General Affairs
ISRO's Communication Satellite GSAT-29 Pushed Higher Into Orbit
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India's latest communication satellite GSAT-29 was successfully pushed up to its intended orbit during its third orbit raising activity, said a top official of ISRO on Saturday.
Speaking to IANS, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan said: "The GSat-29 satellite orbit was raised successfully. There will be no more orbit raising activity. The satellite will drift gently to its final position."
He said the satellite's antennas were deployed.
"Everything is fine with the satellite," said a happy-sounding Mr Sivan.
Speaking to IANS, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan said: "The GSat-29 satellite orbit was raised successfully. There will be no more orbit raising activity. The satellite will drift gently to its final position."
He said the satellite's antennas were deployed.
"Everything is fine with the satellite," said a happy-sounding Mr Sivan.
BJP's Rath Yatra In Bengal Rescheduled Due To Poll Campaign In 5 States
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The BJP has deferred its proposed "rath yatra" in West Bengal next month again owing to poll campaigns in other states, a party official said on Saturday.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state general secretary Sayantan Basu said party chief Amit Shah would now kick off the "yatra" on December 7 from Coochbehar district, instead of Birbhum district, as was planned earlier.
Due to the ongoing poll campaigning in five states, the party decided to reschedule the dates for the "rath yatra" (chariot march) in West Bengal, Mr Basu said.
The fresh dates were -- December 7 from Coochbehar district in the north, December 9 from Gangasagar in the south and December 14 from the Tarapith temple in Birbhum district, he added.
Amit Shah is scheduled to attend the programmes on all three dates.
Initially, the "rath yatra" was planned to begin on December 3, 5 and 7 from Birbhum, Coochbehar and Gangasagar respectively. But the dates were rescheduled in the last week of October to December 5, 7 and 9 respectively.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had mocked Amit Shah's proposed "rath yatra" as "Ravan yatra"on Friday and asked Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers to carry out "purification and unity marches" at all the places through which the BJP's chariots would pass.
Five states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Telangana and Chhattisgarh -- are set to go to the polls between November 12 and December 7. The results will be declared on December 11.
Mr Basu said the "yatra" would be taken to all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state with each of the three chariots covering 14 seats.
At the conclusion of the "yatra", the party planned to hold a rally in Kolkata, which was likely to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.
Sources in the saffron party said the decision to take out the "rath yatra" was taken during Amit Shah's two-day visit to the state in June.
Buoyed by its performance in the last West Bengal panchayat polls, the BJP has prepared its 2019 Lok Sabha election blueprint, targeting at least 22 parliamentary seats in the state.
The saffron party currently has two Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal -- Asansol and Darjeeling.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state general secretary Sayantan Basu said party chief Amit Shah would now kick off the "yatra" on December 7 from Coochbehar district, instead of Birbhum district, as was planned earlier.
Due to the ongoing poll campaigning in five states, the party decided to reschedule the dates for the "rath yatra" (chariot march) in West Bengal, Mr Basu said.
The fresh dates were -- December 7 from Coochbehar district in the north, December 9 from Gangasagar in the south and December 14 from the Tarapith temple in Birbhum district, he added.
Amit Shah is scheduled to attend the programmes on all three dates.
Initially, the "rath yatra" was planned to begin on December 3, 5 and 7 from Birbhum, Coochbehar and Gangasagar respectively. But the dates were rescheduled in the last week of October to December 5, 7 and 9 respectively.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had mocked Amit Shah's proposed "rath yatra" as "Ravan yatra"on Friday and asked Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers to carry out "purification and unity marches" at all the places through which the BJP's chariots would pass.
Five states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Telangana and Chhattisgarh -- are set to go to the polls between November 12 and December 7. The results will be declared on December 11.
Mr Basu said the "yatra" would be taken to all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state with each of the three chariots covering 14 seats.
At the conclusion of the "yatra", the party planned to hold a rally in Kolkata, which was likely to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.
Sources in the saffron party said the decision to take out the "rath yatra" was taken during Amit Shah's two-day visit to the state in June.
Buoyed by its performance in the last West Bengal panchayat polls, the BJP has prepared its 2019 Lok Sabha election blueprint, targeting at least 22 parliamentary seats in the state.
The saffron party currently has two Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal -- Asansol and Darjeeling.
PM Modi, Amit Shah Trying To Create "Opposition-Less India", Says TDP
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The Telugu Desam Party Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah were seeking to create an opposition less India and said the party's objectives was to 'protect democracy'.
