charak:
- Charak is considered the father of ancient Indian science of medicine.
- He was the Raj Vaidya (royal doctor) in the court of Kanishka.
- His book, Charak Samhita is an elaborate book on medicine. It has the description of a large number of diseases and gives methods of identifying their causes as well as their treatment.
- In Charak Samhita, more stress has been laid on removing the causes of disease rather than simply treating the symptoms of illness.
- Charak also had knowledge of the fundamentals of Genetics. The modern day genetics was started by Mendel.
Yoga & Patanjali:
- The science of Yoga has been developed in ancient India as a subsidiary science of Ayurveda, for healing without medication at the physical and mental level.
- The credit of systematically presenting this science of yoga goes to Patanjali.
- In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Om is spoken of as the symbol of God.
- He refers to OM as a cosmic sound, continuously flowing through the everything, fully known only to the illuminated.
- Besides Yoga Sutras , Patanjali also wrote a work on medicine and worked on Panini’s grammar known as Mahabhasaya.
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