"Modi and Shah are trying to eat away other parties so that no opposition is left in the country. Democracy will be that much stronger only if there is a strong opposition," TDP politburo member and Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said in a statement.
He said 'protecting democracy' was TDPs objective while it was everyone's responsibility to prevent BJP from retaining power (at the Centre) in 2019.
He also slammed changing of names of some cities in the country, saying it was a 'Tughlaq act'.
The Chandrababu Naidu government had also embarked on a name-changing spree.
It rechristened Rajahmundry as Rajamahendravaram and Anantapur as Anantapuramu.
Names of projects and many other schemes launched by Congress governments were also changed in the last four years.
"Modi and Shah are trying to eat away other parties so that no opposition is left in the country. Democracy will be that much stronger only if there is a strong opposition," TDP politburo member and Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said in a statement.
He said 'protecting democracy' was TDPs objective while it was everyone's responsibility to prevent BJP from retaining power (at the Centre) in 2019.
He also slammed changing of names of some cities in the country, saying it was a 'Tughlaq act'.
The Chandrababu Naidu government had also embarked on a name-changing spree.
It rechristened Rajahmundry as Rajamahendravaram and Anantapur as Anantapuramu.
Names of projects and many other schemes launched by Congress governments were also changed in the last four years.
Kashmir Records 74 Per Cent Turnout In First Phase Of Panchayat Polls
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Over 64 per cent of electorate voted Saturday in the first phase of Panchayat elections in Kashmir while an impressive turnout of 79.5 per cent was recorded in Jammu region, officials said
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shaleen Kabra said the state recorded 74.1 per cent polling in the first phase of Panchayat elections Saturday held in 47 blocks, including 16 blocks in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in Ladakh region.
Mr Kabra said the polling passed off peacefully, except for minor clashes and stone-pelting incidents in Mendhar in Poonch district.
Re-polling has been ordered at a polling centre in Atholi in Kishtwar district due to technical snag, the official said.
The turnout in rural areas was significantly higher in Kashmir Valley unlike during the recent urban local bodies' elections where barely four per cent of the electorate voted.
Separatists who asked people to boycott the polls had called for a strike Saturday. Major regional parties -- the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party -- had decided not to participate in the local bodies polls.
As per officials, total polling percentage in Kashmir division was recorded 64.5 per cent as 1.05 lakh of 1.63 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the Valley on Saturday, they said.
Giving details, they said Srinagar district recorded 21.8 per cent followed by 30.14 per cent in Budgam, 70 per cent in Kupwara, 69.1 per cent in Baramulla, 56.2 per cent in Bandipora, 60 per cent in Leh and 77.7 per cent in Kargil.
The total polling percentage in Jammu division was 79.5 per cent as 2.35 lakh voters out of 2.95 lakh voted, they said.
In Jammu region, polling per cent in Kishtwar was recorded 74.1 per cent, 78.9 per cent in Rajouri, 78.7 per cent in Poonch, 83.6 per cent in Udhampur, 80.8 per cent in Doda, 80 per cent in Kathua and 78.2 per cent in Ramban, they added.
The officials said the total number of electorate in Kashmir was 1,35,774.
There will be eight more phases of Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
The first phase polling was held in 47 blocks, including 16 blocks in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in Ladakh region.
The polls are being held after a delay of two years when the state is under the Governor's rule. The counting of votes will be held on November 27.
A senior BJP leader of Jammu and Kashmir and his brother were shot dead by suspected militants in Kishtwar district Thursday night, officials said.
Ahead of the polls on October 31, BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were shot dead by suspected militants while they were returning from their shop in Kishtwar district.
The two were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, officials had said.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shaleen Kabra said the state recorded 74.1 per cent polling in the first phase of Panchayat elections Saturday held in 47 blocks, including 16 blocks in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in Ladakh region.
Mr Kabra said the polling passed off peacefully, except for minor clashes and stone-pelting incidents in Mendhar in Poonch district.
Re-polling has been ordered at a polling centre in Atholi in Kishtwar district due to technical snag, the official said.
The turnout in rural areas was significantly higher in Kashmir Valley unlike during the recent urban local bodies' elections where barely four per cent of the electorate voted.
Separatists who asked people to boycott the polls had called for a strike Saturday. Major regional parties -- the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party -- had decided not to participate in the local bodies polls.
As per officials, total polling percentage in Kashmir division was recorded 64.5 per cent as 1.05 lakh of 1.63 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the Valley on Saturday, they said.
Giving details, they said Srinagar district recorded 21.8 per cent followed by 30.14 per cent in Budgam, 70 per cent in Kupwara, 69.1 per cent in Baramulla, 56.2 per cent in Bandipora, 60 per cent in Leh and 77.7 per cent in Kargil.
The total polling percentage in Jammu division was 79.5 per cent as 2.35 lakh voters out of 2.95 lakh voted, they said.
In Jammu region, polling per cent in Kishtwar was recorded 74.1 per cent, 78.9 per cent in Rajouri, 78.7 per cent in Poonch, 83.6 per cent in Udhampur, 80.8 per cent in Doda, 80 per cent in Kathua and 78.2 per cent in Ramban, they added.
The officials said the total number of electorate in Kashmir was 1,35,774.
There will be eight more phases of Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
The first phase polling was held in 47 blocks, including 16 blocks in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in Ladakh region.
The polls are being held after a delay of two years when the state is under the Governor's rule. The counting of votes will be held on November 27.
A senior BJP leader of Jammu and Kashmir and his brother were shot dead by suspected militants in Kishtwar district Thursday night, officials said.
Ahead of the polls on October 31, BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were shot dead by suspected militants while they were returning from their shop in Kishtwar district.
The two were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house, officials had said.
As Maldives Sheds China's Shadow, PM Modi Attends President's Swearing-In
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today attended the inauguration ceremony of new Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the Indian Ocean archipelago, where no Indian prime minister has come in the last seven years. Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was the last Indian PM to visit the island nation in November 2011.
PM Modi was the senior-most foreign leader to attend the ceremony in the country that went through immense political turmoil under former President Abdulla Yameen. He met Mr Solih after the ceremony and invited him to visit India.
Outgoing Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, 59, had been expected to romp home in the September 23 elections, with opposition leaders jailed or exiled, and warnings that he would try to fix the vote, but in a surprise turn of events, 54-year-old united opposition candidate Mr Solih was declared the winner, sparking celebrations across the tropical holiday destination.
The US, its allies and India have been concerned by growing Chinese influence in the strategically positioned Indian Ocean archipelago, especially under Mr Yameen's authoritarian rule.
"Recent elections in the Maldives represent the collective aspirations of the people for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future. We in India strongly desire to see a stable, democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives," PM Modi tweeted hours before getting on his flight.
I will convey to the new Maldivian Government of Mr. Solih the desire of the Indian Government to work closely for realisation of their developmental priorities, especially in areas of infrastructure, health care, connectivity & human resource development.
The Maldivian President has highlighted the need to maintain close ties with immediate neighbours over other nations, and his team is reviewing Chinese investments, projects and debt worth millions of dollars.
In October, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, 80, had said India played a positive role in restoring democracy in the Maldives by "exerting pressure" on the former regime led by defeated pro-China strongman Abdulla Yameen.
Mr Nasheed returned to his country following Solih's election. During the swearing-in ceremony, he sat beside PM Modi and the two were seen chatting animatedly. Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge was also sitting along with them.
Under Mr Nasheed, relations between India and the atoll nation had improved greatly.
A political turmoil in the island nation was triggered by imposition of emergency in February and jailing of several opposition leaders, including Mr Gayoom, a half-brother of Mr Yameen.
PM Modi landing in the Maldives is a sign that years of cold ties with the Maldives because of Mr Yameen's closeness to China is behind now. An ongoing constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka is also said to be linked to India and China's tussle over expansion of their influence in the Indian Ocean region.
PM Modi was the senior-most foreign leader to attend the ceremony in the country that went through immense political turmoil under former President Abdulla Yameen. He met Mr Solih after the ceremony and invited him to visit India.
Outgoing Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, 59, had been expected to romp home in the September 23 elections, with opposition leaders jailed or exiled, and warnings that he would try to fix the vote, but in a surprise turn of events, 54-year-old united opposition candidate Mr Solih was declared the winner, sparking celebrations across the tropical holiday destination.
The US, its allies and India have been concerned by growing Chinese influence in the strategically positioned Indian Ocean archipelago, especially under Mr Yameen's authoritarian rule.
"Recent elections in the Maldives represent the collective aspirations of the people for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future. We in India strongly desire to see a stable, democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives," PM Modi tweeted hours before getting on his flight.
I will convey to the new Maldivian Government of Mr. Solih the desire of the Indian Government to work closely for realisation of their developmental priorities, especially in areas of infrastructure, health care, connectivity & human resource development.
The Maldivian President has highlighted the need to maintain close ties with immediate neighbours over other nations, and his team is reviewing Chinese investments, projects and debt worth millions of dollars.
In October, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, 80, had said India played a positive role in restoring democracy in the Maldives by "exerting pressure" on the former regime led by defeated pro-China strongman Abdulla Yameen.
Mr Nasheed returned to his country following Solih's election. During the swearing-in ceremony, he sat beside PM Modi and the two were seen chatting animatedly. Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge was also sitting along with them.
Under Mr Nasheed, relations between India and the atoll nation had improved greatly.
A political turmoil in the island nation was triggered by imposition of emergency in February and jailing of several opposition leaders, including Mr Gayoom, a half-brother of Mr Yameen.
PM Modi landing in the Maldives is a sign that years of cold ties with the Maldives because of Mr Yameen's closeness to China is behind now. An ongoing constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka is also said to be linked to India and China's tussle over expansion of their influence in the Indian Ocean region.
Business Affairs
Visa takes minority stake in Indian payment gateway BillDesk
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Payments processor Visa Inc said on Friday it is taking a minority stake in Indian payment gateway BillDesk, as it seeks to grab a bigger slice of one of the fastest growing digital payments markets in the world.
Both companies did not disclose the terms of the deal, but the local media had reported a few months ago that Visa was looking to invest close to $250 million in BillDesk, valuing the company at around $1.5 billion-$2 billion.
The investment follows comments from India's finance minister last week that Visa and rival Mastercard were losing market share to domestic payments networks.
Earlier, Mastercard had complained to the U.S. government that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using nationalism to promote a local rival.
Visa's investment in BillDesk is expected to have no direct bearing on its existing India business, the company said in a statement.
Mumbai-based BillDesk processes over $60 billion of digital payments a year and provides customers payment options, including credit cards and online wallets, to carry out purchases.
The company earns by charging commission from clients on these transactions.
Both companies did not disclose the terms of the deal, but the local media had reported a few months ago that Visa was looking to invest close to $250 million in BillDesk, valuing the company at around $1.5 billion-$2 billion.
The investment follows comments from India's finance minister last week that Visa and rival Mastercard were losing market share to domestic payments networks.
Earlier, Mastercard had complained to the U.S. government that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using nationalism to promote a local rival.
Visa's investment in BillDesk is expected to have no direct bearing on its existing India business, the company said in a statement.
Mumbai-based BillDesk processes over $60 billion of digital payments a year and provides customers payment options, including credit cards and online wallets, to carry out purchases.
The company earns by charging commission from clients on these transactions.
PM Modi 'concerned' who is Congress chief; will he now talk about demonetisation, Rafale deal: Chidambaram
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Former Union minister P Chidambaram Saturday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting the Congress, reminding him of the party's legacy by listing out the names of its presidents from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family.
He asked the prime minister to now speak on the Rafale aircraft deal, unemployment and suicide of farmers during his rule.
In an election rally in Chhattisgarh on Friday, Modi had asked the Congress to make a Congressman, from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family, president of the party for five years.
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram listed out the names and said the Congress was proud of the humble origins of its post-Independence leaders like Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lal Bahadur Shastri, K Kamaraj and Manmohan Singh and many others besides thousands others during pre-Independence days.
"To jog PM Modi's memory: among the Congress Presidents since 1947 were Acharya Kripalani, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Purushottamdas Tandon, U N Dhebar, Sanjiva Reddy, Sanjivaiah, Kamaraj, Nijalingappa, C Subramanian, Jagjivan Ram, Shankar Dayal Sharma, D K Barooah, Brahmananda Reddy, P V Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri (sic)," he said.
In a dig at Modi, Chidambaram said he was grateful that the prime minister was "concerned" about who is elected as Congress president and he devotes a lot of time talking about it.
"Will he spend half the time and speak about demonetisation, GST, Rafale, CBI and the RBI?
"Will PM Modi speak about farmers' suicides, massive unemployment, lynchings, rape crimes against women and children, anti-Romeo squads, gau rakshak vigilantism and increasing terror attacks?" he said.
He asked the prime minister to now speak on the Rafale aircraft deal, unemployment and suicide of farmers during his rule.
In an election rally in Chhattisgarh on Friday, Modi had asked the Congress to make a Congressman, from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family, president of the party for five years.
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram listed out the names and said the Congress was proud of the humble origins of its post-Independence leaders like Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lal Bahadur Shastri, K Kamaraj and Manmohan Singh and many others besides thousands others during pre-Independence days.
"To jog PM Modi's memory: among the Congress Presidents since 1947 were Acharya Kripalani, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Purushottamdas Tandon, U N Dhebar, Sanjiva Reddy, Sanjivaiah, Kamaraj, Nijalingappa, C Subramanian, Jagjivan Ram, Shankar Dayal Sharma, D K Barooah, Brahmananda Reddy, P V Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri (sic)," he said.
In a dig at Modi, Chidambaram said he was grateful that the prime minister was "concerned" about who is elected as Congress president and he devotes a lot of time talking about it.
"Will he spend half the time and speak about demonetisation, GST, Rafale, CBI and the RBI?
"Will PM Modi speak about farmers' suicides, massive unemployment, lynchings, rape crimes against women and children, anti-Romeo squads, gau rakshak vigilantism and increasing terror attacks?" he said.
Ahead of crucial board meet, government proposes committees to monitor RBI: report
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India's government is seeking to form panels to monitor functions of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter, which could escalate tensions between the finance ministry and the central bank.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed that the board of the RBI draft regulations that will enable it to set up committees to monitor tasks such as financial stability, monetary policy transmission and foreign exchange management, the report added.
Each panel might consist of two to three members of the RBI's central board, which includes representatives of the finance ministry, senior company executives and some economists close to Modi's ruling nationalist party.
The RBI and India's finance ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The board meets on Monday, amid government pressure on the RBI to relax lending curbs and hand over surplus reserves to the government.
New Delhi and the RBI are getting close to ironing out some of their policy differences, two sources told Reuters this week, as they seek to defuse tensions that had threatened to unnerve investors.
RBI Governor Urjit Patel is scheduled to appear before a parliamentary committee on Nov. 27 in New Delhi, where he is likely to face questions on the differences with the government, a panel member said, declining to be named.
The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed that the board of the RBI draft regulations that will enable it to set up committees to monitor tasks such as financial stability, monetary policy transmission and foreign exchange management, the report added.
Each panel might consist of two to three members of the RBI's central board, which includes representatives of the finance ministry, senior company executives and some economists close to Modi's ruling nationalist party.
The RBI and India's finance ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The board meets on Monday, amid government pressure on the RBI to relax lending curbs and hand over surplus reserves to the government.
New Delhi and the RBI are getting close to ironing out some of their policy differences, two sources told Reuters this week, as they seek to defuse tensions that had threatened to unnerve investors.
RBI Governor Urjit Patel is scheduled to appear before a parliamentary committee on Nov. 27 in New Delhi, where he is likely to face questions on the differences with the government, a panel member said, declining to be named.
Finance Secretary Adhia to retire on Nov 30; Jaitley praises his contribution
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Showering praise on Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, who retires on November 30, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday said he was a no-nonsense civil servant who performed his job with professionalism.
In a Facebook post titled 'Dr. Hasmukh Adhia retires', Jaitley said "he was unquestionably a highly competent, disciplined, no-nonsense civil servant and of course, with impeccable integrity."
His only diversion from his duties was his passion for spirituality and yoga, he added.
Jaitley also said the government wanted to use the outgoing Finance Secretary's capability and experience in some alternate capacity.
"He (Adhia) had informed me earlier this year that he would not work for a single day after the 30th of November 2018. His time thereafter belongs to his favourite passion and of course his son," Jaitley wrote.
Adhia, a 1981-batch Gujarat cadre officer of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), moved to Delhi in November 2014 as secretary in the Department of Financial Services after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.
In a series of tweets, Adhia thanked Modi and Jaitley for their guidance and expressed gratitude to his officers and staff.
"I am indeed privileged to have worked in Finance Ministry for 4 years under the guidance and leadership of Hon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley," Adhia tweeted.
"I retire on 30th November with a sense of great satisfaction for what I could do for the country. I am grateful to all those officers and staff who worked with me.
"My special gratitude to Hon Prime Minister for his guidance and to Shri Arun Jaitley ji for having acknowledged my contribution publicly," Adhia added.
Giving credit to Adhia for implementing GST, Jaitley said, "It was his efforts supported by his team of officers of centre and state governments, which made it possible to hit the deadline of 1st July 2017. Rate reductions and smoothening of the rough edges were also achieved in a record time."
Recalling Adhia's tenure as Revenue Secretary, Jaitley said tax base and tax realisation saw an "exponential increase".
"He was ably supported by the two boards, CBDT and CBIC. The follow-up after demonetisation in detecting the large cash depositors and making them accountable was no mean challenge," the Finance Minister noted.
During his four-year stint in the Finance Ministry, Adhia spearheaded rollout of the historic Goods and Services Tax (GST) besides implementing a host of laws to unearth black money.
He was also deeply involved in formulation of various social sector programmes of the Modi government.
Jaitley in his post said Adhia's tenure as the Revenue Secretary will be remembered for various initiatives where he provided the bureaucratic leadership in shaping and implementation of the policy.
"The campaign against black money both within and outside the country was the initial highlight of the Revenue Department," he said.
Jaitley also noted that the Income Tax department now functions online with no physical interface between the assessee and the assessment official.
"I wish him all the best for his post retirement life. Thank You Dr. Adhia," Jaitley said.
In a Facebook post titled 'Dr. Hasmukh Adhia retires', Jaitley said "he was unquestionably a highly competent, disciplined, no-nonsense civil servant and of course, with impeccable integrity."
His only diversion from his duties was his passion for spirituality and yoga, he added.
Jaitley also said the government wanted to use the outgoing Finance Secretary's capability and experience in some alternate capacity.
"He (Adhia) had informed me earlier this year that he would not work for a single day after the 30th of November 2018. His time thereafter belongs to his favourite passion and of course his son," Jaitley wrote.
Adhia, a 1981-batch Gujarat cadre officer of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS), moved to Delhi in November 2014 as secretary in the Department of Financial Services after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.
In a series of tweets, Adhia thanked Modi and Jaitley for their guidance and expressed gratitude to his officers and staff.
"I am indeed privileged to have worked in Finance Ministry for 4 years under the guidance and leadership of Hon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley," Adhia tweeted.
"I retire on 30th November with a sense of great satisfaction for what I could do for the country. I am grateful to all those officers and staff who worked with me.
"My special gratitude to Hon Prime Minister for his guidance and to Shri Arun Jaitley ji for having acknowledged my contribution publicly," Adhia added.
Giving credit to Adhia for implementing GST, Jaitley said, "It was his efforts supported by his team of officers of centre and state governments, which made it possible to hit the deadline of 1st July 2017. Rate reductions and smoothening of the rough edges were also achieved in a record time."
Recalling Adhia's tenure as Revenue Secretary, Jaitley said tax base and tax realisation saw an "exponential increase".
"He was ably supported by the two boards, CBDT and CBIC. The follow-up after demonetisation in detecting the large cash depositors and making them accountable was no mean challenge," the Finance Minister noted.
During his four-year stint in the Finance Ministry, Adhia spearheaded rollout of the historic Goods and Services Tax (GST) besides implementing a host of laws to unearth black money.
He was also deeply involved in formulation of various social sector programmes of the Modi government.
Jaitley in his post said Adhia's tenure as the Revenue Secretary will be remembered for various initiatives where he provided the bureaucratic leadership in shaping and implementation of the policy.
"The campaign against black money both within and outside the country was the initial highlight of the Revenue Department," he said.
Jaitley also noted that the Income Tax department now functions online with no physical interface between the assessee and the assessment official.
"I wish him all the best for his post retirement life. Thank You Dr. Adhia," Jaitley said.
US firm names Noida-based IT consultancy in Rs 14 crore fraud
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The CEO of a US-based software company has alleged fraud to the tune of nearly Rs 14 crore by the owner of a Noida-based firm for almost a decade which was tasked to build technology support for it and providing Indian engineers, police said Friday.
The Noida-based firm's owner has been accused of fraudulently hiring inexperienced developers by forging their identities, experience and even employing ghost personnel while charging the American company heavily for the services including developing software which it further sold to other clients in the US from 2006 till 2015, they said.
Noida Police said they have launched probe after a complaint was made by San Francisco, California based Phill Alaph, Director and CEO of technology company Vsolay Inc. against Himanshu Khatri, who ran the IT consultancy My Mind Infotech Pvt Ltd in Sector-2 of Noida.
According to the FIR lodged at the Noida Sector-20 police station on November 14, he has also accused Khatri of yielding "extremely low quality" products because of these frauds which resulted in revenue and customer loss to the American firm.
Beginning in 2006, Alaph's company had come in to contact with Himanshu Khatri, who represented that he would hire individual software developers from India to build technology products for them. The process for engaging these individuals has been that their CVs, education credentials, experience were scrutinised by Khatri and after verification he would send them to the company along with a range of hourly compensation they expected to receive for their work, Alaph said.
"During the entire period of engagement, Khatri fraudulently misrepresented the true identities of the individuals as well as their experience and their compensation. He sent us forged CVs of the candidates after increasing their age and experience and in some cases after changing the names of the candidates and also sent us forged and photoshopped ID cards to substantiate the forged CVs," he said in the complaint.
He said that instead of experienced software engineers, Khatri had in place in nearly every case hired very inexperienced and junior persons but charged us for higher experienced persons.
"All this continued to happen from 2006 to 2015 when, in the end of the year 2015, I came to know that Khatri has been perpetrating a deep fraud beginning at the earliest part of the engagement." he said.
Alaph said Khatri had hired very junior developers at very low cost and hidden their identities, levels of experience and skills behind fraudulent identities, frauds names and fraud CVs.
He alleged that Khatri at times billed not only for individuals whose identities and experience were misrepresented but also falsified personnel who were not at all working for the firm and did not exist at all. Khatri also billed for persons who had left long before. In one case, after one senior developed left after approx six months of services while we continued to be billed for that person for more than three years at Rs 25 per hour.
"In the most recent billing, which have run close to $40,000 per month, we now know that his total outlay to the team has been less than $8,000 per month," Alaph said in the complaint.
Alaph said Khatri has misused a relationship of trust to successfully cheat his company into thinking that market rates for software developers in India had increased dramatically, year by year, beyond actual increases to further his "ill-gotten" gains.
"It is part of the investigation process to get closer to an estimate of how much Khatri had cheated us via this fraud, but it seems to be in the range of at least $2 million (approx Rs 13.8 crore), but likely more.
"The work performed by junior developers hired by Khatri has been of extremely low quality and their productivity has also been low. We have lost customer after customer due to malfunctioning products or features of products and our progress has been slow, for many years and incurred heavy losses in business," Alaph said.
I, being in the US could not come to India for lodging a criminal complaint against Khatri and others. Now I have come to know that he had also cheated some other US companies in the similar manner.
Police have initiated a probe into the case and the cyber wing has been roped in to assess the matter.
"The complaint has been on the quality of software. The complaint been registered and investigation launched. Our cyber wing is also on the job and gathering information. Further action will be taken depending on the nature of information that we get," Noida Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal Sharma told PTI.
The Noida-based firm's owner has been accused of fraudulently hiring inexperienced developers by forging their identities, experience and even employing ghost personnel while charging the American company heavily for the services including developing software which it further sold to other clients in the US from 2006 till 2015, they said.
Noida Police said they have launched probe after a complaint was made by San Francisco, California based Phill Alaph, Director and CEO of technology company Vsolay Inc. against Himanshu Khatri, who ran the IT consultancy My Mind Infotech Pvt Ltd in Sector-2 of Noida.
According to the FIR lodged at the Noida Sector-20 police station on November 14, he has also accused Khatri of yielding "extremely low quality" products because of these frauds which resulted in revenue and customer loss to the American firm.
Beginning in 2006, Alaph's company had come in to contact with Himanshu Khatri, who represented that he would hire individual software developers from India to build technology products for them. The process for engaging these individuals has been that their CVs, education credentials, experience were scrutinised by Khatri and after verification he would send them to the company along with a range of hourly compensation they expected to receive for their work, Alaph said.
"During the entire period of engagement, Khatri fraudulently misrepresented the true identities of the individuals as well as their experience and their compensation. He sent us forged CVs of the candidates after increasing their age and experience and in some cases after changing the names of the candidates and also sent us forged and photoshopped ID cards to substantiate the forged CVs," he said in the complaint.
He said that instead of experienced software engineers, Khatri had in place in nearly every case hired very inexperienced and junior persons but charged us for higher experienced persons.
"All this continued to happen from 2006 to 2015 when, in the end of the year 2015, I came to know that Khatri has been perpetrating a deep fraud beginning at the earliest part of the engagement." he said.
Alaph said Khatri had hired very junior developers at very low cost and hidden their identities, levels of experience and skills behind fraudulent identities, frauds names and fraud CVs.
He alleged that Khatri at times billed not only for individuals whose identities and experience were misrepresented but also falsified personnel who were not at all working for the firm and did not exist at all. Khatri also billed for persons who had left long before. In one case, after one senior developed left after approx six months of services while we continued to be billed for that person for more than three years at Rs 25 per hour.
"In the most recent billing, which have run close to $40,000 per month, we now know that his total outlay to the team has been less than $8,000 per month," Alaph said in the complaint.
Alaph said Khatri has misused a relationship of trust to successfully cheat his company into thinking that market rates for software developers in India had increased dramatically, year by year, beyond actual increases to further his "ill-gotten" gains.
"It is part of the investigation process to get closer to an estimate of how much Khatri had cheated us via this fraud, but it seems to be in the range of at least $2 million (approx Rs 13.8 crore), but likely more.
"The work performed by junior developers hired by Khatri has been of extremely low quality and their productivity has also been low. We have lost customer after customer due to malfunctioning products or features of products and our progress has been slow, for many years and incurred heavy losses in business," Alaph said.
I, being in the US could not come to India for lodging a criminal complaint against Khatri and others. Now I have come to know that he had also cheated some other US companies in the similar manner.
Police have initiated a probe into the case and the cyber wing has been roped in to assess the matter.
"The complaint has been on the quality of software. The complaint been registered and investigation launched. Our cyber wing is also on the job and gathering information. Further action will be taken depending on the nature of information that we get," Noida Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal Sharma told PTI.
General Awareness
Ramayana Express
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What to study?
For Prelims: About Ramayan Circuit and Swadesh Darshan scheme.
For Mains: Significance of the circuit and the scheme.
Context: The Shri Ramayana Express, a special tourist train to run on the Ramayana circuit to cover major spots related to the Hindu epic was recently flagged off from Safdarjung Railway Station in Delhi. The train will complete its journey till Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, in 16 days covering all important destinations associated with the life of Lord Ram.
All you need to know about Ramayan Circuit:
Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Sitamarhi, Buxar, Darbhanga in Bihar are among the fifteen sites identified initially for development under this circuit in the country.
The destinations are chosen according to the places where Lord Ram is believed to have travelled across India.
The 15 destinations are — Ayodhya, Shringverpur and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh, Sitamarhi, Buxar and Darbhanga in Bihar, Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh, Nandigram in West Bengal, Mahendragiri in Odisha, Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, Bhadrachalam in Telangana, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Hampi in Karnataka and Nashik and Nagpur in Maharashtra.
What to study?
For Prelims: About Ramayan Circuit and Swadesh Darshan scheme.
For Mains: Significance of the circuit and the scheme.
Context: The Shri Ramayana Express, a special tourist train to run on the Ramayana circuit to cover major spots related to the Hindu epic was recently flagged off from Safdarjung Railway Station in Delhi. The train will complete its journey till Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, in 16 days covering all important destinations associated with the life of Lord Ram.
All you need to know about Ramayan Circuit:
Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Sitamarhi, Buxar, Darbhanga in Bihar are among the fifteen sites identified initially for development under this circuit in the country.
The destinations are chosen according to the places where Lord Ram is believed to have travelled across India.
The 15 destinations are — Ayodhya, Shringverpur and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh, Sitamarhi, Buxar and Darbhanga in Bihar, Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh, Nandigram in West Bengal, Mahendragiri in Odisha, Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, Bhadrachalam in Telangana, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Hampi in Karnataka and Nashik and Nagpur in Maharashtra.
For Prelims: About Ramayan Circuit and Swadesh Darshan scheme.
For Mains: Significance of the circuit and the scheme.
Context: The Shri Ramayana Express, a special tourist train to run on the Ramayana circuit to cover major spots related to the Hindu epic was recently flagged off from Safdarjung Railway Station in Delhi. The train will complete its journey till Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, in 16 days covering all important destinations associated with the life of Lord Ram.
All you need to know about Ramayan Circuit:
Ramayana Circuit is one of the fifteen thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan scheme of Ministry of Tourism. Sitamarhi, Buxar, Darbhanga in Bihar are among the fifteen sites identified initially for development under this circuit in the country.
The destinations are chosen according to the places where Lord Ram is believed to have travelled across India.
The 15 destinations are — Ayodhya, Shringverpur and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh, Sitamarhi, Buxar and Darbhanga in Bihar, Chitrakoot in Madhya Pradesh, Nandigram in West Bengal, Mahendragiri in Odisha, Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, Bhadrachalam in Telangana, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Hampi in Karnataka and Nashik and Nagpur in Maharashtra.
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